Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding Adoption Barriers To Dwell-Free Eye-Typing: Design Implications From A Qualitative Deployment Study And Computational Simulations, Per Ola Kristensson, Morten Mjelde, Keith Vertanen

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Eye-typing is a slow and cumbersome text entry method typically used by individuals with no other practical means of communication. As an alternative, prior HCI research has proposed dwell-free eye-typing as a potential improvement that eliminates time-consuming and distracting dwell-timeouts. However, it is rare that such research ideas are translated into working products. This paper reports on a qualitative deployment study of a product that was developed to allow users access to a dwell-free eye-typing research solution. This allowed us to understand how such a research solution would work in practice, as part of users' current communication solutions in their …

Moisture Sources Of Precipitation In The Great Lakes Region: Climatology And Recent Changes, Zhao Yang, Yun Qian, Pengfei Xue, Jiali Wang, T. C. Chakraborty, William J. Pringle, Jianfeng Li, Xiaodong Chen

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Given the critical role of precipitation on hydroclimate, we quantified the contributions of moisture source regions to precipitation in the Great Lakes Region (GLR) using multiple reanalysis data sets. Results show that the Great Plains (GPs) and the GLR itself are the primary sources of moisture. The moisture sources for the double peaks in the GLR precipitation that occur in June and September are identified, which is caused by a shift in the peak timing of moisture contribution from the GLR and GPs. In particular, moisture from the GPs contributes more to the heavy precipitation, while moisture from the GLR …

Challenges, Choice, & Change: Experiences And Reflections From The First Semester Of A Technology And Human Futures Course, Briana Christina Bettin

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Society's rapidly increasing reliance on technology has created urgency for future leaders to understand these technologies' potential impacts. News of technical and algorithmic concerns in society are frequent, highlighting the real impacts to real people. Learners may approach computing in order to feel prepared for careers and life in modern society. These learners benefit from understanding the many ways technology may be part of their future careers, their lives, and the lives of others. Beyond this, many wish to use computing to solve problems - but complex societal problems may feel too overwhelming to solve. Greater understanding of the technologies …

Coarse Woody Debris And Carbon Stocks In Pine Forests After 50 Years Of Recovery From Harvesting In Northeastern California, Jianwei Zhang, Deborah S. Page-Dumroese, Martin Jurgensen, Matt Busse, Kim G. Mattson

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

The long-term effects of harvesting on stand carbon (C) pools were assessed in a dry, interior pine-dominated forest at the Blacks Mountain Experimental Forest in northeastern California. Six 8-hectacre plots, established in 1938–1943, were treated as either an uncut control or a heavy-cut harvest (three-quarters of the stand volume removed). Response variables included C pools in overstory tree and shrub, coarse woody debris (CWD), forest floor, mineral soil (to 30 cm depth), cubicle brown root fragments of wood, fine roots, and ectomycorrhizal root tips. CWD was further classified as intact wood or more highly decayed brown rot or white rot …

Can Biodiversity Of Preexisting And Created Salt Marshes Match Across Scales? An Assessment From Microbes To Predators, Friedrich W. Keppeler, James R. Junker, Margaret J. Shaw, Scott B. Alford, Annette S. Engel, Linda M. Hooper-Bùi, Olaf P. Jensen, Katelyn Lamb, Paola C. López-Duarte, Charles W. Martin, Ashley M. Mcdonald, Jill A. Olin, Audrey T. Paterson, Michael J. Polito, Nancy N. Rabalais, Brian J. Roberts, Ryann E. Rossi, Erick M. Swenson

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Coastal wetlands are rapidly disappearing worldwide due to a variety of processes, including climate change and flood control. The rate of loss in the Mississippi River Delta is among the highest in the world and billions of dollars have been allocated to build and restore coastal wetlands. A key question guiding assessment is whether created coastal salt marshes have similar biodiversity to preexisting, reference marshes. However, the numerous biodiversity metrics used to make these determinations are typically scale dependent and often conflicting. Here, we applied ecological theory to compare the diversity of different assemblages (surface and below-surface soil microbes, plants, …

