Digital Commons Network^™

Myscouting: An Assessment Of User Satisfaction And Suggestions For Improvement, Donald H. Combs Iii

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The Boy Scouts of America was established as a non-profit organization in 1910 and now has over three million active volunteers in the United States. Since the organization was founded in America, the program has grown not only in membership, but also in complexity with many new awards, training requirements, and programs. Originally the organization tracked this information via paper submission. After the development of the disk operation system (DOS), the organization started tracking and storing information in this data system. Yet, while today the DOS-based databases are outdated, the Boy Scouts of America still continues to use this technology …

Does Overhead Spending Affect Fiscal Performance Of Nonprofits?, Shan Sandee Huang

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Overhead spending has been used to view nonprofits for decades. Donors consider overhead cost as extra “price” of a donation’s impact and would like to apply limits on overhead costs, thus improving impact ratios. However, nonprofit practitioners and researchers claim that constraints on overhead spending may hinder organizational development. This paper aims to analyze whether overhead spending affects positive fiscal performance.

The research employs the NCCS (National Center for Charitable Statistics) database containing all the data reported on IRS 990 Forms from 1,397 arts, culture and humanities organizations from 2000 to 2003. This paper uses two regression models to evaluate …

Postsecondary Instruction: Changes In The Academic Workforce And State Appropriations For Community Colleges, R. Ryan Kendrick

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Over the last 30 years continued decline in state appropriations for public institutions has been accompanied by an increase in the use of part-time instruction. Community colleges have been particularly susceptible to both of these problems. Two-year institutions have less freedom than their larger counterparts to raise tuition rates and part time instructors constitute a larger percentage of their workforce. Less revenue has resulted in fewer resources to devote to instruction and student support. Part-time time instruction, on the whole, results in lower student retention and graduation rates.

This analysis intended to establish a connection between cuts to state appropriations …

Analyzing Perceptions Of Barriers To Self-Sufficiency Of Local Social Service Officials And Their Priorities For Local Government Funding, Zheng Li

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Self-sufficiency means a family can adequately meet their basic needs without repeated assistance from public or private social service organizations. However, there are many barriers preventing Fayette County residents from becoming self-sufficient. Because Lexington Fayette Urban County officials wanted to consider a new way to allocate local government resources, a needs assessment was conducted to assess the barriers to self-sufficiency for residents in Fayette County. As one part of the needs assessment, my research was to design and analyze a survey instrument to assess the perceptions of barriers to self-sufficiency of local social service providers and their priorities for local …

The Socioeconomic Impact Of Coal In The Appalachian Region Of Kentucky, Laura Oxley

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The coal debate seems to be in a state of inertia. Proponents of coal claim the industry brings economic benefit to Kentucky. Environmentalists claim the industry creates irreparable harm to the Appalachian Mountain region. While these opinions are not unfounded, seldom do stakeholders explore the impact incurred directly in the Appalachian communities that mine coal. Moving the debate to a discussion about coal’s direct impact in the communities that support the industry may broaden stakeholders’ perspective. Determining whether the industry helps or harms the Appalachian community may be the break in the debate’s stalemate. Thus, this paper explores the socioeconomic …

An Analysis Of The Effects Of Formula Funding Project In The Korea Higher Education System, Kyungsoo Park

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

In 2008, the Korean government launched a funding project that used formulas to select which four-year universities received funding from the government. The aim of the project was to improve university performance and educational quality, particularly with respect to undergraduate student outcome. However, there were few empirical studies on the project's actual impact. This study is an examination of three effects of the project. First, I analyze whether the project itself, regardless of funding, can bring about change in five formula indicators of all universities: employment rate, enrollment rate, full-time faculty rate, educational expenses per student, and scholarship rate. Second, …

Measuring Academic Achievement Of University Of Kentucky Student Athletes: Helping The Center For Academic And Tutorial Services Better Allocate Resources, Chatham Penrod

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The NCAA requires its member institutions and student athletes to maintain certain academic requirements to remain eligible for competition. To ensure academic success, many institutions establish academic centers for their student athletes. The University of Kentucky was the first institution to develop a facility of this type. The Center for Academic and Tutorial Services (CATS) provides academic enhancement for its student athletes.

