Digital Commons Network^™

The Biblical Imperative For Pastoral Self-Care, Petr A. Činčala, René Drumm

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Searching For Life Beyond Our System, Ryan T. Hayes

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Spectrophotometric Methods For Measurement Of Antioxidant Activity In Food And Pharmaceuticals, Marios C. Christodoulou, Jose C. Orellana Palacios, Golnaz Hesami, Shima Jafarzadeh, José M. Lorenzo, Rubén Domínguez, Andres Moreno, Milad Hadidi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the application of antioxidants in food and pharmaceuticals due to their association with beneficial health effects against numerous oxidative-related human diseases. The antioxidant potential can be measured by various assays with specific mechanisms of action, including hydrogen atom transfer, single electron transfer, and targeted scavenging activities. Understanding the chemistry of mechanisms, advantages, and limitations of the methods is critical for the proper selection of techniques for the valid assessment of antioxidant activity in specific samples or conditions. There are various analytical techniques available for determining the antioxidant activity of biological …

Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated From Fresh Vegetable Products: Potential Probiotic And Postbiotic Characteristics Including Immunomodulatory Effects, Fatima Khaled Alameri

Theses

The ability to perform effectively in the gastrointestinal system (GIT) is one of the most significant criteria for selecting the best probiotic bacteria. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the potential probiotic characteristics of some selected lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from vegetable products. Probiotic characteristics included tolerance to acid and bile, cholesterol removing ability, bile salt hydrolysis, resistance against lysozyme and antibiotics, production of exopolysaccharides (EPS), antimicrobial and hemolytic activities, and cell surface characteristics (auto-aggregation, co-aggregation, and hydrophobicity). Out of 46 isolates, 17 isolates that exhibited remarkable survivability under gastrointestinal conditions were selected for further analysis. Almost all …

Utilizing Date Pits In Microencapsulation: Effect Of Different Variations On Probiotic Survivability Under In Vitro Digestion, Asmaa Samir Al Hamayda

Theses

This work deals with the medicinal use of date pit powder, which turns it from a waste product to a useful stabilizer for the release of beneficial probiotics in the human intestine. The main objective of this work is to encapsulate probiotics with date pit beads and their subsequent release in the human intestine. The beads were formed using gravitational dripping technique, while INFOGEST protocol was used to test the digested beads and the release of viable probiotic cells. For the three date varieties Raziz, Naghal and Khadrawy, it was found that 0.1 g of date pit powder per 0.2 …

The Potent And Selective Histamine H3 Receptor Antagonist E169 Alleviates Cognitive Deficits And Mitigates Disturbed Pi3k/Akt/Gsk-3Β Signaling Pathway In Mk801-Induced Amnesia In Mice, Sabna Tagelsir Hassan Abdalla

Theses

The role of Histamine H3 Receptors (H3Rs) in memory and the prospective of H3R antagonists in pharmacological control of neurodegenerative disorders, e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is well-accepted. Therefore, the procognitive effects of acute systemic administration of H3R antagonist E169 (2.5-10 mg/kg, i.p.) on MK801- induced amnesia using the Novel Object Recognition Test (NORT) paradigm in C57BL/6J mice were evaluated. E169 (5 mg) provided a significant memory-improving effect on MK801-induced short- and long-term memory impairments in NORT. The E169 (5 mg) provided effects were comparable to those observed with the Phosphatidyl Inositol 3-Kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 and were abrogated with the …

Screening For Endophytic Actinobacteria To Enhance Growth And Salinity Tolerance Of Tomato Plants In The United Arab, Amira Hamdy Hassan

Theses

Salinity is one of the most decisive environmental factors limiting the productivity of crop plants, mainly in arid and semi-arid regions. An eco-friendly technology can be used to boost crop production in saline areas by using plant growth-bacteria. Endophytic actinobacteria that produce the enzyme 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic acid (ACC) Deaminase (ACCD) can modulate the levels of Ethylene (ET) in plants to reduce the effect of abiotic stresses including high salt stress. The main objectives of this study were to: (1) Evaluate endophytic actinobacterial isolates from healthy tomato plants cultivated in the UAE that are capable of producing ACCD in vitro; (2) …