Development Of The Menu Assessment Scoring Tool (Mast) To Assess The Nutritional Quality Of Food Service Menus, Claire Elizabeth Pulker, Leisha Michelle Aberle, Lucy Meredith Butcher, Clare Whitton, Kristy Karying Law, Amy Louise Large, Christina Mary Pollard, Georgina S. A. Trapp

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Preventing the rise in obesity is a global public health priority. Neighbourhood environments can help or undermine people’s efforts to manage their weight, depending on availability of nutritious and nutrient-poor ‘discretionary’ foods. The proportion of household food budgets spent on eating outside the home is increasing. To inform nutrition policy at a local level, an objective assessment of the nutritional quality of foods and beverages on food service menus that is context-specific is needed. This study describes the development and piloting of the Menu Assessment Scoring Tool (MAST), used to assess the nutritional quality of food service menus in Australia. …

Safeguarding Sandalwood: A Review Of Current And Emerging Tools To Support Sustainable And Legal Forestry, Ellyse Bunney, Francesca A. Mcinerney, Eleanor Dormontt, Arif Malik, Nina Welti, David Wilkins, Malcolm Plant, Dhanushka S. Hettiarachchi, Darren Thomas, Ashley Dowell, Tresa Hamalton, Andrew J. Lowe

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Societal Impact Statement: Sandalwood and other high value tree species are under significant threat from illegal harvest. Illegal logging is an increasing problem contributing to deforestation, biodiversity loss, human rights abuses and funding transnational crime. Successful prosecution of illegal logging is hindered by a lack of methods to provide evidence of the origin of timber. New analytical techniques have been developed to trace timber back to its source. These methods, together with the establishment of sustainable sources of forest resources, can help protect vulnerable species by providing evidence to prosecute illegal harvest and ensure that commercially available forest products come …

Association Of Healthful Plant-Based Diet Adherence With Risk Of Mortality And Major Chronic Diseases Among Adults In The Uk, Alysha S. Thompson, Anna Tresserra-Rimbau, Nena Karavasiloglou, Amy Jennings, Marie Cantwell, Claire Hill, Aurora Perez-Cornago, Nicola P. Bondonno, Neil Murphy, Sabine Rohrmann, Aedín Cassidy, Tilman Kühn

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Importance: Plant-based diets have gained popularity for both environmental and health reasons, but a comprehensive assessment of their quality in relation to risk of mortality and major chronic diseases is lacking. Objective: To examine whether healthful vs unhealthful plant-based dietary patterns are associated with mortality and major chronic diseases among UK adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study used data from adults in the UK Biobank, a large-scale population-based study. Participants were recruited between 2006 and 2010 and followed up using record linkage data until 2021; follow-up for different outcomes ranged between 10.6 and 12.2 years. Data analysis …

Biomarkers Of Oxidative Stress And Its Nexus With Haemoglobin Variants And Adverse Foeto-Maternal Outcome Among Women With Preeclampsia In A Ghanaian Population: A Multi-Centre Prospective Study, Ganiwu Abdul, William Osei-Wusu, Gordon Akuffo Asare, Samira Daud, Stephen Opoku, Valentine Christian Kodzo Tsatsu Tamakloe, Joseph Frimpong, Benedict Sackey, Wina Ivy Ofori Boadu, Vivian Paintsil, Max Efui Annani-Akollor, Yaw Amo Wiafe, Enoch Odame Anto, Otchere Addai-Mensah

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction Haemoglobin variants and preeclampsia (PE) are associated with adverse fatal events of which oxidative stress may be an underlying factor. Oxidative stress (OS) among preeclamptic women with haemoglobin variants has been well established. It is, however, unclear whether haemoglobin variants induce OS to aggravate the risk of adverse foeto-maternal outcomes in pregnant women with preeclampsia. We measured the levels of OS biomarkers and determined the association between haemoglobin variants, and adverse foeto-maternal outcomes among pregnant women with PE. Methods This multi-centre prospective study recruited 150 PE women from three major health facilities in both Bono and Bono east regions …

