Digital Commons Network^™

Bioremediation And Phytoremediation Of Diesel Fuel Contaminated Soil Using Organic Wastes / Arezoo Dadras Nia, Arezoo Dadrasnia

Student Works (2010-2019)

Contamination of soil by organic compounds, especially hydrocarbon, is prevalent in industrialized and oil producing countries of the world. About 1.7 to 8.8 million metric tons of oil is released into the water and soils every year. This may pose a great threat to the environment and human being at large. This study evaluated the efficiency of organic wastes (biowastes) as supplementations for remediation of diesel fuel contaminated soil. Three organic wastes [tea leaf (TL), Soybean cake (SC) and Potato skin (PS)] and two economically viable plants (Dracaena reflexa and Podocarpus polystachyus) were utilized to evaluate the biodegradation of diesel …

Application Of Polypyrrole And Polypyrrole/Polyethylenimine For The Removal Of Some Heavy Metal Ions From Aqueous Solution / Samira Hosseini, Samira Hosseini

Student Works (2010-2019)

Polypyrrole (Ppy) prepared by chemical oxidation using FeCl3 as the oxidant has exhibited 100% sorption capacity for the removal of heavy metal ions (Pb, Ni, Cu, Cd and Zn) from aqueous solutions. Batch adsorption results showed that solution pH had a major impact on metal adsorption. 100% heavy metal absorption was found at pH 7. At both acidic and alkaline solutions beyond pH 7, the adsorption capacity of Ppy was substantially lowered. The effects of other important parameters such as initial concentration of lead stock solution, contact time and the sorbent dosage on the uptake of metallic ions were also …

Antioxidant And Cytotoxicity Activities Of Veitchia Merrillii Fruits / Ali Vafaei, Ali Vafaei

Student Works (2010-2019)

Veitchia merrillii (Arecaceae family) is commonly known as the "Christmas Palm" because its fruits become bright scarlet and tend to be that color in winter. A study was conducted to evaluate Veitchia merrillii fruits for the presence of total phenolic and flavonoid contents and determine antioxidant activity as well as cytotoxicity effects of extracts with solvents methanol, ethyl acetate and water. Further more, qualitative and quantitative composition of phenolics and flavonoid compounds in all extracts were also analyzed using RP-HPLC. The results of the study showed that methanol extract gave the highest yield compared to the other solvents used. The …

Molecular Strategies For Control Of Cymbidium Mosaic Virus / Adriya Binti Dzulkurnain @ Hamidi, Adriya Dzulkurnain @ Hamidi

Student Works (2010-2019)

Orchid, amongst the most popular flowers in the world, play a major role in the economy of many Asian countries. However, detrimental effects by various viruses can reduce the economic value of this horticultural crop. There have been a number of viruses known to occur in orchids globally with one of the most common being Cymbidium mosaic virus (CymMV). Plant genetic engineering approaches have been successful in producing crops with viral resistance, however there has been a concern expressed that resistance resulting from single gene constructs might be rather narrow (specific to only certain virus sub-type) could easily break down. …

Task Specific Ionic Liquids Mixed Palm Shell Activated Carbon As Ion Selective Electrodes For Cd(Ii) And Hg(Ii) Detection / Ahmed Abu Ismaiel, Ahmed Abu Ismaiel

Student Works (2010-2019)

Ion selective electrodes (ISEs) are potentiometric sensors used to measure some of the most critical analytes in environmental laboratory. Despite their easy fabrication, simple usage, and low cost, ISEs suffer from long response times, low response sensitivity, interference by a number of metal ions, long equilibration times and short lifetimes. Therefore, the development of new ISE materials that can address some of these limitations is a worthwhile and challenging topic of research. In this study, the combination of activated carbon with task specific ionic liquids has resulted in a unique new generation paste in which the traditional components have been …

Antibacterial Properties Of Synthetic Peptides And Schiff Base Compounds Against Different Types Of Clinical Bacteria / Chow Wei Chon, Wei Chon Chow

Student Works (2010-2019)

