Digital Commons Network^™

A Hands-On, Active Learning Approach To Increasing Manufacturing Knowledge In Engineering Students, Jay R. Goldberg, David B. Rank

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

This paper describes a new learning module implemented as part of the senior capstone design course at Marquette University to teach engineering students about basic manufacturing processes, lean manufacturing principles, and design for manufacturability. The module includes several examples of active and student centered learning as part of an in-class assembly line simulation exercise. Students reflected on this experience, and suggested process improvements to save time, reduce cost and waste, and improve the assembly line process. They learned of the importance of manufacturing documentation, process design, and design for assembly. At the end of the module, students understood the importance …

Plain Packaging For Cigarettes Improves Retail Transaction Times, Owen B. Carter, Matthew Welch, Brennen W. Mills, Tina Phan, Paul Chang

Research outputs 2013

No abstract provided.

Tuning Of The Transverse Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect In Magneto-Plasmonic Crystals, Martin Pohl, L. E. Kreilkamp, Vladimir I. Belotelov, Ilya A. Akimov, A N. Kalish, N E. Khokhlov, V J. Yallapragada, A V. Gopal, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, Mikhail Vasiliev, D R. Yakovlev, Kamal Alameh, A K. Zvezdin, M Bayer

Research outputs 2013

The spectral properties of the transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect (TMOKE) in periodic metal–dielectric hybrid structures are studied, in particular with respect to the achievable magnitude. It is shown that the TMOKE is sensitive to the magneto-optical activity of the bismuth-substituted rare-earth iron garnet, which is used as a dielectric material in the investigated structures. For samples with larger Bi substitution level and, consequently, larger gyration constant, the magnitude of the TMOKE increases and reaches 13% in the case of a Bi1.8Lu1.2Fe3.6Al1.4O12 magnetic film. Further, it is demonstrated that the TMOKE vanishes at the high-symmetry points of the Brillouin zone (at …

Association Between Γ-Glutamyl Transferase And Metabolic Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study Of An Adult Population In Beijing, Lixin Tao, Xia Li, Huiping Zhu, Yue Gao, Yanxia Luo, Wei Wang, Zhaoping Wang, Dongning Chen, Lijuan Wu, Xiuhua Guo

Research outputs 2013

The relationship between liver enzymes and clustered components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is explored and the predictive power of γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) for the diagnosis of MetS in an adult population in Beijing is investigated. A total of 10,553 adults aged 20-65 years who underwent health examinations at Beijing Tongren Hospital in 2012 were enrolled in the study. Multivariate logistic regression analysis is conducted to determine the associations between the levels of various liver enzymes and clustered components of MetS. A receiver operating characteristic analysis is used to determine the optimal cut-off value of GGT for the diagnosis of MetS. …

The Ecology Of Medical Care In Beijing, Shuang Shao, Feifei Zhao, Jing Wang, Lei Feng, Xiaoqin Lu, Juan Du, Yuxiang Yan, Chao Wang, Yinghong Fu, Jingjing Wu, Xinwei Yu, Kaykeng Khoo, Youxin Wang, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2013

Background: We presented the pattern of health care consumption, and the utilization of available resources by describing the ecology of medical care in Beijing on a monthly basis and by describing the socio-demographic characteristics associated with receipt care in different settings. Methods: A cohort of 6,592 adults, 15 years of age and older were sampled to estimate the number of urbanresident adults per 1,000 who visited a medical facility at least once in a month, by the method of three-stage stratified and cluster random sampling. Separate logistic regression analyses assessed the association between those receiving care in different types of …

Promoting The Case For Using A Research Journal To Document And Reflect On The Research Experience, David Lamb

Research outputs 2013

This paper draws upon a personal research journey and makes the case for recording this experience using a research journal. tol The context for this paper is based on a study of family life and leisure, which collected data using more traditional qualitative methods, namely focus groups and interviews with pre-birth and post birth couples and leisure managers in New Zealand. The research design for this study was based on phenomenology, where the experience of the subjects being studied was significant and involved developing an understanding of the lived experiences of pre-birth and post-birth couples, where the way they acted …

The Hotel Comment Card: A Motivator Of Guest Satisfaction, Alfred W. Ogle, Stephen M. Fanning

Research outputs 2013

This paper explores the traditional pen and paper hotel comment card (HCC) from the guests’ perspective to gain an insight and to improve its effectiveness. The HCC has long been the predominant method of soliciting guest feedback. Although electronic methods of collection are now available the HCC has a sense of familiarity, has general acceptance, and is widely employed. Initially, a literature review of the hotel comment card is provided. Then, the study explores how frequent guests categorize HCC attributes. These attributes are then extended to include evaluation criteria identified in the literature and desired by hotel managers. The extended …