Distribution Of Erm Proteins In The Stomach Mucosa Of Normal And Diabetic Rats, Asmaa Salem Al Sereidi

Theses

Diabetes mellitus (DM), or simply diabetes, refers to a group of metabolic disorders that include a variety of diseases that disrupt our body's metabolism. The long-term uncontrolled disease can lead to stomach complications such as gastroparesis, as well as disruption in several proteins, such as ERM (Ezrin, radixin, moesin) proteins. ERM proteins are three proteins that are structurally and functionally related. ERM proteins have molecular masses of 82, 80, and 75 kDa, respectively. Ezrin is highly expressed in the stomach, especially in parietal cells that secrete gastric acid. ERM proteins function as scaffolding proteins in lipid rafts and granule trafficking …

Piezoelectric Enhanced Noninvasive Laser-Based Detection Of Multiple Vital Signs, Ahmed Saeed Dabi

Theses

In this study, a method for concurrent measurement of heart rate (HR) respiration rate (RR) and blood pressure (BP) using movements of the chest wall is proposed. Unlike conventional approaches that use only laser, in this approach a laser source is used to collect the piezoelectric sensor output without the need for probing. The chest wall movements are transduced using an optical ODSL 8 sensor and a piezoelectric taped to the patient’s chest. Measurement data is used for development of algorithms for estimation of HR, RR and BP. Next measurements are taken while the subjects are breathing and holding their …

Enhancement Of Phenolic Recovery And Bioactivity Of Date Palm Leaf Extract Using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents And Green Extraction Technology, Raghad Shehadeh Abdal Rahman

Theses

This study was designed to explore date palm leaves, an agro by-product, as a potential source of natural polyphenolic compounds using appropriate green Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NADES) and emerging green extraction technologies. Herein, six different NADES were prepared using six different hydrogen donors and choline chloride as hydrogen bond acceptor at a molar ratio of 1:2 (w/w) and different NADES concentrations (10, 20, 40, and 80%, in water, at 40°C). Among the studied NADES, Glycerol-based NADES showed higher phenolic yield compared to saccharide and organic acid-based NADES. Afterward, to enhance the extraction efficiency, NADES were coupled with microwave (MAE-NADES) …

Maternal Effects On Growth Parameters Of Chloris Gayana Under Co2 Enrichment, Ahmed Adnan Mohammed Mashli

Theses

Rhodes grass, Chloris gayana, is commonly used forage plant for grazers, livestock, and cattle. It significantly improves soil fertility and its overall structure by preventing nematode flourishment in soil. It is also used as a cover crop to upgrade soil health by reducing soil erosion and increasing water availability. The present study assessed the effects of CO₂ on the growth, development and maternal effects of C. gayana. The experimental setup was made in such a way that the potential impacts of CO₂ can be measured on the eco-physiological growth of C. gayana by studying successive generations. Generation 1 …

Analysis Of The Relationship Between Ieq And Energy Consumption In Uae University Building: Impact Of Thermal And Lighting Comfort On Energy Usage, Salama Abdulla Al Ghaithi

Theses

The Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ) of buildings becomes increasingly critical as people spend more than 90% of their time inside buildings based on the National Human Activity Pattern Survey (NHAPS) (Klepeis et al., 2001). The quality of the indoor environment in a building has been shown to have a significant impact on users' productivity and energy consumption. Further, if tenants are working in a comfortable indoor environment, absenteeism rates and incidental expenses, such as medical expenses, will be reduced. For instance, a comfortable workplace increases productivity by 10-15% and reduces absenteeism by 2.5% (Leyten & Boerstra, 2003). According to the …