The emergence of multiple drug-resistant nosocomial pathogens affects the efficacy of chemotherapeutic treatment of infectious diseases in patients. Therefore, continuous development of new synthetic antibacterial compounds such as the synthetic peptides and Schiff base complexes to complement the current antibiotic treatment is essential. The in-vitro antibacterial activities of six synthetic cationic peptides and twenty-nine synthetic Schiff base complexes towards selected sixteen clinical strains of multiple drug-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Acinetobacter baumannii (AC), Klebsiella pneumoniae (KB) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) were investigated in this study. Evaluation of the antibacterial activities were determined through disk diffusion testing, broth micro-dilution assay for …

The "Unseen" In Islamic Creed : A Critical Study On The Sceptics Of The "Unseen" In Islam / Jamal Bendaoud, Jamal Bendaoud

Student Works (2010-2019)

Kepercayaan kepada perkara ghaib adalah asas iktikad dalam setiap agama yang berdasarkan kepercayaan kepada Allah, bahkan ia dianggap sebagai keistimewaan dalam sesuatu akidah. Justeru, ia merupakan suatu perkara yang tidak sepatutnya disangkal oleh manusia kerana ia adalah suatu yang benar datangnya daripada kitab-kitab suci. Kajian ini pertamanya akan menjelaskan tentang pandangan manusia terhadap perkara ghaib dan membuktikan bahawa semua agama mengakui kewujudannya. Seterusnya, kajian ini membincangkan tentang sumber-sumber yang menjadi asas kepercayaan terhadap perkara ghaib di mana ia menegaskan tentang pentingnya peranan wahyu sebagai sumber kepercayaan selain menjelaskan tentang integrasi sumber antara wahyu, akal dan perasaan atau naluri semulajadi. Kajian …

Investigation Of Glycolipids Self-Assemblies Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy And Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering / Noor Idayu Binti Mat Zahid, Noor Idayu Mat Zahid

Student Works (2010-2019)

Glycolipids are one of the essential components of the cell membranes to carry out selected biological functions. Even though the study to resolve the ambiguity of biological membrane processes is continuously pursuit, it is now generally recognized that the lipids form lyotropic mesophases in the membranes. These phases are important biologically and technologically, thus our interest to characterize them. Herein, we investigate the microenvironment of various lipidic phases formed by mono- and dialkylated synthetic glycolipids using fluorescence technique. Both single and branched-chain synthetic glycolipids were observed to exhibit normal and inverse mesophases respectively. The polarity of different regions of the …

The Ecology Of Stomatopods In Matang Waters With Emphasis On Miyakea Nepa And Oratosquillina Perpensa / Ng Ying Pei, Ying Pei Ng

Student Works (2010-2019)

An ecological study of the adult and larvae of stomatopods was carried out in the estuary of the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve (Malaysia) and its adjacent coastal waters. The study investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of the adult stomatopod population; estimated the various parameters of stomatopod population dynamics; and elucidated the reproduction biology, larval ecology and feeding habits of stomatopods. Monthly trawl surveys (from September 2004 to February 2006) of adult stomatopods revealed four stomatopod species of the family Squillidae. Miyakea nepa (Latreille, 1828) was the most abundant species (16.36±12.48 ind/ha; 65.41%) followed by Oratosquillina perpensa (Kemp. 1911) (6.63±10.74 …

Isolation And Characterisation Of Polylactic Acid-Degrading Actinobacteria / Lim Peek Eek, Peek Eek Lim

Student Works (2010-2019)

Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the biodegradable plastics available in the market where the monomers lactic acids are joined together by ester bonds. Actinobacteria is a bacterial group with high G+C mol% and capability to produce various kinds of useful secondary substrates due to their unique metabolic pathways. In this study, soil samples from a contaminated landfill site and a non-contaminated soil at camp site were collected and screened for actinobacteria that have the ability to degrade PLA. PLA-emulsified medium, which contains only PLA as carbon source, was used as selective isolation medium to isolate PLA degraders from soil …

Gastroprotective And Healing Effects Of Hericium Erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. Extracts On Ethanol-Induced Ulcers In Sprague Dawley Rats / Wong Jing Yang, Jing Yang Wong