Resilience: The Role Of Optimism, Perceived Parental Autonomy Support And Perceived Social Support In First Year University Students, Michelle Dawson, Julie Ann Pooley

Research outputs 2013

Throughout our lifespan we face many challenges which are often referred to as transitions. The move to university is one such transition which may place individuals at risk of suffering ongoing significant life stress, anxiety and uncertainty. Optimism, promotion of independent functioning (PIF), promotion of volitional functioning (PVF) and perceived social support (PSS) appear to be beneficial in coping with university transition and positive adaptation to adversity as well as being associated both directly and indirectly with resilience. This study was conducted in two stages which examined the mechanisms of optimism, PIF, PVF and PSS and their predictive relationship with …

The Piloting Of An Academic Literacy Education Course (Alec) To Improve Academic Literacy Of First Semester Undergraduate Students In A Western Australian University, Joyce M. Hendricks, Lesley J. Andrew, Amanda C. Fowler

Research outputs 2013

Widening participation has enabled access to higher education for an increasing number of students via a range of non-traditional pathways. Consequently, whilst having a large repertoire of skills and experience, these students may not have developed sufficient competence in academic literacy. The School of Nursing and Midwifery has a large proportion of such students who have difficulty making the academic transition to university study. It is believed that a ‘built in’ approach to supporting these students to develop academic literacy will result in an improvement in their abilities to meet the requirements of the University and to better prepare them …

Urban Runoff Treatment Using Nano-Sized Iron Oxide Coated Sand With And Without Magnetic Field Applying, Mehdi Khiadani, Mansur Zarrabi, Maryam Foroughi

Research outputs 2013

Increase of impervious surfaces in urban area followed with increases in runoff volume and peak flow, leads to increase in urban storm water pollution. The polluted runoff has many adverse impacts on human life and environment. For that reason, the aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of nano iron oxide coated sand with and without magnetic field in treatment of urban runoff. In present work, synthetic urban runoff was treated in continuous separate columns system which was filled with nano iron oxide coated sand with and without magnetic field. Several experimental parameters such as heavy metals, turbidity, …

Tackling Overweight And Obesity: Does The Public Health Message Match The Science?, Katherine Hafekost, David Lawrence, Francis Mitrou, Therese O'Sullivan, Stephen Zubrick

Research outputs 2013

Background: Despite the increasing understanding of the mechanisms relating to weight loss and maintenance, there are currently no validated public health interventions that are able to achieve sustained long-term weight loss or to stem the increasing prevalence of obesity in the population. We aimed to examine the models of energy balance underpinning current research about weight-loss intervention from the field of public health, and to determine whether they are consistent with the model provided by basic science. EMBASE was searched for papers published in 2011 on weight-loss interventions. We extracted details of the population, nature of the intervention, and key …

A Review Of Cricket Fielding Requirements, D Macdonald, John B. Cronin, J Mills, Michael Mcguigan, R Stretch

Research outputs 2013

Cricket is played in three formats at elite level: Test, One Day and Twenty20. Fielding is an important component of cricket, as all players are obliged to field. However, there is a paucity of literature on fielding compared with that on batting and bowling. We review the available literature in terms of technical, mental, physiological and physical factors important to fielding, to identify knowledge gaps and better understand the performance requirements of fielding in cricket.

Coastal Bacterioplankton Community Dynamics In Response To A Natural Disturbance, Sara K. Yeo, Megan J. Huggett, Alexander Eiler, Michael Rappe

Research outputs 2013

In order to characterize how disturbances to microbial communities are propagated over temporal and spatial scales in aquatic environments, the dynamics of bacterial assemblages throughout a subtropical coastal embayment were investigated via SSU rRNA gene analyses over an 8-month period, which encompassed a large storm event. During non-perturbed conditions, sampling sites clustered into three groups based on their microbial community composition: an offshore oceanic group, a freshwater group, and a distinct and persistent coastal group. Significant differences in measured environmental parameters or in the bacterial community due to the storm event were found only within the coastal cluster of sampling …

Stories Of Snow And Fire: The Importance Of Narrative To A Critically Pluralistic Environmental Aesthetic, John C. Ryan

