AUB ScholarWorks (American Univ. of Beirut)
Not a member yet
33634 research outputs found
Sort by
Exploring the Influence of Food Consumption on Schoolchildren’s Food Choices using A Gamified Choice Experiment in Greater Beirut, Lebanon
No full textBackground: Children’s food choices are risk factors for the development of several non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In Lebanon, socio-economic crises have led to a shift in dietary patterns towards more processed and unhealthy foods, increasing the risk of NCDs among children. Thus, the objectives of this project were to examine how different food consumption exposures, classified into the 4 NOVA classifications (unprocessed food, processed culinary ingredients, processed food, and ultra-processed food), influence food choices among Lebanese children after the crises, as well as identifying the determinants of food choices after the crises in Lebanon.
Methodologies: The study used secondary data taken from the SCALE study, which was a cross-sectional study conducted with a stratified random sample of primary schools in Greater Beirut, and children were randomly selected from grades 4-5-6 in each school. Data were collected through different methods, including structured questionnaires and discrete choice experiments (DCE) to assess children’s food choices. Additionally, wearable cameras were used specifically to capture the real food consumption exposure of grade 6 children at home and on their way to school.
Results: Out of the 47 selected schools, a total of 2,125 children were included in this project, from which 176 were selected for the study. The study revealed significant associations between exposure to unprocessed foods and healthier food choices, with children exposed to three or more unprocessed items having higher odds of selecting more healthy and moderately healthy foods (OR = 2.93, p < 0.05, 95%CI (1.26, 6.83) for healthy choices; OR = 1.83, p < 0.05, 95%CI (1.11, 3.01) for moderately healthy choices). Eating meals at home, gender, eating in front of the TV/screen, and spending more time on the TV and the computer were identified to be significant determinants of children’s food choices.
Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of promoting exposure to healthier food consumption both at home and on the way to school. Moreover, they highlight the necessity for public health policies aimed at enhancing children’s exposure to unprocessed food options. Future research is needed for a better understanding of the factors affecting children’s food choices
Consumers' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards Fresh Produce Safety in Lebanon
Get PDFWithin Lebanese cuisine, the incorporation of raw food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, is considered integral. However, raw fresh produce poses a public health concern, especially in a country such as Lebanon, which has been influenced by financial, medical, and pollution crises. Therefore, this study represents an attempt to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of the Lebanese population towards fresh produce safety and its associated risks, as well as to determine the socio-demographic factors associated with the corresponding KAP parameters. The study was conducted via an online survey that targeted consumers (n=577) aged at least 18 years residing in Lebanon and collected information on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward fresh produce safety and risks. The results showed an appropriate level of knowledge (51.8%), positive attitudes (93.1%), and good practices (75.2%). However, the study revealed some gaps in the knowledge and practices when handling fresh produce at several stages. The multiple logistic regression model reflected that female or those who got their food safety information from the university had a significantly better knowledge level compared to their counterparts (males or those getting food safety information from social media resources, respectively). Similarly, there was a positive significant association between the university as a source of information and having a positive attitude. On the other hand, participants with no source of food safety information, who had higher monthly income, or who completed primary education had bad practices dealing with fresh produce. Finally, the findings highlighted a significant association between the attitudes and practices level only (OR= 3.013, p < 0.05), suggesting that risk perception is a key in determining good practices. However, no significant association was shown between the knowledge and practices level, thereby indicating that good knowledge doesn’t always reflect good food safety practices. In conclusion, public and private sectors need to join efforts to tailor effective educational programs in order to curb the threatening consequences of foodborne illnesses associated with fresh produce consumption in Lebanon
Monge-Ampère Equation
Get PDFIn this work, we focus on studying the Aleksandrov solution of the Monge-Ampère equation. Initially, we develop the notion of a normal mapping and discuss
its properties through proving concepts from convex analysis. Moreover, we define
the Monge-Ampère measure over a Borel sigma algebra as well as proving the maximum and comparison principles of this equation. We conclude our study with solving
the homogeneous and non-homogeneous Dirichlet problems for the Monge-Ampère
operator
Indoor Exposure to Phthalates and Hypertension in the NHANES Data 2017- 2018