After a brief overview on current NCAA academic eligibility requirements, this paper looks at the organization of CATS and at the current literature on student athlete academic achievement. Then a few analyses were conducted on the academic achievement …

Determining Undergraduate Factors That Predict Academic Success In Pharmacy School, Stephen Polley

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Admission into pharmacy school is a very competitive process, and as a result multiple authors have looked at a variety of factors in an effort to create a systematic process that admissions committees can use to identify candidates who are likely to succeed in the rigorous pharmacy curriculum. One of the issues with this approach is that these analyses tend to be very institution-specific. In this paper I hope to identify a mechanism that the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Pharmacy admissions committee can use to efficiently and thoroughly evaluate candidates using scientifically validated factors.

This study uses a …

Preventing Underage Drinking: A Salvadoran Program Evaluation, Fransheska Quijada

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Through the direct effects on brain development, social choices, and changes in experiences, underage alcohol drinking is a problem that causes long term damage to psychological, social, and economic outcomes. While this is problematic for all underage drinkers, it is especially damaging for middle school students.

Through the direct effects on brain development, social choices, and changes in experiences, underage alcohol drinking is a problem that causes long term damage to psychological, social, and economic outcomes. While this is problematic for all underage drinkers, it is especially damaging for middle school students.

In this study, I evaluate the success of …

The Impact Of Shared Reading On The Fluency Of Struggling Esl Readers In Grade Three / Tay Tiew Sui, Tiew Sui Tay

Student Works (2010-2019)

The main purpose of this action research is to explore the impact of shared reading on struggling Grade Three English as a Second Language (ESL) readers, aged 8-9, in a Malay- medium primary school in urban Kuala Lumpur. Its secondary purpose is to find out if the subjects enjoy shared reading with big books and their expectations in the reading classroom. Instrumentation consists of audio recordings of unpractised and practised texts, video recordings of shared reading lessons in session, and a questionnaire to collect feedback. 12 subjects out of 60 were identified as struggling readers. These subjects participated in whole …

The Translation Of Lexical And Morphological Repetitions In The Arabic Novel Thartharah Fawg Alnel Into The English Adrift On The Nile / Ibrahim I.I. Najjar, Ibrahim I.I. Najjar

Student Works (2010-2019)

Repetition is an important phenomenon in Arabic-English translation. Thus, this study was carried out to examine how lexical and morphological repetitions are rendered from an Arabic literary text into English using different translation strategies. The data used in this study is derived from an Arabic novel ―Thartharah fawg alnel‖ by Naguib Mahfouz and its English translation ―Adrift on the Nile.‖ The objectives of this study are to, (i) identify the translation strategies used to render these repetitions and whether these strategies affect the quality of the original message and (ii) find out to what extent are the communicative functions of …

A Gender Based Analysis Of Language Use And Self-Presentation On Facebook / Hou Yunjuan, Yunjuan Hou

Student Works (2010-2019)

Today more and more people use social networking sites for the purpose of communication. For example, in Malaysia, Facebook is the most popular website and it has become an inseparable part of people‘s lives (Malaysian Website Rankings for March 2012). According to Malaysia Facebook Statistics (2012), there are 13,154,060 Facebook users in Malaysia, where 54% are males and 46% are females. In this virtual space, males and females can present themselves in a multitude of ways when they communicate with each other. This study on the one hand aims to examine the language used by both males and females in …

A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Stem Cell Banking Brochures In Malaysia / Ungku Khairunnisa Bt Ungku Mohd Nordin, Ungku Khairunnisa Ungku Mohd Nordin

Student Works (2010-2019)

This study employs Critical Discourse Analysis to analyse two brochures of two stem cell banking companies in Malaysia. The primary objective of this study is to look at how these companies construct their identities in their respective brochures. It also looks how social relationships between the companies and their potential customers are constructed through their respective brochures. These companies are Cryocord Sdn. Bhd. and Cellsafe International Sdn. Bhd. Fairclough’s (1992) Three Dimensional Model is used in order to explain the relationship between the text (brochures), discursive practices and the social practises surrounding these brochures. In regards of visual texts, Kress …

The Effect Of Carum Carvi Water Extract Intake As An Alternative Therapy For Weight Loss In Overweight And Obese Women / Mahnaz Kazemipoor, Mahnaz Kazemipoor

Student Works (2010-2019)