Research outputs 2013

Written narratives enable humans to appreciate the natural world in aesthetic terms. Firstly, narratives can galvanize for the reader a sense for another person’s experience of nature through the aesthetic representation of that experience in language. Secondly, narratives can encode and document for the human appreciator as writer an experience of nature in aesthetic terms. Through different narrative lenses, the compelling qualities of environments can be crystallized for both the reader (who vicariously experiences nature through language) and the human appreciator (who directly experiences nature through the senses). However, according to philosopher Allen Carlson’s “natural environmental model” of landscape aesthetics, …

Application Of Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root As A Novel Adsorbent In The Removal Of Toluene Vapors: Equilibrium, Kinetic, And Thermodynamic Study, Fazel Mohammadi-Moghadam, Mohammad Mehdi Amin,, Mehdi Khiadani, Fariborz Momenbeik, Heshmatollah Nourmoradi, Mohammad Sadegh Hatamipour

Research outputs 2013

The aim of this paper is to investigate the removal of toluene from gaseous solution through Glycyrrhiza glabra root (GGR) as a waste material. The batch adsorption experiments were conducted at various conditions including contact time, adsorbate concentration, humidity, and temperature. The adsorption capacity was increased by raising the sorbent humidity up to 50 percent. The adsorption of toluene was also increased over contact time by 12 h when the sorbent was saturated. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich model fitted the adsorption data better than other kinetic and isotherm models, respectively. The Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm also showed that the …

Emotion Regulation In Bipolar Disorder: Are Emotion Regulation Abilities Less Compromised In Euthymic Bipolar Disorder Than Unipolar Depressive Or Anxiety Disorders?, Rodrigo Becerra, Kate Cruise, Greg Murray, Darryl Bassett, Craig Harms, Alfred Allan, Sean Hood

Research outputs 2013

This study investigated the profile of emotion dysregulation in Bipolar Disorder (BD) and com- pared it to Unipolar Depression, Anxiety, and Heal- thy control groups. Methods: 148 euthymic patients diagnosed with BD (n = 48), Unipolar Depressive dis- order (n = 50), Anxiety disorder (n = 50), and a Healthy Control (HC) group (n = 48) were evaluated using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). The DERS yields a total score in addition to scores on six subcomponents believed to encapsulate the emotion dysregulation construct. Results: Com- pared to the healthy control group, all clinical groups (BD, Unipolar Depression, …

Treatment Of Synthetic Urban Runoff Using Manganese Oxide-Coated Sand In The Presence Of Magnetic Field, Maryam Foroughi, Mehdi Khiadani, Mohammad Mehdi Amin, Hamid Reza Pourzamani, Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi

Research outputs 2013

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficiency of manganese oxide‑coated sand in the presence of magnetic field to treat urban runoff. Materials and Methods: A flow‑through column having a diameter of 50 mm was filled with coated sand and used to conduct the experiments in this study. Atomic absorption, turbidimeter, pH meter, and spectrophotometer DR5000 were used to measure heavy metals, turbidity, pH, phosphate, and nitrate, respectively. The surface of coated sand was assessed by SEM. Energy dispersive X‑ray analysis (EDAX) analysis was used to determine percentage of sand components. Results: SEM and EDAX analyses confirmed …

Energy Efficiency Performance Improvements For Ant-Based Routing Algorithm In Wireless Sensor Networks, A. M. Zungeru, Kah Phooi Seng, Li-Minn Ang, W.C. Chia

Research outputs 2013

The main problem for event gathering in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is the restricted communication range for each node. Due to the restricted communication range and high network density, event forwarding in WSNs is very challenging and requires multihop data forwarding. Currently, the energy-efficient ant based routing (EEABR) algorithm, based on the ant colony optimization (ACO) metaheuristic, is one of the state-of-the-art energy-aware routing protocols. In this paper, we propose three improvements to the EEABR algorithm to further improve its energy efficiency. The improvements to the original EEABR are based on the following: (1) a new scheme to intelligently initialize …

Characteristics And Quality Of Life Of Patients Presenting To Cancer Support Centres: Patient Rated Outcomes And Use Of Complementary Therapies, Bonnie J. Furzer, Kemi E. Wright, Anna S. Petterson, Karen E. Wallman, Timothy R. Ackland, David Jl Joske

Research outputs 2013

Background: In order to effectively target and provide individualised patient support strategies it is crucial to have a comprehensive picture of those presenting for services. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics and patient rated outcomes of individuals presenting to SolarisCare cancer support centres and their choices regarding complementary and integrated therapies (CIT).Methods: A cohort with a current or previous cancer diagnosis aged 18 - 87 years presenting to a SolarisCare centre during a 5-day period completed a questionnaire. Four SolarisCare centres participated in the trial including regional and metropolitan locations. Outcomes included medical and demographic characteristics, …

Accounting Changes : Chronicles Of Convergence, Crisis, And Complexity In Financial Reporting, Robert H. Herz

Guides, Handbooks and Manuals

No abstract provided.