Calcium Supplements And Risk Of Cvd: A Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Trials, Xiqian Huo, Robert Clarke, Jim Halsey, Rebecca Jackson, Amy Lehman, Richard Prince, Joshua Lewis, John A. Baron, Heikki Kroger, Reijo Sund, Jane Armitage

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Vitamin D supplements may only be beneficial for the prevention of osteoporotic fractures when administered with calcium and in individuals with low blood levels of 25(OH)D, but possible hazards of calcium supplements on CVD cannot be excluded. Objectives: We conducted a meta-analysis of all placebo-controlled randomized trials assessing the effects of calcium supplements alone or with vitamin D on CHD, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Methods: A meta-analysis of 11 trials included 7 comparisons of calcium alone compared with control (n = 8634) and 6 comparisons of calcium plus vitamin D compared with control (n = 46,804). Aggregated study-level data …

Digital Behaviour Change Interventions To Increase Vegetable Intake In Adults: A Systematic Review, Katherine M. Livingstone, Jonathan C. Rawstorn, Stephanie R. Partridge, Stephanie L. Godrich, Sarah A. Mcnaughton, Gilly A. Hendrie, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Ralph Maddison, Yuxin Zhang, Scott Barnett, John C. Mathers, Maria Packard, Laura Alston

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Digital interventions may help address low vegetable intake in adults, however there is limited understanding of the features that make them effective. We systematically reviewed digital interventions to increase vegetable intake to 1) describe the effectiveness of the interventions; 2) examine links between effectiveness and use of co-design, personalisation, behavioural theories, and/or a policy framework; and 3) identify other features that contribute to effectiveness. Methods: A systematic search strategy was used to identify eligible studies from MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, INFORMIT, IEEE Xplore and Clinical Trial Registries, published between January 2000 and August 2022. Digital interventions …

Drivesafe Driveaware: A Systematic Review, Erin Vito, Anna Barkla, Linda Coventry

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: Driving is an activity of daily living that significantly affects independence, and driving cessation is associated with poor health, lower quality of life, cognitive decline and early entry into care facilities. There is no consensus regarding the best off-road tool to assess driving safety. Therefore, this review explored the diagnostic accuracy, reliability and clinical utility of DriveSafe DriveAware (DSDA) compared with an on-road driving assessment.

Methods: This review adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. Electronic databases for all English language articles published prior to December 2021 were searched. Studies were assessed for methodological quality and results were synthesised using a …

Heat Transfer Augmentation And Entropy Generation Analysis Of Microchannel Heat Sink (Mchs) With Symmetrical Ogive-Shaped Ribs, Kareem Akhtar, Haseeb Ali, Israr Ud Din, Azed Abbas, Muhammad Zeeshan Zahir, Faraz Ahmad, Fayyaz Alam, Nasir Shah, Muhammad Aamir

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study proposes the use of symmetrical ogive-shaped ribs on the walls of microchannel heat sinks (MCHS) to improve their thermal performance with minimal pressure drop. The ribs are arranged in three different configurations: ribs attached to all channel walls (MC-SAWR), ribs attached to side channel walls (MC-SSWR), and ribs attached to the bottom channel wall (MC-SBWR). Numerical investigations are conducted using the laminar conjugate heat transfer model to study the flow and heat transfer characteristics of the MCHS. The augmentation entropy generation number and thermal enhancement factor criterion are used to quantify the overall hydrothermal performance of the MCHS. …

Postharvest Biology And Technology Of Loquat (Eriobotrya Japonica Lindl.), Hafiz Muhammad Shoaib Shah, Ahmad Sattar Khan, Zora Singh, Saqib Ayyub

