Digital Commons Network^™

Neurite Outgrowth Stimulatory Activity Of An Edible Mushroom Pleurotus Giganteus In Differentiating Neuroblastoma-2a Cells / Phan Chia Wei, Chia Wei Phan

Student Works (2010-2019)

synaptic connections is an important process for the establishment of synaptic connections during development, as well as neuronal regeneration in neuropathological conditions or injury. With growing concerns over neurodegenerative diseases attributed to impairment of neurite outgrowth e.g. dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, identification of alternative therapeutics has become paramount. One way to prevent and/or delay the onset of such diseases is by discovering alternative therapeutic molecules from functional foods. One such candidate is the edible mushroom (higher Basidiomycetes). In this study, eight culinary-medicinal mushrooms were evaluated for neurite outgrowth stimulatory effects by using neuroblastoma-2a (N2a) cells as an in vitro model. …

Kajian Kemungkinan Penggunaan Kalendar Hijri Dalam Industri Takaful Di Malaysia / Muhammad Ridzuan Hashim, Hashim Muhammad Ridzuan

Student Works (2010-2019)

Takwim Hijri merupakan takwim yang diasaskan oleh Saidina Umar al-Khattab R.A yang dibangunkan berdasarkan kenampakan awal hilal, manakala takwim Gregory diasaskan oleh Pope Gregory XIII. Panjang hari dalam kalendar Hijri dikira selama 354 hari dan panjang hari dalam kalendar Gregory pula dikira sebanyak 365 hari. Kedua-dua kalendar mempunyai perbezaan 11 hari dalam setahun. Oleh kerana terdapat perbezaan 11 hari, maka dalam konteks industri takaful motor pengkaji telah mengandaikan dengan hipotesis peserta akan menyumbang lebihan wang kepada syarikat takaful sekiranya sistem yang digunakan menggunakan kalendar Gregory. Kajian ini bertujuan mengenalpasti kaedah pelaksanaan perlindungan takaful motor di Takaful Ikhlas Sdn. Bhd. (TISB). …

Decreasing Disproportionality Through Kinship Care., Aimee Corbin

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

Expanding financial assistance to kinship placements can reduce disproportionality between racial minorities in Child Protective Services (CPS) custody. Statistics show that nationally, CPS removes a disproportionate number of minority children compared to non-minorities. CPS typically places a child in substitute care when that child is removed from their home, including kinship placement. Kinship placement is defined as the process by which children are placed in the care of relatives or close family friends. The government provides a significantly larger budget for foster care than for kinship placement. Kinship advocates, however, argue that foster placement—the placement in the care of a …

Effects Of Thermal And Non-Thermal Processing On Quality Attributes Of Chokanan Mango Juice (Mangifera Indica L.) / Vicknesha A/P Santhirasegaram, Vicknesha Santhirasegaram

Student Works (2010-2019)

The increasing demand for high quality fruit juice, along with safety standards have spurred the development of non-thermal processing such as sonication and ultraviolet-c (UV-C) light treatment. In this study, freshly squeezed Chokanan mango juice was subjected to thermal treatment (at 90 °C for 30 and 60 seconds), sonication (for 15, 30 and 60 minutes at 25 °C, 40 kHz frequency) and UV-C treatment (for 15, 30 and 60 minutes at 25 °C, 254 nm). In addition, combination of sonication (for 15 and 30 minutes at 25 °C, 40 kHz frequency) and UV-C treatment (for 15 and 30 minutes at …

Expression Profiling Of Microrna Genes Related To Salt Stress In Banana (Musa Acuminata Cv. Berangan) Roots / Lee Wan Sin, Wan Sin Lee

Student Works (2010-2019)

agricultural practices and climate change increase soil salinity, yields are reduced as crops succumb to salinity-induced abiotic stress. Physiological responses to stress are controlled by expression of genes, which in turn are regulated by microRNAs. Since most banana cultivars are salt-sensitive, improved understanding of genetic regulation of abiotic stress responses in banana can support future crop management and improvement. Transcriptome libraries were constructed from salt-stressed and non-salt-stressed banana roots and then sequenced and annotated. Two banana root transcriptomes were assembled into 31,390 unigenes, of which 99.5% were mapped to the reference banana A-genome and 2,993 (9.5%) were found to be …

