Digital Commons Network^™

Optima: Optimal Protein For Optimal Ageing, Eunice Ti-Oluwani Olaniyan

Theses

The older adult population is increasing globally, and this is associated with an increased prevalence of chronic diseases. This, together with increased consumer concern regarding the overconsumption of animal proteins, has led to a need to consider alternative dietary strategies for older adults. This study developed novel plant protein blends using combinations of pumpkin, pea ad rice protein isolates, and investigated their amino acid profiles, protein content and bioactive properties to identify optimal blends for functional food formulation. A major objective of this study was to formulate protein-rich products. It was hypothesised that blending multiple sources of plant proteins in …

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, …

Improving Long-Term Sustainable Profit For Beef Producers And Processors Through Genetic Selection, Stephen Connolly

Theses

The thesis served to quantify the phenotypic performance of animals differing in genetic merit based on the Irish Terminal Breeding Index. The data in the thesis included performance metrics of interest to both the primary producer and the meat processing industry. It is anticipated that the findings of the thesis will instil a level of confidence among primary producers and meat processors whereby the current terminal breeding objective is generating beef cattle with superior carcass performance, and improved farm margins along with a more desirable animal for meat processors. The impact of genetic differences among animals for performance traits on …

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 …

Impact Of Oxytocin And Tetrahydrocannabinol On Signs Of Fear In The Rat, Jair E. Alvarez Jr.

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

BACKGROUND: Oxytocin (OXT) has been used as a post-treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous research suggests that pre-treatment of intranasal OXT attenuates signs of fear in rats; however, the impact of intraperitoneal (i.p) OXT pre-treatment on signs of fear in rats is unknown. We also explored the effects of delta-9 (psychoactive component of cannabidiol) and delta-8 (delta-9 isomer) THC pre-treatment on attenuating signs of fear in the rat. METHODS: For each experiment, male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups, (n=8 per group); 1.) controls (vehicle and no foot shock), 2.) shock (vehicle and foot shock), 3.) low dose …

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 …

Sialylation As A Mechanism For Preferential Ligand Binding In Cfs1r, Eric J. Beaulaurier

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Macrophages are immune cells that help provide the first line of defense against a wide range of internal and external insults and create the bridge between innate and adaptive immune responses. When macrophage homeostasis is disrupted, disease states occur. Associated disease states include rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. The survival and proliferation of macrophages is largely controlled by signaling through colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R). Notably, this receptor can be activated by two non-homologous ligands, colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) and interleukin- 34 (IL-34). These two ligands are differentially required for macrophage homeostasis across body systems and …

Investigating The Relationships Between Biotic And Abiotic Factors Affecting Migratory Behavior In Westslope Cutthroat Trout Within The Priest River System, Kyle M. Keenan

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Numerous salmonid species demonstrate diverse life histories, encompassing both resident and migratory behaviors. Migratory life histories play a pivotal role in maintaining metapopulations for various reasons, facilitating genetic exchange between populations and yielding larger-sized females with increased fecundity relative to residents. This study took place in northern Idaho, within the lower Priest River system, which is highly susceptible to degrading habitat. Previous research has discovered this system as a significant contributor to migratory Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus lewisi, WCT) in the Lake Pend Oreille and Priest River systems. Expanding on these results, we compared four Priest River tributaries that produced …

Descriptive Study Of Adult Male Acheta Domesticus Phonotaxis, Dana Husana

Master's Theses

The phonotactic behavior of male Acheta domesticus has not been described at length. The present study evaluates the phonotactic responses of male A. domesticus in relation to age. Male crickets of different ages (young and old) were exposed to calls with attractive and non-attractive syllable periods for this species. Both age groups exhibited phonotaxis but did not show a preference towards the attractive call over the non-attractive ones. No significant relationship was found between age and phonotactic response. Additionally, no significant differences were observed between age and preferred syllable period. Acoustic responses were also observed in some of the older …

Flattening Breast Cancer By Removing The Breasts: Protecting A Woman's Right To Choose Reconstruction Of An Aesthetic Flat Chest After A Mastectomy, Amelia Landenberger

Akron Law Faculty Publications

Breast cancer takes away women’s choices. Many women decide to regain control of their bodies and prevent future cancer or follow-up surgeries by having a double mastectomy without any reconstruction, leaving a fat chest. When their doctors refuse to perform this surgery or their insurers refuse to cover this form of chest reconstruction, women are traumatized by their loss of choice in a system that clings to the outdated idea that women cannot be feminine without breasts. The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 was intended to protect women facing cancer from the second trauma of being unable …