Student Works (2010-2019)

Hericium erinaceus (Bull. Fr.) Pers. is a well-known culinary-medicinal mushroom that is used in traditional Chinese and Japanese cooking and herbal medicine to treat various human diseases. The objectives of the present investigation was to evaluate the gastroprotection and healing effects by aqueous extracts of the basidiocarps H. erinaceus against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats. In acute toxicity study, all animals did not show any abnormal behavioural expressions and toxicological signs. Seven groups of rats were pre-treated orally with distilled water as the normal group; distilled water as ulcer group; 20 mg/kg of omeprazole as positive group; 50, 100, 200, …

A Comparison Of Ethnobiological Knowledge Between The Mah Meri And Temuan Tribes In Selangor / Azliza Mad Anuar, Azliza Mad Anuar

Student Works (2010-2019)

No abstract provided.

Food Resource Availability For Carnaby's Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus Latirostris On The Swan Coast Plain, Teagan Johnston

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

To achieve a balance between sustainable development and conservation of threatened species, management depends on understanding the predicted response and interaction of that species with their environment in order to develop appropriate mitigating solutions. The Carnaby’s cockatoo Calyptorhynchus latirostris is declining across much of its range due to the detrimental effect of habitat degradation and loss. Since the decline of food resource availability in non-breeding areas is believed to be contributing to the reduction in the number of Carnaby’s cockatoos knowledge of the birds’ foraging ecology and the influence of external factors on food resource availability is essential for effective …

Investigating The Implementation Of The Indonesian Ktsp (School-Based Curriculum) In The Teaching Of Writing In Year Two, Sulfasyah

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study focused on the interpretation and implementation of the Kurikulum Tingkat Satuan Pendidikan (KTSP) in primary schools in Makassar City, Indonesia. The KTSP is a school-based curriculum which was introduced in 2006 and became compulsory across Indonesia in 2009. The main purpose of the study was to explore teachers‟ interpretation of the KTSP in relation to teaching writing to Year 2 students; to investigate how these teachers implemented the KTSP when teaching writing; and, to identify factors that influenced their interpretation and implementation of the KTSP in relation to writing. The teachers‟ interpretation and implementation of this new curriculum …

Verticordia Micropropagation Through Direct Ex Vitro Rooting, Belinda Delaney

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The objective of this study was to improve the existing shoot multiplication protocol for Verticordia grandis (McComb, Arthur & Newll, 1986; Newell, Growns & McComb, 2005) and to investigate and establish reliable root induction and acclimatisation protocols to enhance survival of micropropagated plantlets. It was envisaged that these protocols would be successful in micropropagation, growth and survival of different V. grandis clones and possibly applicable to other Verticordia species.

The elongation of in vitro Verticordia shoots on multiplication media was improved by reducing the concentration of BAP from 1μM to 0.25 μM, which resulted in a more uniform shoot length …

On The Recognition Of Emotion From Physiological Data, Warren Creemers

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This work encompasses several objectives, but is primarily concerned with an experiment where 33 participants were shown 32 slides in order to create ‗weakly induced emotions‘. Recordings of the participants‘ physiological state were taken as well as a self report of their emotional state. We then used an assortment of classifiers to predict emotional state from the recorded physiological signals, a process known as Physiological Pattern Recognition (PPR). We investigated techniques for recording, processing and extracting features from six different physiological signals: Electrocardiogram (ECG), Blood Volume Pulse (BVP), Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), Electromyography (EMG), for the corrugator muscle, skin temperature …

Inorganic Hydrogeochemical Responses To Fires In Wetland Sediments On The Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia, David Blake

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

In the past decade the wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain (SCP) region of Western Australia have been subject to increasing fire frequency and intensity. Whilst wetland sediment fires (also known as peat fires) on the SCP are not new phenomena, the increased frequency, duration and extent of combustion have been concomitant with an increase in urbanisation and reduction in average annual rainfall for the region. This has led to a decrease in ground- and surface-water levels which, in turn, has increased the susceptibility of the wetland sediments to ignition and combustion events. Increased wetland fire severity has resulted in …