Profiling Of Anti-Diabetic Agent From Pereskia Bleo (Kunth) / Nadzrul Aida Bt Mat Darus, Nadzrul Aida Mat Darus

Student Works (2010-2019)

Pereskia bleo (Kunth) belongs to the family of Cactaceae and locally known as jarum tujuh bilah. It has been used traditionally by native Malaysian for the treatment of diabetes. However, the lack of scientific data to validate such claim have motivates researcher to study for its anti-diabetic activities. In this study, the leaves, stems and roots of Pereskia bleo crude extracts were extracted with hexane, petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and aqueous. The separation and detections of bioactive compounds were done using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and Liquid Chromatography Mass spectrometry combined with Mass Spectrometry (LCMS/MS) methods. The TLC results showed …

Preparation And Characterization Of Rice Starch Based Solid Polymer Electrolytes For Dye−Sensitized Solar Cell Application / Mohammad Hassan Khanmirzaei, Mohammad Hassan Khanmirzaei

Student Works (2010-2019)

Biodegradable polymers have economic and environmental benefits due to cheap in cost and biodegradability. Utilizing environmental friendly polymers in polymer electrolytes and electronics field can be good replacement for some harmful existing materials and admirable category for green energy applications such as solar cells, specifically, dye sensitized solar cells, super capacitors, batteries, etc. Solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) systems based on rice starch as a biodegradable polymer, three iodide salts namely lithium iodide, ammonium iodide and sodium iodide, and two ionic liquids namely 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide (MPII) and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (HMII) were studied for dielectric properties and solar cell applications in this …

Visualization Of Localized Movement Of Vitamin D Receptor Using Molecular Dynamic Simulation Approach / Wong Wai Keet, Wai Keet Wong

Student Works (2010-2019)

Research on treatments of rickets had led to the discovery of Vitamin D back in the early nineties. Vitamin D is synthesised through exposure of skin to sunlight and then transported to liver and kidney for activation process. Recent research showed that there are quite a number of targeted cells which uptake Vitamin D through the intra-cellular receptor, Vitamin D receptor (VDR). The purpose of this study is to visualise the changes of VDR during the present of Vitamin D. Molecular dynamic simulation was implemented to carry out this study. PDB file (1DB1) of the latest entry in PDB was …

Dynamics Of Attached And Free-Living Bacterial Population In Tropical Coastal Waters / Lee Siew Wen, Siew Wen Lee

Student Works (2010-2019)

We investigated the dynamics of attached and free-living bacterial abundance over a period of 18 months in tropical coastal waters of Malaysia. We measured at both oligotrophic coastal water (Port Dickson) and eutrophic estuary (Klang), and hypothesized that attached bacteria are predominant in eutrophic waters. We also addressed whether attached and free-living bacteria differ phylogenetically. We found that bacterial abundance was higher at Klang than Port Dickson (Student’s t-test: t = 4.87, df = 19, P < 0.001). Attached bacteria also formed a large fraction of the total bacteria at Klang (75 ± 13%) relative to Port Dickson (56 ± 22%), and showed preference for chlorophyll a based particles rather than total suspended solids. The bacterial community structure was clearly different between the two stations but was similar between the attached and free-living bacterial population. Our results showed the importance of attached bacteria in eutrophic water where they could play a major role in carbon and nutrient cycling.

Proteins Inhibiting Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Derived From Pleurotus Pulmonarius Mycelium (Fr.) Quél / Badjie Xietaqieuallah Binti Ibadallah, Badjie Xietaqieuallah Ibadallah

Student Works (2010-2019)

Pleurotus pulmonarius (grey oyster mushroom) is a well-known edible mushroom that has been acknowledged as a curative agent for many diseases. The antihypertensive potential of Pleurotus pulmonarius mycelium was investigated in vitro via angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. The study was commenced with cultivation of P. pulmonarius mycelium using small scale liquid submerged fermentation for seven days in which brown sugar-spent yeast medium was used as substrate. The mycelial yield was separated from the whole broth to produce mycelial aqueous extract and broth extract, respectively. A preliminary ACE inhibitory assay was performed on the mycelial aqueous extract and broth …

Assessing Community Participation In Health Promotion Programs: A Case Study Of Maldives / Asma Ibrahim Sulaiman, Asma Ibrahim Sulaiman

Student Works (2010-2019)