Sludge-Based Activated Carbon: Characterization And Performance For Removal Of Methylene Blue From Aqueous Solution, Ahmad Anwar Al Madhoon

Theses

Domestic wastewater treatment plants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) produce 122 thousand tons of dried sludge annually. About 70% of this sludge is dumped in landfills, creating water and soil contamination. Sludge is an energy-rich organic material that could be converted into activated carbon by thermal or chemical processes. Potassium hydroxide has shown great potential as an activating agent for producing high-quality sludge based activated carbon (SBAC). However, its use adds to the cost of the production process. Thus, there is a need for an alternative activating agent that is not costly. One possible chemical is carbide lime which …

The Effect Of Licogliflozin (Sglt1/2 Inhibitor) On Diabetes And Cardiac Complications, Alanoud Gharib Alblooshi

Theses

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic endocrine disease affecting millions of people worldwide. In spite of the advances made in the management of DM, poor glycemic control and diabetes complications are still very common. There is a continuous search for new and more effective drugs to treat DM. One of the drugs currently in clinical trials for the treatment of DM is licogliflozin (LIK066), a dual SGLT1/2 inhibitor, which can be used to treat obesity and diabetes. LIK066 inhibits glucose reabsorption in the kidney and small intestine, thereby reducing hyperglycemia. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of licogliflozin on …

Investigating Teachers’ And Lead Teachers' Perspectives On The Impact Of Stream On Enhancing Teaching, Learning And Professionalism In The Emirates Schools Establishment, Hosam Rashad Badawy

Theses

STREAM education is the latest development of STEM and STEAM educational approaches in the United Arab Emirates schools. It is gaining traction because of the global market's massive economic and technological advancement, as STREAM employment is in growing demand. Educational policymakers and leaders in the UAE advocate for the development and implementation of STREAM to enhance innovation and entrepreneurship skills, leading to a drastic shift in teaching, learning and professionalism. According to the study, the STREAM approach enhances teachers' professionalism, students' creative skills and the learning of 21^st century survival skills such as communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, digital …

A Longitudinal Study On The Impact Of Occupational Health And Safety Practices On Employee Productivity At Sibca Llc, Maryam Ibrahim Mohamed Hussain Lari

Dissertations

Occupational health and safety (OHS) refer to practices that businesses use to proactively ensure the health and safety of employees. OHS scholars believe companies can use such practices to improve the health and safety of their organization and employee productivity. This study assesses how OHS practices can impact employee productivity at SIBCA LLC, a UAE-based company. It employed a longitudinal research design with pre- and post-intervention data collection to determine the effect of OHS practices on employee productivity. The study sample comprised 293 SIBCA LLC employees. Participants completed the same questionnaire twice, and productivity data were collected twice, 13 months …

In-Vitro Cell Culture Model To Determine Toxic Effects Of Soil Arsenic Due To Direct Dermal Exposure, Manas Warke, Madeline English, Laura De Marchi, Rohan Deep Sarkar, Srinivas Kannan, Rupali Datta, Smitha Rao

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Arsenic (As) is one of the most toxic environmental pollutants, classified as a Class I carcinogen. Anthropogenic activities have led to an increase in As contamination of soils. Using animal models to study the health impacts of As is time and cost-prohibitive, hence attempts have been made to develop in-vitro cell culture models. However, most studies so far have not represented realistic environmental exposure conditions. We exposed Human Immortalized Keratinocyte (HaCaT) and Primary Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDFa) cells to the water-soluble fraction of arsenic extracted from As spiked Immokalee soil to study the effect of soil As on skin cells. …

Improving The Growth Performance Of The Mangrove Avicennia Marina Seedlings Using Plant Growth Promoting Actinobacteria, Alanoud Abdulla Al Shamsi