A Study Of The Spatial Dynamics Of Some Introduced Avian Species In The Southwest Region Of Western Australia, Desiree L. Moon

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The Southwest region of Western Australia is a recognised ‘biodiversity hotspot’, as it possesses high levels of biodiversity and endemism; it also holds a number of species threatened by habitat loss. The arrival of Europeans in the region wrought major changes on the natural landscape. Extensive tracts of bushland were cleared for housing, infrastructure, forestry, farming, and mining. Another challenge to regional biodiversity was the spread of exotic plants and animals (including birds); the latter provide the focus for the present study. The research examines four bird species that colonised the Southwest region following European settlement: Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis …

Analysis And Determinants Of Sustainability Policy Choice Of Local Councils In Australia : A Test Of Stakeholder Theory, Clive P. Oliver

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Since the early 1990’s, issues of sustainability involving community, government and industry have gained momentum, and the environment has become the focus of numerous studies, such as those undertaken by Young and Hayes (2002); Yuan (2001); Staley (2006); Mellahi and Wood (2004); Hezri and Hasan (2006); Dowse 2006; Wilmhurst and Frost (2000); and Qian, Burritt and Monroe (2010). Cotter and Hannan (1999, p.11) also discussed the impetus of a United Nations summit in 1992, known as the Earth Summit, which resulted in Local Agenda 21, a blueprint for action to achieve sustainable development.

Global sustainability is currently a major focus …

Muscle Damage And Metabolic Profiles Of Eccentric Cycling, Luis Penailillo

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Eccentric cycling, in which the knee extensor muscles perform eccentric contractions while trying to brake the backward rotational movements of the cranks of a cycle ergometer, has been shown to effectively increase muscle function and volume with a low metabolic cost. However, acute responses to repeated eccentric cycling bouts have not been well documented. Thus, the primary purposes of this PhD project were to investigate muscle damage and metabolic profiles of eccentric cycling in comparison to concentric cycling (Studies 1-3), and muscle-tendon behaviour (Study 4) during eccentric cycling in relation to muscle damage.

Study 1 compared muscle damage and metabolic …

Homing : Poetry ; &, An Essay On The Poetic Leap In The Late Work Of R.S. Thomas, Shevaun Cooley

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Homing, as a collection, speaks to the capacity and yearning to navigate our way towards something we might call home. In animal behaviour, this seems like an instinct, hard-wired to the body. It is something I envy. By comparison, the instinct, in human behaviour, feels muffled and complicated.

These poems move between two places in which I feel ‘at home’, whatever that means: the south-west of Western Australia, where I was born and raised, and the north-west of Wales, where I lived for a time, and find myself returning to, drawn not by blood, but by longing, and a deep …

The Biology And Ecology Of Epinephilidae Speciea And Their Implications To Fisheries Management, Jason R. How

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis examines the biological and ecological aspects of members of the globally exploited Epinephilidae with reference to fisheries management and in particular the use of closures. The leopard coralgrouper Plectropomus leopardus is a common reef fish throughout the Indo-Pacific region and a major target of both commercial and recreational fisheries. There has been limited research on this species in the eastern Indian Ocean, where there are only two populations. An examination of the species found a number of significant biological differences to their eastern Australian con-specifics. Most noticeable was the strong size-related cue over their protogynous sex change. The …

Lindsay's Legacy: The Tragedy That Triggered Law Reform To Prevent Teen Dating Violence, D. Kelly Weisberg

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Using Digital Technologies To Improve The Authenticity Of Performance Assessment For High-Stakes Purposes, Christopher P. Newhouse

Research outputs 2013

This paper reports on the outcomes of a three-year study investigating the use of digital technologies to increase the authenticity of high-stakes summative assessment in four Western Australian senior secondary courses. The study involved 82 teachers and 1015 students and a range of digital forms of assessment using computer-based exams, digital portfolios and audiovisual recordings. The results were analysed using a feasibility framework concerning manageability, technical facility, functional operation and pedagogic alignment. By the end of the study, each form of assessment that was implemented was found to be feasible once some obstacles were overcome. Two methods of marking were …