This study assessed the participation of Maldives community in health promotion programme, namely, decision making, implementation, benefit sharing and evaluation. This study, which was conducted in the Maldives, also examined the factors associated with participation in health promotion programme. Adopting the survey method, the pre-tested interview schedule was administered to the random sample of 1,070 respondents from 3 selected atolls. The survey adopted a self-report technique. Multi-stage cluster sampling techniques were used to select the respondent for this study. The total geographical area was divided into 7 provinces and 3 provinces from Upper North, North Central and Upper South were …

Overview Of Australian Indigenous Health Status, 2014, Jane Burns, Samantha Burrow, Neil Drew, Michelle Elwell, Caitlin Gray, Millie Harford-Mills, Joanne Hoareau, Renee Lynch, Andrea Macrae, Trish O'Hara, Christine Potter, Kathy Ride, Avinna Trzesinski

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The main purpose of the Overview is to provide a comprehensive summary of the most recent indicators of the health and current health status of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It has been prepared by the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet as a part of our contribution to ‘closing the gap’ in health between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians by making relevant, high quality knowledge and information easily accessible to policy makers, health service providers, other health professionals including Health workers, program managers, clinicians, researchers, students and the general community.

The initial sections of this Overview …

Maternal Fish Oil Supplementation In Pregnancy: A 12 Year Follow-Up Of A Randomised Controlled Test, Suzanne Meldrum, Janet A. Dunstan, Jonathon K. Foster, Karen Simmer, Susan L. Prescott

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

A number of trials have been undertaken to assess whether the intake of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) during pregnancy can influence the neurological development of the offspring, yet no consensus from these trials has been reached. We aimed to investigate the long-term effects (12 years) of fish oil supplementation in pregnancy on neurodevelopment, including cognition, language and fine motor skills. In a follow up of a previously published randomised controlled trial of 98 pregnant women, their children were assessed at 12 years of age using a battery of neurodevelopmental assessments. Fifty participants were assessed at 12 years, …

Farmers Markets And The Emergency Food System In West Virginia: An Analysis Of Intersection To Improve Community Food Security, Jessica L. Crum

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Food insecurity is a problem in West Virginia. Individuals who are food insecure rely on assistance from private organizations, such as food pantries and soup kitchens. Individuals may also rely on government assistance, with programs like SNAP and WIC, as a means to cope with food insecurity. Farmers markets have been trying to become more accessible to low-income individuals and increase community food security through the acceptance of SNAP, WIC, and SMFNP vouchers. This study uses key informant interviews to understand to what extent and in what ways farmers markets are interacting with emergency food systems to improve community food …

In Vivo Chemical And Structural Analysis Of Plant Cuticular Waxes Using Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy, George R. Littlejohn, Jessica C. Mansfield, David Parker, Rob Lind, Sarah Perfect, Mark Seymour, Nicholas Smirnoff, John Love, Julian Moger

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Overview Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health Status 2015, Australian Indigenous Healthinfonet

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The main purpose of the Overview is to provide a comprehensive summary of the most recent indicators of the health and current health status of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people. It has been prepared by Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet staff as part of our contribution to supporting those who work in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector. The Overview is a key element of the HealthInfoNet commitment to authentic and engaged knowledge development and exchange. The initial sections of this Overview provide information about the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, population, and various measures …

Female Social Connectivity Through The Leadership And Movement Progression Of Tibetan Macaques At Mt. Huangshan, China, Gregory P. Fratellone

All Master's Theses

The present study investigates the leadership and progression of collective movements of Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) found in Mt. Huangshan, China. I gathered information on their movements and social networks through all-occurrence, focal and scan sampling. I hypothesize that high-ranking females lead more collective movements than males as they have highly structured social bonds. I also predict that movements weighted by female presence are more efficient as societies are matrilineally structured and females are more socially connected. There were a total of 128 successful collective movements recorded over a 2-month period. There was no significant effect of sex, …

A Comparison Of Markers Of Iron Status Between Vegetarian And Non-Vegetarian Female High School Cross Country Runners. Is Routine, Pre-Season Screening Warranted?, Edward J. Callahan Jr.