Obesity and overweight are considered as challenging health problems worldwide. Despite several modern methods for treatment of obesity such as medical nutrition therapy, low-energy diets, and physical activity. The prevalence of this disease is still high, suggesting the need for alternative therapies. One of the trending approaches is the consumption of traditional medicinal plants. Caraway (Carum carvi L.), has been traditionally used as a spice in Iran. It is also claimed as a potent medicinal plant that is used to treat a variety of ailments including obesity. The objectives of this study are to analyse the phytochemicals present in caraway …

The Effects Of Bird's Nest As A Cryopotective Agent On Human Adipose Derived Stem Cells / Kinarroy Vaithianathan, Vaithianathan. Kinarroy

Student Works (2010-2019)

One of the most popular concepts currently is the use of stem cells in the regenerative therapy which replaces the lost or dysfunctional part in a human body. In order for a patient to benefit from such therapies, the stem cell source should be always made available. Therefore, it is important to preserve these cells so that they are always available for treatments. Cryopreservation is one of the important methods to preserve cells and tissues where it can be used for the recovery of damaged tissues and organs. Cryopreservation of stem cells is mainly to minimize any form of damage …

Development And Testing Of Patient Communication Board / Nurul Maisarah Kamaruddin, Kamaruddin Nurul Maisarah

Student Works (2010-2019)

The ability to express ourselves with spoken words and writing makes us, as humans, unique. One of the major causes of communication disabilities in the elderly is stroke. People with severe disabilities are often unable to use spoken communication and so need additional means of communication such as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). To suit the patient need in Malaysia, the development of patient communication board project can help elderly people without ignore their need, cost estimation, culture and more. The performance of this product will be evaluated in two components which is product testing and product evaluation. As a …

Stock Enhancement Of Macrobrachium Rosenbergii (Giant Freshwater Prawns) Inferred By Molecular Genetics And Ecological Studies / Mohd Azwan Bin Jaafar, Mohd Azwan Jaafar

Student Works (2010-2019)

The freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii or locally known as “Udang galah” in Malaysia is ranked as the sixth largest aquaculture species in Asia based on volume. Overharvesting of this species has caused it depletion in all the river line systems in the whole world including Malaysia. A stock enhancement program has been done by the Malaysian Department of Fisheries to fulfil the demand for this prawn. The objective of this study was to determine the productivity success of stock enhancement using 18 microsatellite (Type I and Type II) and mitochondrial DNA markers (mtDNA). In order to evaluate the productivity success, …

Analysis Of Phthalates In Foods By Using Gas Chromatography Mass Spetrometry (Gc-Ms) / Tan Poh Wei, Poh Wei Tan

Student Works (2010-2019)

Migration of phthalates from food packaging into food has caused exposure of human on these compounds. Also, these compounds may cause adverse effect on human and thus, identification and quantification of these compounds in food become more particular. Simple and rapid methods have been developed for the simultaneous determination of six phthalate compounds in the food samples including drinking water, milk, cereal and instant noodles by using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The six phthalate compounds been examined were dimethylphthlate (DMP), diethylphthalate (DEP), dibutylphthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) and dioctylphthlate (DNOP). For both liquid and solid samples, …

Isolation And Characterization Of Yersinia Enterocoliticafrom Food And Swine / Tan Lai Kuan, Lai Kuan Tan

Student Works (2010-2019)

Yersinia enterocolitica is an important foodborne enteric pathogen that causes gastroenteritis. There are limited studies on Y. enterocolitica in Malaysia, hence the potential complication due to yersiniosis in the country remains unknown. The objectives of this study were: (i) to determine the prevalence of Y. enterocolitica from raw food and pigs in Malaysia; (ii) to characterize the Malaysian Y. enterocolitica by using phenotypic and genotypic methods and; (iii) to study the genetic relatedness of Malaysian Y. enterocolitica strains from different food sources and pigs in Malaysia; and (iv) to improve the isolation of rate of Y. enterocolitica by modifying the …

In-Vitro Investigation Of Anticoagulant Activities In Edible And Medicinal Mushrooms / Teo Chiew Phin, Chiew Phin Teo

Student Works (2010-2019)