Theses

The combination of commercial fish emulsion (FE) and plant growth-promoting actinobacteria capable of producing plant growth regulators (PGRs) was evaluated as a biofertilizer to enhance growth and development of grey mangrove (Avicennia marina) in the United Arab Emirates. In vitro studies identified the rhizosphere-competent Streptomyces griseorubens UAE1 (Sg) that was able to solubilize phosphorus, produce auxins, cytokinins, gibberellic acid, polyamines, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase. Growth promotion, nutrient contents and PGR levels in tissues of treated mangrove plants with fish emulsion and/or S. griseorubens UAE1 were further assessed in vivo. Under greenhouse and natural open-field nursery conditions, …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Unique Pyridazines, William Hobbs

Senior Honors Theses

The field of semiconductive organic chemistry is vast and expanding as numerous applications are being discovered for semiconductors. The research reported in this thesis focuses on the synthesis and characterization of three pyridazines. Pyridazines are organic heterocyclic aromatic semiconductors containing nitrogen and are planar in structure. The three pyridazine compounds were successfully isolated as evidenced by a high percent yield and then characterized by melting point and infrared spectroscopy. The research goal was achieved as a small library of pyridazines was compiled to be further analyzed concerning their potential within various applications in the electronic and industrial world.

Advances In 3d Culture Systems For Therapeutic Discovery And Development In Brain Cancer, Janith Wanigasekara, Patrick J. Cullen, Paula Bourke, Brijesh Tiwari, James F. Curtin

Articles

This review focuses on recent advances in 3D culture systems that promise more accurate therapeutic models of the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumor microenvironment (TME), such as the unique anatomical, cellular, and molecular features evident in human GBM. The key components of a GBM TME are outlined, including microbiomes, vasculature, extracellular matrix (ECM), infiltrating parenchymal and peripheral immune cells and molecules, and chemical gradients. 3D culture systems are evaluated against 2D culture systems and in vivo animal models. The main 3D culture techniques available are compared, with an emphasis on identifying key gaps in knowledge for the development of suitable platforms …

Quantifying Pain: A Ratio Of Cortisol, Substance P, And Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide As Biomarkers For Pain In Animal Cruelty And Neglect, Danielle Sherer

Master's Theses

Understanding the relationship between cortisol, Substance P, and PACAP during experienced pain and recovery, as well as the contrast between expression levels and serum levels, will provide an objective measure of pain and suffering to aid in the prosecution of animal cruelty and neglect cases.

There is no consensus at this time as to a recognized biomarker for pain experienced by an animal. Cortisol, Substance P, and Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Peptide (PACAP) have been investigated separately in various animal and human studies with regard to stress, pain, and injury. Cortisol is a steroid hormone in the glucocorticoid class that has …

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Cascades Frog (Rana Cascadae), Eleanor P. Gaines

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Cascades frog (Rana cascadae) using NatureServe methodology, 2022.

Program: Simple Gifts, University Of Dayton

Dance and Theater Programs

The title Simple Gifts inspired our devising ensemble to get started putting together the play you will be experiencing tonight. We also took inspiration from the Medieval story surrounding you in the gallery. In the story, it is a simple gift that transcends. A juggler, instead of gifting an object, provides an experience. The juggler has a gift from God that cannot be given away, but only shared. A shared experience of wonder and joy is the guiding principle for tonight’s performance. Knowing the power experiences can bring to relationships and communities, we started from a foundation of engaging our …

Impact Of The Choice Of Acidic Buffers On The Electrochemical Reduction Of Hexavalent Chromium In Water, Devin D. Meche

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

An Automated Treatment Planning Framework For Spinal Radiation Therapy And Vertebral-Level Second Check, Tucker J Netherton, Callistus Nguyen, Carlos E Cardenas, Caroline Chung, Ann H Klopp, Lauren E Colbert, Dong Joo Rhee, Christine B Peterson, Rebecca Howell, Peter Balter, Laurence E Court

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Complicating factors such as time pressures, anatomic variants in the spine, and similarities in adjacent vertebrae are associated with incorrect level treatments of the spine. The purpose of this work was to mitigate such challenges by fully automating the treatment planning process for diagnostic and simulation computed tomography (CT) scans.