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) fruit is a rich source of carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolics, sugars, and organic acids. Although it is classified as a non-climacteric fruit, susceptibility to mechanical and physical bruising causes its rapid deterioration by moisture loss and postharvest decay caused by pathogens. Anthracnose, canker, and purple spot are the most prevalent postharvest diseases of loquat fruit. Cold storage has been used for quality management of loquat fruit, but the susceptibility of some cultivars to chilling injury (CI) consequently leads to browning and other disorders. Various techniques, including cold storage, controlled atmosphere storage, hypobaric storage, modified atmosphere packaging, low-temperature …

Predicting And Validating The Load-Settlement Behavior Of Large-Scale Geosynthetic-Reinforced Soil Abutments Using Hybrid Intelligent Modeling, Muhammad Nouman Amjad Raja, Syed Taseer Abbas Jaffar, Abidhan Bardhan, Sanjay Kumar Shukla

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Settlement prediction of geosynthetic-reinforced soil (GRS) abutments under service loading conditions is an arduous and challenging task for practicing geotechnical/civil engineers. Hence, in this paper, a novel hybrid artificial intelligence (AI)-based model was developed by the combination of artificial neural network (ANN) and Harris hawks’ optimisation (HHO), that is, ANN-HHO, to predict the settlement of the GRS abutments. Five other robust intelligent models such as support vector regression (SVR), Gaussian process regression (GPR), relevance vector machine (RVM), sequential minimal optimisation regression (SMOR), and least-median square regression (LMSR) were constructed and compared to the ANN-HHO model. The predictive strength, relalibility and …

Relationships Between Farmer Psychological Profiles And Farm Business Performance Amongst Smallholder Beef And Poultry Farmers In South Africa, Renato A. Villano, Isaac Koomson, Nkhanedzeni B. Nengovhela, Livhuwani Mudau, Heather M. Burrow, Navjot Bhullar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Beef cattle and poultry are critically important livestock for improving household food security and alleviating poverty amongst smallholder farmers in South Africa. In this paper, our goal is to examine the relationships between farmer psychological profiles and farm business performance of commercially oriented beef cattle and poultry smallholder farmers in South Africa. We employ a multipronged interdisciplinary approach to test the theory of planned behaviour and its relationship to farm business performance. First, a behavioural science-informed survey instrument was employed to collect data from randomly selected farmer participants in two major beef and poultry projects undertaken by the authors. Second, …

Response Of The Metastable Pitting Corrosion Of Laser Powder Bed Fusion Produced Ti–6al–4v To H+ Concentration Changes, Yuwei Cui, Liangyu Chen, Liqiang Wang, Jun Cheng, Laichang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

There is limited research on metastable pitting corrosion in an acidic environment, and acid is a major challenge for material corrosion. Therefore, this work investigated the metastable pitting corrosion of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF)-produced Ti–6Al–4V, in Hank’s solution, at different pH values (pH = 3, 5, and 7). This work investigated the effect of acid on the characteristics of passive films, as well as the change in metastable pitting behavior. Based on the results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the passive film will be inhibited and dissolved under the influence of H+. The higher …

Tweak/Fn14 Signalling Regulates The Tissue Microenvironment In Chronic Pancreatitis, N. Dianah B. Abu Bakar, Rodrigo Carlessi, Jully Gogoi-Tiwari, Julia Köhn-Gaone, Vincent Williams, Marco Falasca, John K. Olynyk, Grant A. Ramm, Janina E. E. Tirnitz-Parker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Chronic pancreatitis increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer through the upregulation of pathways favouring proliferation, fibrosis, and sustained inflammation. We established in previous studies that the ligand tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) signals through its cognate receptor fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) to regulate these underlying cellular processes in the chronic liver injury niche. However, the role of the TWEAK/Fn14 signalling pathway in pancreatic disease is entirely unknown. An analysis of publicly available datasets demonstrated that the TWEAK receptor Fn14 is upregulated in pancreatitis and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, with single cell RNA sequencing revealing pancreatic ductal …