Six mushroom samples (Ganoderma lucidum, Cordyceps militaris, Lignosus rhinocerotis, Pleurotus giganteus, Pleurotus floridanus and Auricularia polytricha) were screened for their anticoagulant activity. Mushroom samples provided were freeze-dried and blended into powder form. Different concentrations of aqueous mushroom extracts were added to one ml of fresh bovine blood and well mixed. From the observations, among the six mushroom samples, only two samples namely A. polytricha and L. rhinocerotis showed anticoagulant activities in the preliminary screening. Crude extracts of A. polytricha and L. rhinocerotis were tested for their In-vitro anti-platelet activity using fresh human blood. Platelet rich plasma 1.3 x 108 was …

Strategic Environmental Assessment Policy Systems Model For Solid Waste Management In Malaysia / Dennis Jeyakumar Victor Devaraj, Dennis Jeyakumar Victor Devaraj

Student Works (2010-2019)

This study has examined the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) policy framework for integrating environmental requirements in solid waste management (SWM) policies, plans and programmes (PPP) in Malaysia. The key problem the study frames is the lack of environmental policy integration for SWM. Currently, environmental issues are mainly addressed during the environmental impact assessments (EIA) of SWM facilities, which have resulted in environmental pollution, public protest and public litigation.

A Comparative Study Of Mineral Contents In Selected Malaysian Brown Rice And White Rice / Bagirathy A/P Govarethinam, Bagirathy Govarethinam

Student Works (2010-2019)

In the present study, concentration of minerals Na, Mg, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn in selected commercially available brown rice and white rice from Malaysia were determined using microwave assisted digestion with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The data obtained were evaluated using chemometric tools. Hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis visually reveal the natural clustering of rice sample into two distinct clusters where brown rice are associated with higher mineral concentration. The statistics show that all the mineral concentrations found in brown rice are significantly higher than those found in white rice (P<0.001). As a whole, the mean concentration of minerals follow a trend of K>Mg>Zn>Mn …

Fibre Bragg Grating Vibration Sensing System / Shirley Diong Chea Fong, Shirley Chea Fong Diong

Student Works (2010-2019)

In the recent decades, optical fibre sensors have become more reputational due to the fact that they are small in size, robust, light weight, immune to electromagnetic field and able to multiplex. This research report presents a nonlinear output response of an acousto-optically modulated distributed Bragg reflector (DBR). DBR used in this project is fabricated from two fibre Bragg gratings (FBGs) with similar Bragg wavelength, high reflectivity and slightly different bandwidth and a 12cm erbium-doped optical fibre. This structure of DBR is able to provide good throughput power. When impinged with acoustic waves, DBR gave an astounding result over the …

Extraction And Separation Of Parabens In Aqueous Biphasic Systems / Noorashikin Binti Md Saleh, Md Saleh Noorashikin

Student Works (2010-2019)

In this study, five systems for extraction of parabens were developed, namely ionic liquid based aqueous two-phase system (IL-ATPS), ionic liquid based aqueous two-phase system with β-cyclodextrin (IL-βCD-ATPS), cloud point extraction (CPE-DC193C), cloud point extraction with β-cyclodextrin (CPE-DC193C-βCD) and cloud point extraction with β-cyclodextrin-ionic liquid (CPE-DC193C-βCD-IL). These five developed methods have been optimized in order to get the optimum conditions for phase separation of parabens in water samples. These new, green, fast and simple extraction techniques coupled with a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) showed excellent results for extracting parabens from aqueous samples. β-CD and βCD-IL as modifiers improved …

Effects Of Tea (Camellia Sinensis) On Antioxidant Potential And Fermentation Characteristics Of Yogurt / Premalatha A/P Muniandy, Premalatha Muniandy

Student Works (2010-2019)

The present study investigated the effects of green, white and black tea (Camellia sinensis; 2% w/v) on the fermentation of milk and antioxidant potential of yogurt. Each tea (water extract) was added into milk-starter culture mixture and incubation was carried out at 42°C until pH was reduced to 4.5. The yogurts were then refrigerated (4°C) for up to 21 days and samples were analysed for antioxidant potential (diphenyl picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and ferrous ion chelating (FIC) assays), pH, titratable acid and viable yogurt bacteria counts. Tea yogurts had higher antioxidant potentials (p < 0.05) than plain yogurt with green tea yogurt (GTY) having the highest FRAP (2.49 - 2.98 mmol Fe2+ E/L) and black tea yogurt (BTY) having the highest FIC (87.50 - 89.87 %) activity throughout the storage period. Both GTY (90.07 - 96.74%) and white tea yogurt (WTY; 89.83 - 96.39%) showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity throughout the storage period. The presence of green and black tea water extracts prolonged the milk fermentation time (>270 minutes …