Retinal Vascular Biomarkers For Early Detection And Monitoring Of Alzheimer's Disease, Shawn Frost, Yogi Kanagasingam, Hamid Sohrabi, J Vignarajan, P Bourgeat, Olivier Salvado, Victor Villemagne, Christopher Rowe, S Lance Macaulay, Cassandra Szoeke, Kathryn A. Ellis, David Ames, Colin L. Masters, Stephanie Rainey-Smith, Ralph N. Martins

Research outputs 2013

The earliest detectable change in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the buildup of amyloid plaque in the brain. Early detection of AD, prior to irreversible neurological damage, is important for the efficacy of current interventions as well as for the development of new treatments. Although PiB-PET imaging and CSF amyloid are the gold standards for early AD diagnosis, there are practical limitations for population screening. AD-related pathology occurs primarily in the brain, but some of the hallmarks of the disease have also been shown to occur in other tissues, including the retina, which is more accessible for imaging. Retinal vascular changes …

Unidirectional Coupling Of Surface Plasmons With Ultra-Broadband And Wide-Angle Efficiency: Potential Applications In Sensing, Kun Li, Feng Xiao, Fan Lu, Kamal Alameh, Anshi Xu

Research outputs 2013

A cascaded-grating coupling scheme for unidirectionally coupling and launching surface plasmons from free-space light with ultra-broadband and wide-angle efficiency is proposed and theoretically investigated, and the potential applications in sensing are discussed. The cascaded sub-gratings of different periods couple the incident light over a relatively wide wavelength and angular range into surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). After traveling a short distance, the SPPs interact with the sensed medium, and then are coupled back into freely propagating light through the nanoslit in the metal film. By observing the changes of SPP-mediated light coupled out through the slit, broadband sensing is achieved. A …

Multiplex Biomarkers In Blood, Veer Bala Bala Gupta, Ramani Sundaram, Ralph N. Martins

Research outputs 2013

Advances in the field of blood biomarker discovery will help in identifying Alzheimer's disease in its preclinical stage, allowing treatment to be initiated before irreversible damage occurs. This review discusses some recent past and current approaches being taken by researchers in the field. Individual blood biomarkers have been unsuccessful in defining the disease pathology, progression and thus diagnosis. This directs to the need for discovering a multiplex panel of blood biomarkers as a promising approach with high sensitivity and specificity for early diagnosis. However, it is a great challenge to standardize a worldwide blood biomarker panel due to the innate …

High Sensitivity Optically Pumped Quantum Magnetometer, Valentina Tiporlini, Kamal Alameh

Research outputs 2013

Quantum magnetometers based on optical pumping can achieve sensitivity as high as what SQUID-based devices can attain. In this paper, we discuss the principle of operation and the optimal design of an optically pumped quantum magnetometer. The ultimate intrinsic sensitivity is calculated showing that optimal performance of the magnetometer is attained with an optical pump power of 20 W and an operation temperature of 48°C. Results show that the ultimate intrinsic sensitivity of the quantum magnetometer that can be achieved is 327 fT/Hz1/2 over a bandwidth of 26 Hz and that this sensitivity drops to 130 pT/Hz1/2 in the presence …

Lifestyle Factors, Medication Use And Risk For Ischaemic Heart Disease Hospitalisation: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study, Anthony S. Gunnell, K Einarsdottir, Daniel A. Galvao, S Joyce, S Tomlin, Vicki J. Graham, Caroline Mcintyre, Robert U. Newton, T Briffa

Research outputs 2013

Background:Lifestyle factors have been implicated in ischaemic heart disease (IHD) development however a limited number of longitudinal studies report results stratified by cardio-protective medication use.Purpose:This study investigated the influence of self-reported lifestyle factors on hospitalisation for IHD, stratified by blood pressure and/or lipid-lowering therapy.Methods:A population-based cohort of 14,890 participants aged 45+ years and IHD-free was identified from the Western Australian Health and wellbeing Surveillance System (2004 to 2010 inclusive), and linked with hospital administrative data. Adjusted hazard ratios for future IHD-hospitalisation were estimated using Cox regression.Results:Current smokers remained at higher risk for IHD-hospitalisation (adjusted HR=1.57; 95% CI: 1.22-2.03) after adjustment …