Methods and materials: Vertebral bodies are labeled on CT scans of any length using 2 intendent deep-learning models-mirroring 2 different experts labeling the spine. Then, a U-Net++ architecture was trained, validated, and tested to contour each vertebra (n = 220 CT scans). Features from the CT and auto-contours were …

Clinical Significance And Potential Role Of Trimethylamine N-Oxide In Neurological And Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Sowjanya Mudimela, Narahari Koppa Vishwanath, Anilkumar Pillai, Rodrigo Morales, Sean P Marrelli, Tatiana Barichello, Vijayasree V Giridharan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Research in the last three decades has attracted the attention of many scientists and industrialists on the gut microbiome and its metabolites. Among many of these metabolites, trimethylamine oxide. Dietary choline, phosphatidylcholine, carnitine, and betaine produces TMAO that with other gut metabolites such as TMA (trimethylamine), and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) enter the circulation. Finally they reach the brain through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) where they are involved in several physiological functions such as brain development, neurogenesis, and behavior. Gut-microbiota composition is influenced by diet, lifestyle, antibiotics, and age resulting in dysbiosis. Several studies have confirmed that altered TMAO levels …

Evalution Of Peripheral Neuropathy Among Childhood Cancer Patients, Deborah R. Lee

Dissertations

The principal toxicity for children who receive vincristine for the treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is peripheral neuropathy, with symptoms that negatively affect physical function and may require the reduction or withdrawal of chemotherapy; even though cumulative dosing has not been shown to increase peripheral neuropathy. This population not only has to deal with the physical challenges of cancer but also can have psychosocial and cognitive effects from treatment. Utilizing secondary analysis, the purpose of this dissertation is to examine peripheral neuropathy (PN) trajectory during the second year of ALL treatment which has not been investigated in children receiving …

Microvascular Flow Imaging: A State-Of-The-Art Review Of Clinical Use And Promise., Muhammad Usman Aziz, John R Eisenbrey, Annamaria Deganello, Mohd Zahid, Kedar Sharbidre, Paul Sidhu, Michelle L Robbin

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

Vascular imaging with color and power Doppler is a useful tool in the assessment of various disease processes. Assessment of blood flow, from infarction and ischemia to hyperemia, in organs, neoplasms, and vessels, is used in nearly every US investigation. Recent developments in this area are sensitive to small-vessel low velocity flow without use of intravenous contrast agents, known as microvascular flow imaging (MVFI). MVFI is more sensitive in detection of small vessels than color, power, and spectral Doppler, reducing the need for follow-up contrast-enhanced US (CEUS), CT, and MRI, except when arterial and venous wash-in and washout characteristics would …

Emerging Best Practices In International Atmospheric Trust Case Law, Rachel M. Pemberton, Michael Blumm

Utah Law Review

With climate change litigation proliferating throughout the world, a substantial body of case law is emerging. As part of a project of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law's Climate Change Specialist Group, this Article, a version of which will be included in a “Judicial Handbook on Climate Litigation,” explains the public trust doctrine’s influence on climate change litigation internationally. We select what we view as judicial “best practices” as a kind of restatement of international atmospheric trust law in 2022. International atmospheric trust law is at the forefront of many best practices, as state and federal courts in the …

A World Without Roe: The Constitutional Future Of Unwanted Pregnancy, Julie C. Suk

William & Mary Law Review

With the demise of Roe v. Wade, the survival of abortion access in America will depend on new legal paths. In the same moment that Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has constrained access to abortion in the United States, other constitutional democracies have moved in the opposite direction, expanding access to safe, legal, and free abortions. They have done so without reasoning from Roe’s vision of the private zone of unwanted pregnancy. The development of abortion law outside the United States provides critical insights that can inform future efforts to vindicate the constitutional rights of women facing …