Get PDFTitle: Indoor Exposure to Phthalates and Hypertension in the NHANES Data 2017- 2018 Introduction: Hypertension (HT) is a common chronic disease with high prevalence worldwide, in the Arab world and in Lebanon, and is a major contributor to premature death. One of the emerging environmental potential risk factors for HT is the indoor exposure to everyday plastic products containing phthalates. However, the association of phthalates with HT is still controversial. The objective of this study is to examine if this association exists and what factors may modify it. Methods: The study followed a cross-sectional design using secondary data from national US NHANES 2017- 2018 population-based surveys. Multi-stage random sampling was used in this dataset. The data was collected through interviews using questionnaires. The sample size in this analysis was 1,857 participants age ≥ 20 years who had provided urinary specimens in which phthalates’ concentrations were measured. Eight phthalate metabolites are used in this analysis which form low-molecular and high molecular phthalates. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to study the association, along with other covariates. A final best-fit model was later analyzed. Results: At the time of the survey, 37% of the participants had HT. When phthalate monoesters were analyzed separately, an association between mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP) and HT was present (OR=1.01, 95% CI: 1.003- 1.02) at the bivariate level. Other covariates that were statistically significant with HT in the multivariate logistic regression were age, race and BMI. Discussion: The results of this analysis are consistent with other studies showing no association between phthalates and HT at all, and studies showing no association for MEP in specific. The results of this study can be used to evaluate the trend of association between phthalate metabolites and HT across years, since prior studies have used the NHANES datasets of different years resulting in different monoesters being associated with HT. Conclusion: More cohort longitudinal studies should be done to better understand the association between phthalates and HT, as results are not consistent in the literature. Based on this analysis, known and preventable risk factors for HT should be screened and controlled to reduce the additive risk of phthalate on the risk of HT. These may include lowering the BMI to reduce the odds of having HT
The Effects of Epstein-Barr Virus in a Mouse Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
No full textBackground: The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been shown to play a role in amplifying the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic inflammatory malady with a poorly defined etiology. In previous research conducted by our laboratory, EBV DNA was demonstrated to exacerbate IBD in mouse models, which leads to increased production of the pro-autoimmune cytokine IL-17A. We have also reported that the usage of a Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) antagonist managed to alleviate EBV DNA-exacerbated intestinal inflammation in a mouse model of IBD. Hence, the primary aim of this research is to assess the influence of EBV directly rather than DNA, on the exacerbation of IBD, and explore the potential mitigation of this exacerbation through TLR9 inhibition.
Methods: A C57BL/6J mouse model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute colitis was employed in this study. A total of fifty-eight mice were obtained and distributed amongst five groups of ten and one group of eight. Four groups out of six were administered 1.5% DSS in drinking water from day 0 until day 7. The groups were then rectally administered sterile water or 432 x 103 EBV particles in sterile water on day 3. On day 4, two groups of mice were intra-peritoneally injected with 56µg of ODN 2088 (TLR9 inhibitor) in 100µl of sterile water. The effect of EBV and TLR9 inhibition on EBV-exacerbated colitis was assessed based on trends in the disease activity index (DAI), macroscopic assessments of the colon, histological damage grading of H&E-stained colon cross sections, and immunofluorescence staining of pro-inflammatory markers in colon cross sections.
Results: The group that was intra-rectally administered EBV in addition to DSS had a statistically significant increase in the DAI, and histological scores in comparison to the group that only received DSS. The group that received an intra-peritoneal injection of the TLR9 inhibitor in addition to EBV and DSS administration had a statistically significant decrease in the DAI, and histological scores compared to the group that received intra-rectal EBV in addition to the DSS administration. In alignment with the DAI and histology scores, the group that received EBV in addition to DSS had a statistically significant decrease in the colon length in comparison to the group that received DSS alone. The group that received an intra-peritoneal injection of the TLR9 inhibitor in addition to EBV and DSS exhibited a significant increase in colon length compared to the group that received EBV and DSS. Consistent with these findings, the group that received intra-rectal EBV alongside DSS administration had a significant increase in the levels of foci positive for IL-17A, FOXP3, double positive IL-17A+ IFNγ+, and triple positive IL-17A+IFNγ+FOXP3+ foci in comparison to the group that only received DSS. The group that received an intra-peritoneal injection of the TLR9 inhibitor in addition to EBV and DSS had a significant decrease in the number of IL-17A, IFNγ, double positive IL-17A+ IFNγ+ and triple positive IL-17A+IFNγ+FOXP3+ foci found in the gut compared to the group that received EBV and DSS.
Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that EBV exacerbates intestinal inflammation in a mouse model of IBD and that TLR9 inhibition alleviates some of the severity of EBV-exacerbated intestinal inflammation in this mouse model. This indicates that TLR9 inhibition can provide a prospective therapeutic avenue for managing IBD in subjects with EBV infection. Further investigations could explore different dosages of this inhibitor, along with alternative methods of delivery
The State of Statelessness: Rethinking Belonging in Stateless Narratives from Lebanon and Kuwait
Get PDFA stateless individual, as described by the United Nations, is a person who is not considered as a national by any state under the operation of its law. While statelessness is a relatively well-represented issue in humanitarian, political, and anthropological studies, the cultural and literary production of stateless individuals around the world is overlooked and understudied. This thesis examines the aesthetic and narrative structures of two stateless narratives, Qayd El Dars by Lebanese author Lana Abdulrahman and Kaliska by Bidun-Canadian author Nasser Al Dhafiri. It utilizes the critical concepts of legality and spatiality to look at how places in Kaliksa and Qayd El Dars are mapped, and the effects that they have on their inhabitants. Under spatiality, it argues that stateless literature can uncover places of belonging that are often ignored or discredited in the public narrative of the nation-state. The concepts of roots and routes, which are often used in analysis of refugee, exile, and diaspora literature, are revisited from the lens of statelessness. Through a close reading of both content and form, this thesis argues that the arbitrary and self-serving methods employed by the states to exclude the stateless from official national belonging are built into the fabric of the narrative in stateless literature, with the Novel form serving as an embodiment of the totality of the stateless experience and its humanity and interconnectedness
HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE OF EXPATRIATE PATIENTS LIVING WITH CANCER IN ABU DHABI
Get PDFBackground: Advancements in cancer treatments have revolutionized cancer care; however, while effective in combating the disease, toxicities are often introduced that significantly impact a patient’s quality of life1. The United Arab Emirates has witnessed remarkable progress in specialized oncology care services2. The diverse population, predominantly composed of expatriates from various nationalities3, presents unique challenges. An expatriate in Abu Dhabi, diagnosed with and undergoing treatment for cancer, could face an increased risk of lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
Purpose: To describe and explore the determinants of HRQoL of expatriate patients living with cancer in Abu Dhabi and subsequently facilitate the recognition of patients at risk for suboptimal HRQoL.
Methods: This was a quantitative study that recruited patients with hematological and oncological malignancies. Patients were assessed for HRQoL measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – General [FACT-G] scale, depression and anxiety measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS], performance status using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG] score, and acculturation using the Brief Acculturation Scales. Independent t-Test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation were used for analysis. Regression analysis was used to study the associations with the determinants of HRQoL.
Results: A total of 100 cancer patients [mean age 48.5 ± 14.17 years, 65% females] were included. The mean score of FACT-G scale was 78.52 ±18.77, indicating a good overall HRQoL. Lower HRQoL was associated with increased age (r=0.22; p=0.02), lack of an employment visa (mean HRQoL score of 44 ± 15.55 versus 80.84 ± 17.28; p=0.039 for those with employment visa), lower psychological adaptation (r= -0.27; p<0.01), higher anxiety (r= -0.56; p<0.01), higher depression (r= -0.75; p<0.01), and worse performance status [t(98)=3.9; p<0.001]. Patients who had difficulty in communicating with doctors/nurses (mean=47.01 ± 27; p=0.002) and in accessing their healthcare information (mean=61.48 ± 25.76; p=0.014) also scored lower on the FACT-G scale. Based on the stepwise multiple linear regression, worse performance status, higher depression, visa type, and difficulty accessing healthcare information predicted 63% of the variance in patients' HRQoL [F(4, 95) = 43.071; p<0.001].
Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that patients’ functionality, psychological well-being, visa status, and their ability to effectively access their healthcare information have an independent and substantial relationship to their health-related quality of life. Understanding these patients’ experiences can aid the healthcare practitioners, expatriates themselves, to tailor their treatment options and improve their quality of life
Organic Electrochemical Transistors Printed via Inkjet Technology for Bio-Interfacing Applications
No full textOrganic Electrochemical Transistors (OECTs) are experiencing rapid growth in biomedical applications, becoming increasingly integral to bio-electronic interfaces. Traditionally, high-performing OECTs are fabricated in cleanrooms using cumbersome and costly multistep photolithography, spin-coating, and lift-off processes. These methods complicate and limit their integration with chemically and thermally sensitive materials. In contrast, drop-on-demand inkjet printing has emerged as a highly promising alternative, offering versatility and precision.