The Experience Of Occupational Therapists And Physiotherapists Using A Prototype, Evidence-Informed Online Knowledge Translation Resource To Learn About Patient-Defined, Personally-Meaningful Chronic Pain Rehabilitation, Katrina J. Liddiard, Annette J. Raynor, Cary A. Brown

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Chronic pain is a complex biopsychosocial experience, and rehabilitation helps people to manage pain, and restore valued life roles. Evidence suggests that more positive outcomes occur when clients perceive their rehabilitation to be meaningful. People with chronic pain describe rehabilitation as personally-meaningful when they develop a genuine connection with a credible therapist who they see as a guiding partner, and when rehabilitation holds personal value, is self-defined, and relevant to their sense of self-identity. This paper presents a qualitative study of therapists’ experience using an e-learning package on patient-defined, personally-meaningful rehabilitation. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used to …

Attention-Language Interface In Multilingual Assessment Instrument For Narratives (Main), Irina A. Sekerina, Olga Parshina, Vladislava Staroverova, Natalia Gagarina

Publications and Research

The current study employed the Multilingual Assessment Instrument for Narratives (MAIN) to test comprehension of narrative macrostructure in Russian in a visual world eye-tracking paradigm. The four MAIN visual narratives are structurally similar and question referents’ goals and internal states (IS). Previous research revealed that children’s MAIN comprehension differed among the four narratives in German, Swedish, Russian, and Turkish, but it is not clear why. We tested whether the difference in comprehension was (a) present, (b) caused by complicated inferences in understanding IS compared with goals, and (c) ameliorated by orienting visual attention to the referents whose IS was critical …

The Role Of Smart Systems In Conservation On Sustainability Of Heritage Buildings, Aml Abd El-Wareth Mohamed

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Abstract— Historic cities with challenges in trying to integrate their heritage buildings to keep pace with the age of technology, by developing a vision for an intelligent environment (IE) of the future that would integrate smart systems for conservation on heritage. Recent, information and communications technology (ICT) progress has diverse smart heritage solutions, enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and longevity for future generations. Research problem includes challenging the possibility of integrating smart systems into heritage buildings while conserving its values, identity, and using it effectively, sustainably manner, also no comprehensive model for smart technology integration in heritage buildings for automation and control …

Establishing A Quantitative Assessment Tool For Biophilia In Healthcare Facilities, Sara Moustafa Fouda, Mohanad Ali Fouda

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This study aims at developing a novel assessment tool that can quantitatively evaluate the level of biophilia integration in healthcare facilities. The developed assessment tool helps to address the difficulty of biophilia quantification in the built environment due to the broad nature of the biophilia concept. The methodological approach for the tool depends on employing biophilic design patterns as a basis for biophilia, where these patterns are correlated to a group of biophilia-related features of the WELL Building Standard. This correlation is attained through a list of Integrated Design Guidelines (IDGs) that is proposed to act as an intermediate ground …

Celebrating Michael Reisman: The Inner World Of Others - A Guiding Light For Indigenous Re-Empowerment, Siegfried Wiessner

Intercultural Human Rights Law Review

Michael Reisman is a beacon of light in the firmament of international law and jurisprudence. His retirement from his faculty position at the Yale Law School affords a welcome occasion to celebrate his work in the quest for a world public order of human dignity. Michael is the cherished leader of the New Haven School of Jurisprudence, an intellectual movement designed to combine the prescriptive purposes of the law with the empirical insights of the sciences to achieve the goal of the flourishing of human beings, through access by all to the processes of shaping and sharing all things humans …

Situating The Modern Public Trust Doctrine In Trust Law: The Duty Of Loyalty And The Case For Bifurcated, De Novo Judicial Review, Edward A. Zelinsky

Articles

This article situates the modern public trust doctrine (PTD) in contemporary trust law. Grounding the PTD in trust law leads to two important corollaries. First, the PTD planted in trust law imposes upon government actors and agencies trust law’s fiduciary duty of loyalty. In the context of the PTD, that duty of loyalty runs to the public as the beneficiary of the PTD. Second, faced with plausible claims that this fiduciary duty of loyalty to the public has been violated, courts should apply trust law’s de novo standard of review to those administrative and legislative decisions alleged to impair public …

Math Department Newsletter 2023-2024, Mathematics Department

News, Magazines and Reports

WELCOME to our annual Mathematics Department Newsletter. We had an exciting year with many activities and accomplishments. Our students have received awards, attended conferences, conducted research, and have really contributed to the life of the department. Our faculty have had many accomplishments in teaching and scholarship. We conducted several events such as First 50 Days, Alumni Night, hosted a guest speaker for the university community, had our Pi Mu Epsilon induction and awards ceremony, and much more. We have heard from several alumni and are happy to report what they are doing.