Rationale, Design And Methods For A Community-Based Study Of Clustering And Cumulative Effects Of Chronic Disease Processes And Their Effects On Ageing: The Busselton Healthy Ageing Study, A James, M Hunter, L Straker, J Beilby, R Bucks, T Davis, R H. Eikelboom, D Hillman, J Hui, J Hung, M Knuiman, D A. Mackey, Robert U. Newton, L J. Palmer, A W. Musk, Investigator Group Busselton Healthy Ageing Study

Research outputs 2013

Background: The global trend of increased life expectancy and increased prevalence of chronic and degenerative diseases will impact on health systems. To identify effective intervention and prevention strategies, greater understanding of the risk factors for and cumulative effects of chronic disease processes and their effects on function and quality of life is needed.The Busselton Healthy Ageing Study aims to enhance understanding of ageing by relating the clustering and interactions of common chronic conditions in adults to function. Longitudinal (3-5 yearly) follow-up is planned. Methods/design. Phase I (recruitment) is a cross-sectional community-based prospective cohort study involving up to 4,000 'Baby Boomers' …

The Emotional Intelligence Of A Group Of Critical-Care Nurses In South Africa, Amanda Towell, Elzabe Nel, Ann Muller

Research outputs 2013

Critical-care nurses often look after three or more critically-ill patients during a shift. The workload and emotional stress can lead to disharmony between the nurse’s body, mind and spirit. Nurses with a high emotional intelligence have less emotional exhaustion and psychosomatic symptoms; they enjoy better emotional health; gain more satisfaction from their actions (both at work and at home); and have improved relationships with colleagues at work. The question arises: what is the emotional intelligence of critical-care nurses? A quantitative survey was conducted. The target population was registered nurses working in critical-care units who attended the Critical Care Congress 2009 …

Immune Response To Snake Envenoming And Treatment With Antivenom; Complement Activation, Cytokine Production And Mast Cell Degranulation, Shelley Stone, Geoffrey K. Isbister, Seyed Shahmy, Fahim Mohamed, Chandana Abeysinghe, Harendra Karunathilake, Ariaranee Ariaratnam, Tamara E. Jacoby-Alner, Claire L. Cotterell, Simon G A Brown

Research outputs 2013

Background:Snake bite is one of the most neglected public health issues in poor rural communities worldwide. In addition to the clinical effects of envenoming, treatment with antivenom frequently causes serious adverse reactions, including hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylaxis) and pyrogenic reactions. We aimed to investigate the immune responses to Sri Lankan snake envenoming (predominantly by Russell's viper) and antivenom treatment.Methodology/Principal Findings:Plasma concentrations of Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), soluble TNF receptor I (sTNFRI), anaphylatoxins (C3a, C4a, C5a; markers of complement activation), mast cell tryptase (MCT), and histamine were measured in 120 Sri Lankan snakebite victims, both before and …

Brief Oral Health Promotion Intervention Among Parents Of Young Children To Reduce Early Childhood Dental Decay, Peter Arrow, Joseph Raheb, Margaret Miller

Research outputs 2013

Background: Severe untreated dental decay affects a child's growth, body weight, quality of life as well as cognitive development, and the effects extend beyond the child to the family, the community and the health care system. Early health behavioural factors, including dietary practices and eating patterns, can play a major role in the initiation and development of oral diseases, particularly dental caries. The parent/caregiver, usually the mother, has a critical role in the adoption of protective health care behaviours and parental feeding practices strongly influence children's eating behaviours. This study will test if an early oral health promotion intervention through …

A Systematic Review Of The Impact Of Powered Mobility Devices On Older Adults' Activity Engagement, Ryan W. Fomiatti, Janet E. Richmond, Lois K. Moir, Jeannine L. Millsteed

Research outputs 2013

Purpose: To systematically review the impact powered mobility devices have on engagement in independent occupations for adults with acquired mobility limitations.

Method: Electronic search of CINAHL Plus, Medline, PsychInfo, OT Seeker, Joanna Briggs Institute, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database. Search terms included combinations of words to encompass all terms most likely used for powered mobility.

Results: Eleven studies were eligible for inclusion. One study was a true experimental design; four studies were pre-experimental, and six were nonexperimental. Studies indicated positive improvements to occupational engagement and independence while environmental barriers were identified as negatively impacting occupation and increasing risk of injury or …