The objective of this thesis is to develop and optimize inkjet-printed OECTs for molecular sensing and electrophysiological monitoring applications. We systematically fabricate and characterize these inkjet-printed OECTs by varying their geometrical parameters, including the width, length, and thickness of their active channels. Comprehensive analyses of their electrical properties will be conducted, focusing on current-voltage characteristics, amplification capabilities, response times, and cut-off frequencies.
High-speed and flexible devices will be utilized to record electrocorticography signals in vivo in a rat model, particularly for the detection of epileptic seizures. Additionally, high-amplifying and ultra-stable OECTs will be employed to detect circulating heart failure biomarkers.
This research aims to establish reliable fabrication protocols and demonstrate the broad applicability of inkjet-printed OECTs in various biomedical domains. We aim to develop an inkjet fabrication protocol that produces biosensors with high stability and reproducibility, achieving performance metrics comparable to those of photolithographed devices. Our discussion includes the metrics required for successful integration in various bio-interfacing applications. We show that bench-top inkjet printers can effectively fabricate high-performing OECTs, providing a reproducible solution for diverse bioelectronic interfacing applications, from molecular sensing to electrophysiological monitoring. All in all, this work streamlines OECT integration into bioelectronic platforms, expanding their applicability across biomedical domains
Stochastic Multizonal Electricity Generation Capacity Expansion Planning Under Weather and Demand Uncertainties
Get PDFInvestment decision-making in the electricity sector is a complex process due to the inherent long-term uncertainties found at every level: weather conditions, fuel prices, demand growth, and technological advancements. Generation Expansion Planning (GEP) models determine the technology of power generation units to be constructed, their capacity, and the year of construction to ensure that projected demand is met throughout the planning horizon. Open research questions in generation expansion planning include the choice of the size of the representative periods used to reduce model complexity and the way multi-year historical weather and demand data are incorporated into the analysis. Stochastic optimization is a branch of optimization that incorporates uncertainties within an optimization model by defining uncertain scenarios with probabilities of occurrence. In this thesis, we develop a stochastic multizonal electricity generation expansion planning model focused on addressing weather- and demand-related uncertainties. The analysis compares different sets of input scenarios that vary by the size of representative periods or incorporate multiple historical meteorological years against deterministic approaches. We show that stochastic optimization leads to minimizing the risk of choosing biased sample data in terms of net present costs and unmet demand compared to deterministic approaches based on single data sets or employing scenario averaging techniques. Other issues related to the effects of incorporating operational details on investment decisions are further discussed and analyzed along with their practical implications
AraDialAug: A Meta-Learning and Data Augmentation Approach for Arabic Dialogue Generation
No full textArabic dialogue generation presents unique challenges due to the language's rich
morphology and the scarcity of data resources. Recent advances have employed metalearning to facilitate fast adaptation of language models to low-resource domains. This
thesis builds upon such groundwork by introducing paraphrase data augmentation to
further improve the generalization and adaptation capabilities of pre-trained models in
Arabic Natural Language Generation (NLG). We propose an enhanced approach that
leverages a fine-tuned ARAT5 model with meta-learning via the Reptile algorithm. Our
methodology encompasses augmenting both the context and responses within the
auxiliary and target datasets. We incorporate paraphrase data augmentation for 10% and
30% of the seed data, examining the resultant impact on model performance. Our
experiments demonstrate significant improvements in dialogue generation quality, as
evidenced by higher BLEU-4 scores and Semantic Textual Similarity (STS) metrics in
intrinsic evaluation, even with limited data. These results surpass those achieved by the
state-of-the-art methods described in prior work. The qualitative extrinsic evaluations
reinforce the quantitative metrics, indicating a noticeable enhancement in the fluency and
relevance of the generated responses. Our findings suggest that paraphrase data
augmentation, when used judiciously within the framework of meta-learning, can serve
as a powerful tool for advancing the field of Arabic conversational AI, particularly in
low-resource scenarios