Eastern Australian Farmers Managing And Thinking Differently: Innovative Adaptation Cycles, David K. Mckenzie, Janine Joyce, Kerstin K. Zander, Penelope A.S. Wurm, Kim M. Caudwell

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The uncertainty of climate change is a significant challenge prompting Australian farmers to create different thinking and different management systems that ensure sustained farm business viability and continuity, particularly in extreme environments. The purpose of this study was to explore the conditions and adaptive processes for managing farm resilience and cyclic adaptation pathways, in response to climate change. A positive deviance sample of farmers was interviewed, and data was collected from a cohort of twenty-two climate change innovators across Eastern Australia. Grounded theory analysis of data identified three processes and two transactional maps of climate change adaptation, in this under …

Mangroves Of The Warm Temperate Northwest Atlantic, Daniel A. Friess, Ena L. Suárez, Anna R. Armitage, Cheryl Doughty, Laura C. Feher, Ilka C. Feller, Alejandro Fierro, Kara R. Radabaugh, Lorae T. Simpson, William C. V Vervaeke, Carlos Zamora-Tovar

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The ‘Mangroves of the Warm Temperate Northwest Atlantic’ province is a regional ecosystem subgroup (level 4 unit of the IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology). It includes the marine ecoregions of Carolinian and Northern Gulf of Mexico. The biota is characterized by 3 species of mangroves: Avicennia germinans, Laguncularia racemosa, and Rhizophora mangle, and 1 mangrove associate Conocarpus erectus, though not all species are equally distributed throughout the province. Mangroves in this province cross the USA and Mexico and are quite unique, as they exist at the latitudinal range limit of the mangrove ecosystem. The majority of mangroves in this province are …

Radiation Induced Skin Fibrosis (Risf): Opportunity For Angiotensin Ii-Dependent Intervention, Patricia F. Boothe, Vidya P. Kumar, Yali Kong, Kan Wang, Howard Levinson, David Mu, Milton L. Brown

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Medical procedures, such as radiation therapy, are a vital element in treating many cancers, significantly contributing to improved survival rates. However, a common long-term complication of such exposure is radiation-induced skin fibrosis (RISF), a complex condition that poses substantial physical and psychological challenges. Notably, about 50% of patients undergoing radiation therapy may achieve long-term remission, resulting in a significant number of survivors managing the aftereffects of their treatment. This article delves into the intricate relationship between RISF, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and angiotensin II (Ang II) signaling. It proposes the underlying mechanisms and examines potential treatments for mitigating skin fibrosis. …

The Metaverse, Religious Practice And Wellbeing: A Narrative Review, Justin Thomas, Mohammad Amin Kuhail, Fahad Albeyahi

All Works

The metaverse is touted as the next phase in the evolution of the Internet. This emerging digital ecosystem is widely conceptualized as a persistent matrix of interconnected multiuser, massively scaled online environments optimally experienced through immersive digital technologies such as virtual reality (VR). Much of the prognostication about the social implications of the metaverse center on secular activities. For example, retail, entertainment (gaming/concerts), and social networking. Little attention has been given to how the metaverse might impact religion. This narrative review explores contemporary research into online religious practice and the use of immersive digital technologies for religious purposes. This focus …

Dietary Knowledge And Eating Habits Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes In Lebanon, Myriam Abboud, Cyrille Nacouzi, Zeina Chahine, Angelica Atallah, Mira Hleyhel

All Works

Little is known about the dietary knowledge (DK) and eating habits (EHs) of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Lebanon. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the DK and EH of the population with T2D and determine their associated factors. A cross-sectional survey enrolling 351 patients with T2D was carried out, using the snowball sampling technique. The survey used the UK Diabetes and Diet Questionnaire and the Dietary Knowledge questionnaire to assess participants' EH including the frequency of consumption of certain foods and their knowledge of food groups and food choices. While a higher DK index …

Optimizing Tomato Seedling Growth With Indigenous Mangrove Bacterial Inoculants And Reduced Npk Fertilization, Soumaya Tounsi-Hammami, Munawwar Ali Khan, Aroosa Zeb, Aneesa Rasheed Anwar, Naman Arora, Muhammad Naseem, Sunil Mundra