High-Frequency Stimulation Of Nucleus Accumbens Changes In Dopaminergic Reward Circuit, Na Yan, Ning Chen, Honghua Zhu, Jianguo Zhang, Moira Sim, Yu Ma, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2013

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a potential remedial therapy for drug craving and relapse, but the mechanism is poorly understood. We investigated changes in neurotransmitter levels during high frequency stimulation (HFS) of the unilateral NAc on morphine-induced rats. Sixty adult Wistar rats were randomized into five groups: the control group (administration of saline), the morphine-only group (systematic administration of morphine without electrode implantation), the morphine-sham-stimulation group (systematic administration of morphine with electrode implantation but not given stimulation), the morphine-stimulation group (systematic administration of morphine with electrode implantation and stimulation) and the saline-stimulation group (administration of …

Increased Risk For Obesity And Diabetes With Neurodegeneration In Developing Countries [Journal Article], Ian J. Martins

Research outputs 2013

The incidence of global obesity and Type 2 diabetes has increased and is predicted to rise to 30% of the global population. Diet and lifestyle factors are incapable to resolve the increased incidence for obesity and diabetes in various populations of the world. Developing countries have come to the forefront because of the higher diabetic epidemic. The urbanization may possibly provide an explanation for the global diabetic epidemic. In Western countries the metabolic syndrome and non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have reached 30 % of the population and now at present NAFLD afflicts 20% of developing populations. Western diets …

Where To Vocational Education In Kenya? Is Analysing Training And Development Needs The Answer To The Challenges In This Sector?, Susan W. Ngure

Research outputs 2013

This paper examines training and development (T&D) systems in the technical, vocational education and training (TVET) in Kenya. It is in response to the Kenya Vision 2030 document that identifies TVET as the anchor of its economic pillar through science, technology and innovation to boost Kenya’s industrialisation status. The document notes that skills training faces challenges such as mismatch of skills between the training institutions and the industry, and disparities in accessibility at all levels. This paper seeks to explore whether the accurate assessment of training needs is the answer to the challenges faced by the training program. Data for …

Threats And Knowledge Gaps For Ecosystem Services Provided By Kelp Forests: A Northeast Atlantic Perspective, Dan A. Smale, Michael T. Burrows, Philippa J. Moore, Nessa O'Connor, Stephen J. Hawkins

Research outputs 2013

Kelp forests along temperate and polar coastlines represent some of most diverse and productive habitats on the Earth. Here, we synthesize information from >60 years of research on the structure and functioning of kelp forest habitats in European waters, with particular emphasis on the coasts of UK and Ireland, which represents an important biogeographic transition zone that is subjected to multiple threats and stressors. We collated existing data on kelp distribution and abundance and reanalyzed these data to describe the structure of kelp forests along a spatial gradient spanning more than 10° of latitude. We then examined ecological goods and …

Review Of Kidney Disease Among Indigenous People, Sasha A. Stumpers, Neil J. Thomson

Research outputs 2013

Kidney disease is a significant health problem for all Australians, but severe kidney disease is more common among Indigenous people than among non- Indigenous people. In particular, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the overall levels of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are consistently reported as significantly higher than among other Australians. Information on CKD among Indigenous Australians is available from self-reported survey data, as well as from community-based studies and screening programs [10-20] but the main focus in the literature has been on ESKD. The incidence of ESKD is especially high …

A New Species Of Neocauculus (Acari: Prostigmata: Caeculidae) From Barrow Island, Western Australia, With A Checklist Of World Cauculidae, Christopher Taylor, Nihara Gunawardene, Adrianne C. Kinnear

Research outputs 2013

Neocaeculus imperfectus new species is described from material collected on Barrow Island, Western Australia. Keys to genera and Australasian species of Caeculidae are provided, and the relationship between the genera Neocaeculus and Microcaeculus is discussed. A checklist of species for Caeculidae is provided.