Two−Dimensional Nanomaterials Confined Single Atoms: New Opportunities For Environmental Remediation, Yu Yin, Lei Shi, Shu Zhang, Xiaoguang Duan, Jinqiang Zhang, Hongqi Sun, Shaobin Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Two−dimensional (2D) supports confined single−atom catalysts (2D SACs) with unique geometric and electronic structures have been attractive candidates in different catalytic applications, such as energy conversion and storage, value−added chemical synthesis and environmental remediation. However, their environmental applications lack of a comprehensive summary and in−depth discussion. In this review, recent progresses in synthesis routes and advanced characterization techniques for 2D SACs are introduced, and a comprehensive discussion on their applications in environmental remediation is presented. Generally, 2D SACs can be effective in catalytic elimination of aqueous and gaseous pollutants via radical or non−radical routes and transformation of toxic pollutants into …

المواجھة الجنائیة للشائعات في التشریع الإماراتي – دراسة مقارنة, ھدى راشد العلوي

Theses

Spreading and propagating rumors is a dangerous weapon that causes the disintegration of nations and creates anxious societies plagued by psychological wars and internal strife, these acts have caused legal problems, especially with the advent of social media, which has paved the way for their commission. Penal provisions guaranteeing adequate criminal protection against the perpetrators of such acts, The United Arab Emirates' legislation is one of these penal legislations, which pays attention to the legal regulation of this crime by punishing the perpetrator by the Criminal and Penal Code, the Military Penal Code and the Law on Combating Rumours and …

The Three-Dimensional Visualization Of Mars Dust Storms Based On Deriving Digital Elevation Maps From Satellite Imagery, Meirah Ali Alzeyoudi

Theses

This work focuses on generating a Three-Dimensional Visualization of Mars's local dust storms utilizing satellite images from publicly available archives. The work aimed to create a Three-Dimensional Visualization of two Local Dust storms, the first local dust storm occurred on May 20, 2020, in the Chryse Planitia Region of Mars, while the second one occurred on 8 June 2021, on the northern side of the Utopia Planitia Region of Mars. The visualization will assist in providing a better understanding of the dynamics of Dust Storms on Mars by indicating and analyzing the main features of dust storms on Mars. Also, …

Correlation Between The Preparation Methods And The Physiochemical Characteristics Of Mgal₂O₄ As A Support For Ni Catalysts In Partial Oxidation Of Methane, Fatima El Alem

Theses

Due to different technical challenges associated with direct use of methane, the main component of natural gas, its conversion to higher hydrocarbons has been a subject of great industrial importance. All of the known routes for methane conversion are catalytic processes, where the performance is largely dependent on the physicochemical properties of the catalyst. The catalysts that have shown promising performance in methane reforming are based on expensive metals such as Pt, Pd, and Ru. Ni, on the other hand, is a cost-effective metal and has shown promising catalytic activity. These catalysts are usually in the form of metal nanoparticles …

المرفق الصحي بين متطلبات النظام العام وﻣﺒﺪأ اﺳﺘﻤﺮارﯾﺔ المرفق العام ﻓﻲ الظروف اﻻﺳﺘﺜﻨﺎﺋﯿﺔ, مهرة ﺳﻌﯿﺪ الظاهري

Theses

The spread of the Corona virus clearly affected the work of public utilities in the country, so it disrupted some of them and modified the way others work. The spread of the pandemic led to the innovation of new ways and means that were not familiar with the functioning of public utilities. One of the most important of these means is remote work, which is done through means Modern communication, including the Internet.
The study sought to achieve several objectives, including clarifying the principle of continuity of the public facility in normal and exceptional circumstances, and clarifying the rules and …

Generating Synthetic Satellite Images Of Mars Dust Storms Based On Radiative Transfer Models, As A Follow-On Application Of Marswrf Dust Cycle Simulations, Fatima Ali Alkaabi

Theses

Dust is a fundamental component of the Martian atmosphere; it plays a vital role in the planet's climate system and atmospheric variability. For these reasons, it is considered one of the essential keys to understanding the Martian atmosphere's behavior. The dust events on Mars range from local/regional dust storms that occur every Martian year to global dust storms that have only been observed, on average, once every 3-4 Martian years. The large regional and global dust storms have strong thermal and dynamic effects on the atmosphere. MarsWRF is a Mars version of the terrestrial numerical weather and climate model WRF …