All Works

The search for ecofriendly products to reduce crop dependence on synthetic chemical fertilizers presents a new challenge. The present study aims to isolate and select efficient native PGPB that can reduce reliance on synthetic NPK fertilizers. A total of 41 bacteria were isolated from the sediment and roots of mangrove trees (Avicennia marina) and assessed for their PGP traits under in vitro conditions. Of them, only two compatible strains of Bacillus species were selected to be used individually and in a mix to promote tomato seedling growth. The efficiency of three inoculants applied to the soil was assessed in a …

Prevalence Of Premenstrual Syndrome And Its Associations With Dietary And Other Lifestyle Factors Among University Female Students In Dubai: A Cross-Sectional Study, Haleama Al Sabbah, Noof Al Mutawa, Enas A. Assaf

All Works

Background: Premenstrual syndrome is a relatively prevalent condition that affects a significant number of menstruating women worldwide. It can range from mild to severe and may interfere with daily activities. Objective: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and its associated factors among female university students in Dubai. Design: This study was designed as a cross-sectional study. Methods: The analysis for this study involved 217 female university students (aged ⩾18 years old) who completed a self-reported online questionnaire. Participants were recruited through simple random sampling, and the study received ethical approval from the Zayed University Ethical Committee. …

New Issues In Temporary Muslim Endowments (Waqf), Moath Alnaief, Kotb Rissouni, Reda Ibrahim Abdelgalil, Maryam Almansoori

All Works

Purpose — This study aims to discuss several examples of temporary Islamic endowments (waqfs) in the modern period, arguing that jurists and Muslim endowment managers should utilise them more widely to adjust to current societal circumstances and open the door for new ways of caring for those in need. Design/Methodology/Approach — It employed textual analysis of legal opinions related to temporary waqfs, outlining the positions of scholars on both sides of the issue, including a presentation and analysis of their evidence. Findings — The research findings show that temporary waqfs are an essential means of renewable and sustainable economic support, …

A Reputation-Based Aodv Protocol For Blackhole And Malfunction Nodes Detection And Avoidance, Qussai M. Yaseen, Monther Aldwairi, Ahmad Manasrah

All Works

Enhancing the security of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) improves the usability of their applications. Therefore, finding solutions to various attacks, such as the blackhole attack, is crucial for the success of WSN applications. This paper proposes an enhanced version of the AODV (Ad Hoc On-Demand Distance Vector) protocol capable of detecting blackholes and malfunctioning benign nodes in WSNs, thereby avoiding them when delivering packets. The proposed version employs a network-based reputation system to select the best and most secure path to a destination. To achieve this goal, the proposed version utilizes the Watchdogs/Pathrater mechanisms in AODV to gather and broadcast …

Farm-Raised Salmon Business: An International Outline Through Regulations, Environmental Issues, And Consumer Perception., Luiz Felipe Da Silva

Business ETD Collections

This research investigates the key challenges faced by the global farm-raised salmon industry, focusing on economic impacts of regulatory differences, environmental sustainability issues, and consumer perceptions of farm-raised versus wild-caught salmon. Using a mixed research approach, including an interview with a professional and a review of existing literature, the study finds a disconnect between salmon companies and their customers, indicating a need for improved marketing strategies. The research also highlights the importance of high environmental standards in production for enhancing competitiveness. Additionally, the adoption of certifications and high production standards can improve consumer acceptance of farmed salmon over wild-caught alternatives.

Tesla-Addressing Eco Challenges Globally., Enkhzaya Enkhtuvshin

Business ETD Collections

This dissertation examines Tesla Inc.'s contributions to global environmental sustainability through its renewable energy solutions and managerial approach to regulations. Aligning with Tesla's mission as an electric car and energy solutions provider, the study employs secondary qualitative research and thematic analysis to explore the company’s role in sustainability, its market niche, and the regulatory challenges it faces. Key findings highlight differences in legal systems across major markets, the challenges Tesla encounters in meeting diverse environmental standards, and the significance of technology in advancing sustainability initiatives. The research underscores the critical role of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in achieving global sustainability goals …

Changing Nutrition Trends And Mcdonald’S Product Strategies: The Rise Of Plant-Based Products And Their Impact On Consumer Behaviour., Meryem Yildirim

Business ETD Collections

This research explores the influence of McDonald’s plant-based product development strategies on consumer behaviour and brand perception. It highlights the challenges McDonald’s faces when launching plant-based products, particularly in the US, where the desired impact on consumers has not been achieved. The study contrasts this with the success of these products in Europe, where they have enhanced the brand’s sustainability image and contributed to profitability. Additionally, McDonald’s has made strides toward promoting healthy eating by offering plant-based and diet products, while also accommodating cultural and religious sensitivities in its menu localization. The findings emphasise the importance of continuing these strategic …