Phenotypic Characterization Of Amoeboid Forms Of Trichomonas Vaginalis / Kasthuri A/P Jewarethnam, Kasthuri Jewarethnam

Student Works (2010-2019)

Trichomonas vaginalisis a flagellated protozoan parasite that causes significant health drawbacks to humans, predominantly in women by causing a non-viral sexually transmitted disease known as trichomoniasis. Different morphological properties of T. vaginalis were recognized as the key for infections in humans with trophozoites and pseudocysts as the two notable forms. Recently, amoeboid form was identified in suspension cultures and was reported as an integral life cycle of T. vaginalis. The present study was conducted to study the phenotypic characteristics of amoeboid forms in suspension culture i.e. growth profile, evaluating factors that trigger formation of this shape, staining characteristics and transformational …

Identification Of Rb1 Germ-Line Mutations In Patients With Retinoblastoma / Kavimalar A/P Renganathan, Kavimalar Renganathan

Student Works (2010-2019)

Background: Retinoblastoma (RB1; OMIM#180200) is the most common intraocular tumor in early childhood. The malignancy mainly affects children under five years of age, with a prevalence of 1:15,000 to 1:20,000. RB1 or retinoblastoma susceptibility gene is the gene associated with retinoblastoma and is located on chromosome 13q14.2. The whole coding region of RB1 has 27 exons. The gene encodes a tumor suppressor, the retinoblastoma protein (pRB). Retinoblastoma develops when both alleles of the tumor suppressor gene are inactivated by loss-of-function mutations. The hereditary predisposition to the disease is caused by germ-line mutations in RB1. Since RB1 is a tumor suppressor …

Studies On Chemical Constituents And Biological Activities Of Nauclea Officinalis And Nauclea Subdita / Liew Sook Yee, Sook Yee Liew

Student Works (2010-2019)

The phytochemical studies on two species of Rubiaceae; Nauclea officinalis and Nauclea subdita have been carried out. Twenty one compounds were successfully isolated and purified using several chromatography techniques such as column chromatography (CC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), preparative thin layer chromatography (PTLC), and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The compounds are naucline, nauclefine, naucletine, angustine, angustoline, 3,14-dihydroangustoline, angustidine, subditine, strictosamide, pumiloside, naucleficine, naucleactonin C, harmane, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-oxo-β-carboline, benzamide, cinnamide, blumenol B, blumenol A, β-sitosterol, stigmast-4-en-3-one and vanillin. Naucline and subditine are new indole alkaloids which were isolated from the bark of Nauclea officinalis and Nauclea subdita respectively. The structure of …

Chemical Constituents Of Prismatomeris Malayana Ridley And Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship Study On Anti-Inflammatory Agents And Their Analogues / Nor Hayati Abdullah, Nor Hayati Abdullah

Student Works (2010-2019)

Prismatomeris malayana Ridley of Rubiaceae was investigated for its anti-inflammatory properties by evaluating their inhibition of the hyaluronidase and lipoxygenase activity and of TPA-induced inflammation in mice. The leaf was found to be the most active in the three selected assays. From bioassay guided fractionation and isolation, ursolic acid 60 was isolated and found to be the compound responsible for the hyaluronidase inhibitory activity. The isolation work on the leaves yielded five pentacylic triterpenoids (PTC) (3β-hydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid 60 [ursolic acid], 3β, 19, 24-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid 61 [barbinervic acid], 3β,23-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid 62, 28-O-β-glucopyranosyl-3α,19α,23-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid 63 and 3β-hydroxyurs-11-en-13,28-olide 65); three iridoids (asperulosidic acid …

Development Of A Climate Change Vulnerability Index For Peninsular Malaysia / Wong Foong Mei, Foong Mei Wong

Student Works (2010-2019)

There are two factors that can affect changes in climate; internal variation and external forcing. The warming and cooling trend is determined by increases of the concentration of greenhouse gases, which consists of water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Even if greenhouse gas emissions were stabilised instantly at today’s level, the climate would still continue to change as it adapts to the increased emission of recent decades. This is because climate change in the future is greatly influence by the past emissions. Therefore, further changes in climate are unavoidable. Since 21st century, the issue of climate change has …