Design And Assessment Of A Leo Gnss Miniconstellation For Positioning, Navigation, And Timing (Pnt), Mariya Abdulkhaleq Mohamad

Theses

Recently, there has been a resurgent demand in the United Arab Emirates for more accurate positioning, navigation, and timing signals, especially for some targeted applications such as autonomous vehicles and flying taxis. The existing Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) provide real-time positioning accuracy for up to several meters, while the targeted applications require fast convergence of centimeterlevel positioning accuracy. Recent studies have shown that transmitting GNSS signals from a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) instead of a Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) would enhance positioning accuracy. The main objective of this thesis is to design and simulate an optimum scenario of a …

التفكير الاستباقي وإدارة الأزمات (دولة الامارات العربية المتحدة نموذجاً), عائشة عبدالله اليماحي

Theses

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Proactive Thinking and Crisis Management (The Case of United Arab Emirates)

The aim of this study was to identify intellectual approaches to crisis management and their impact on national security in the United Arab Emirates. The study also evaluated the impact of proactive thinking in crisis management on national security in the UAE. The decision-making and systems methodology was used as the general method for the study. The study addressed the importance of proactive thinking and crisis management, determinants of crisis management, determinants of using proactive thinking in the UAE, proactive thinking and the management of the Gulf-Qatar crisis, …

The Cost Of Connectivity - Assessing The Impact Of Superblock Road Design Costs On The Distance, Directness, And Diversity Of Pedestrian Routes, Rim Ibrahim Anabtawi

Theses

Superblocks have been massively constructed and cover a remarkable amount of Abu Dhabi’s urban landscape. Recent research has shown that Abu Dhabi’s superblocks promote car dependency, which dominates approximately all local transportation, and results in increases in fossil fuel consumption, increase in greenhouse gas emissions, and negative impacts on air quality. This thesis, along with multiple recent studies, addressed this issue, looking at the different designs of internal road networks of residential superblocks in order to better understand their connectivity. The evaluation of different network designs used in the city’s superblocks has provided valuable insights by which to support and …

Emerging Trends And Challenges Of Corporate Social Responsibility: The Case Of The United Arab Emirates, Noura Eisa Al Harasi

Theses

This research shed light on the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by examining the trends, benefits, and challenges of CSR in the UAE. The research contributed to the literature in the field of CSR by providing a comprehensive understanding of the concept in a non-Western context that can represent a generalizable model, not only for the UAE, but also for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries that share similar corporate culture with the UAE. In this regard, the research serves as a reference work into CSR beyond the UAE as it answered the following …

Using Switchable Solvents For Enhanced Biodiesel Production, Eyad Abdel Rahman Sowan

Theses

This thesis presents a sustainable approach to biodiesel production using in-situ technology for direct conversion of microalgae-to-biodiesel. The proposed method operates on wet, untreated microalgae, thereby eliminating the cost/energy intensive drying and cell disruption steps. Owing to their favorable properties, the use of enzymes, specifically lipase, as a catalyst for the process was suggested over acid/base catalysts. However, the high cost of the enzyme necessitates its reuse at sustained activity for the process to be economically feasible. The use of non-toxic green solvents, such as switchable solvents, as an alternative to conventional organic solvents was a significant challenge for the …

Assessing The Perceptions Of School Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Of Artificial Green Elements In Hot Arid Region, Hala Fouad Albalkhi

Theses

Recently, global statistics demonstrated a continued increase in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) worldwide, especially in Gulf countries, where the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranks second in terms of autism prevalence. Studies emphasized the positive effects of green elements on the academic performance and skills of school children. The presence of indoor plants can lead to benefits such as stress reduction and positive health and well-being in children with ASD. However, green elements are less utilized in Al Ain schools due to difficulty in maintaining natural plants in buildings. This study aims to examine the perceptions of children with Autism Spectrum …