All Master's Theses

The purpose of the present study is to determine whether the circulating markers of iron status differ between vegetarian or non-vegetarian adolescent female high school cross-country runners. Fifteen non-vegetarian and six vegetarian female cross-country runners completed questionnaires used to obtain anthropometric data, health history, menstrual status, diet history and training history. Dietary intake was determined by self-report, using a food frequency questionnaire and a 3-day diet record. Blood samples were analyzed for serum iron, total iron binding capacity, serum ferritin, and transferrin saturation. No significant difference was found between vegetarians and non-vegetarians for serum iron or transferrin saturation. However, TIBC …

Agreement In The Army's Circumference Measurements And Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry, Katherine Mitchell

All Master's Theses

The United States military has two primary outcomes for fitness: combat readiness and physical appearance. In response to the Army Weight Control Program, height-weight tables were put forth to evaluate soldiers’ body fat percentages and screen for overweight individuals. However, few studies have examined the agreement in body composition estimates between the Army’s circumference measurements and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The purpose of this study was to quantify the agreement in body fat percentage estimates between the Army’s circumference measurements and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in male Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) cadets. Male R.O.T.C. cadets (N = 23) …

Determination Of Site Functionality And Subsistence Patterns At The Bray Archaeological Site (45pi1276) In Edgewood, Washington, David J. Sheldon

All Master's Theses

Resource intensification, or the logistical approach to the mass capture and extension of food resources through storage, is first evident for marine resources of the Northwest Coast during the Locarno Beach Phase (LBP) (ca. 3,500 BP to ca. 2,400 BP). Plant resource intensification is evident by 4,000 BP within the interior of the Pacific Northwest, but until recently there has been little evidence to support early intensification of plant use in the Puget Sound during the LBP. Test excavations conducted as part of a damage assessment of the Bray Site indicated that the site may contain the earliest known evidence …

Beverage Selections And Presence Affect Healthy Eating Index Scores In Lunches Of Elementary Age Children, Whether From Home Or School, Mary K. Barbee

All Master's Theses

Objectives: Examined differences in school lunch meals (served and consumed) brought from home (LBFH) versus National School Lunch Program (NSLP) using Healthy Eating Index 2010 scores for assessment of Meal Quality by component food groups. Influence of beverage selections on HEI-2010 scores were examined for each meal origin. Methods: Digital plate waste estimations were analyzed for 509 NSLP meals and 524 LBFH from 2nd-5th-grade students in four elementary schools during the 2011-2012 academic year. Nutrient Data Software for Research (NDSR) determined food groups and nutrients for calculations. Independent t-tests compared NSLP and LBFH meal components. Two one-way ANOVA tests compared …

Behavioral Response Of Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus Tridentatus) To Predator Odors, Laurie L. Porter

All Master's Theses

Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus), a species facing serious threats to their existence, experience a number of challenges in reaching their desired spawning grounds during the adult migratory phase, and predators are suspected to be one of these challenges. Understanding if Pacific lamprey respond to predator odorants may provide a management tool for use in conjunction with attractants in guiding lamprey to suitable spawning habitat and deterring them from poor habitat. Previous research has failed to explore Pacific lamprey response to predator odorants, although much research exists on attractant odorants. In our study, we tested Pacific lamprey response to …

Community Readiness Assessment: Applications For Community Nutrition Research, Whitney E. Houser

All Master's Theses

Trends in qualitative community nutrition research demonstrate a powerful, emerging perspective in the midst of a field historically dominated by quantitative methods of inquiry. For this qualitative study, ten key respondents were purposively selected and interviewed using the Community Readiness Model (CRM) to capture community knowledge of food insecurity issues and strategies. Data were analyzed using anchored rating scales, revealing readiness at a stage three, characterized by a vague awareness of local food insecurity. The purpose of this study is to report on the strengths and challenges of the CRM experienced when utilizing the model to address food insecurity. The …

Investigation Into School Lunch Quality Following Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act Implementation, Katherine N. Smith

All Master's Theses

The relationship between school lunch quality and the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act (HHFKA) revised nutrition standards was investigated. School Lunches from four Washington State elementary schools that earned HealthierUS School Challenge awards. Nutrition content of the meals selected and consumed was assessed using before and after digital photos. Meals were scored using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) to determine meal quality. Results were based on 1033 lunches (509 pre-HHFKA in Spring 2012 and 524 in Spring 2013) and revealed improved HEI scores for most components post-HHFKA implementation school lunches both served and consumed. Implications of the differences in HEI …

The Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (Child) Birth Cohort Study: Assessment Of Environmental Exposures, Tim K. Takaro, James A. Scott, Ryan W. Allen, Sonia S. Anand, Allan B. Becker, A. Dean Befus, Michael Brauer, Joanne Duncan, Diana L. Lefebvre, Wendy Lou, Piush J. Mandhane, Kathleen E. Mclean, Gregory Miller, Hind Sbihi, Huan Shu, Padmaja Subbarao, Stuart E. Turvey, Amanda J. Wheeler, Leilei Zeng, Malcolm R. Sears, Jeffrey R. Brook

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development birth cohort was designed to elucidate interactions between environment and genetics underlying development of asthma and allergy. Over 3600 pregnant mothers were recruited from the general population in four provinces with diverse environments. The child is followed to age 5 years, with prospective characterization of diverse exposures during this critical period. Key exposure domains include indoor and outdoor air pollutants, inhalation, ingestion and dermal uptake of chemicals, mold, dampness, biological allergens, pets and pests, housing structure, and living behavior, together with infections, nutrition, psychosocial environment, and medications. Assessments of early life exposures are focused …

The Effectiveness Of A Chart Audit And Feedback Intervention To Improve Cardiology Provider Delivery Of Heart Failure Self-Care Education, Dorothy Murphy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Heart failure is a challenging disease process that presents a high risk of mortality, frequent hospitalizations, and an overwhelming economic burden to the health system. Patient self-care education has been shown to decrease unplanned hospitalizations, emergency room visits, hospitalized days, costs, and mortality rates. However, only 61% of adults with HF receive self-care education within a 12-month period.;Under the framework of the Iowa Model for Evidence-Based Practice, the purpose of this project was to implement an electronic health record audit and written and verbal provider feedback intervention with the aim of improving provider delivery of heart failure self-care education to …

The Potential Role Of Exercise In Neuro-Oncology, Prue Cormie, A.K. Nowak, Suzanne K. Chambers, Daniel A. Galvao, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Patients with brain and other central nervous system cancers experience debilitating physical, cognitive, and emotional effects, which significantly compromise quality of life. Few efficacious pharmacological strategies or supportive care interventions exist to ameliorate these sequelae and patients report high levels of unmet needs in these areas. There is strong theoretical rationale to suggest exercise may be an effective intervention to aid in the management of neuro-oncological disorders. Clinical research has established the efficacy of appropriate exercise in counteracting physical impairments such as fatigue and functional decline, cognitive impairment, as well as psychological effects including depression and anxiety. While there is …

Segmental Musculoskeletal Examinations Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (Dxa): Positioning And Analysis Considerations, Nicolas H. Hart, Sophia Nimphius, Tania Spiteri, Jodie L. Cochrane, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Musculoskeletal examinations provide informative and valuable quantitative insight into muscle and bone health. DXA is one mainstream tool used to accurately and reliably determine body composition components and bone mass characteristics in-vivo. Presently, whole body scan models separate the body into axial and appendicular regions, however there is a need for localised appendicular segmentation models to further examine regions of interest within the upper and lower extremities. Similarly, in-consistencies pertaining to patient positioning exist in the litera-ture which influence measurement precision and analysis out-comes highlighting a need for standardised procedure. This paper provides standardised and reproducible: 1) positioning and analysis …

Lean Body Mass Associated With Upper Body Strength In Healthy Older Adults While Higher Body Fat Limits Lower Extremity Performance And Endurance, Karen Charlton, Marijka Batterham, Kelly Langford, Jenna Lateo, Erin Brock, Karen Walton, Philipa Lyons-Wall, Katie Eisenhauer, Nick Green, Cameron Mclean

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Impaired strength adversely influences an older person’s ability to perform activities of daily living. A cross-sectional study of 117 independently living men and women (age = 73.4 ± 9.4 year; body mass index (BMI) = 27.6 ± 4.8 kg/m2) aimed to assess the association between body composition and: (1) upper body strength (handgrip strength, HGS); (2) lower extremity performance (timed up and go (TUG) and sit to stand test (STS)); and (3) endurance (6-minute walk (SMWT). Body composition (% fat; lean body mass (LBM)) was assessed using bioelectrical impedance. Habitual physical activity was measured using the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical …

Undergraduate Catalog

Undergraduate & Graduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.