Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Orally Administered Colloidal Silver On The Macroscopic And Microscopic Features Of Kidneys In Apparently Healthy Adult Female Mice, Lia Isabella T. Soliman

Undergraduate Theses

This study described the macroscopic and microscopic lesions, and frequency of silver ion deposition in the kidneys of female ICR mice upon oral administration of colloidal silver. Fifty samples were divided into a total of six treatment groups: two control groups (n=5) given 3DH2O (0.07mL), two low dose treatment groups (n=10) given 0.07mL colloidal silver solution, and two high dose treatment groups (n=10) given 0.12mL colloidal silver solution, each with durations of seven or 14 days. No macroscopic lesions were observed. Histopathology revealed glomerulonephritis as the most common microscopic lesion, followed by congestion and fibrosis. Tubular hypertrophy due to compensatory …

Effect Of Seawater Ageing On Fracture Toughness Of Stitched Glass Fiber/Epoxy Laminates For Marine Applications, Atizaz Hassan, Rafiullah Khan, Numan Khan, Muhammad Aamir, Danil Y. Pimenov, Khaled Giasin

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Composite materials are used in various industries such as marine, aircraft, automotive, etc. In marine applications, composites are exposed to seawater, which can affect their mechanical properties due to moisture absorption. This work focuses on the durability of composite materials under the short-term effect of seawater ageing. The specimens were prepared from glass fiber/epoxy using a hand lap-up method and stitched in the z-direction with Kevlar fiber. The specimens were submerged in seawater for 24 and 35 days. A significant decrease in maximum load was found as specimen immersion time in seawater increased. The seawater ageing also affected fracture toughness …

Association Of Dementia With Immunoglobulin G N-Glycans In A Chinese Han Population, Xiaoyu Zhang, Hui Yuan, Jihui Lyu, Xiaoni Meng, Qiuyue Tian, Yuejin Li, Jie Zhang, Xizhu Xu, Jing Su, Haifeng Hou, Dong Li, Baoliang Sun, Wei Wang, Youxin Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) functionality can drastically change from anti- to proinflammatory by alterations in the IgG N-glycan patterns. Our previous studies have demonstrated that IgG N-glycans associated with the risk factors of dementia, such as aging, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischemic stroke. Therefore, the aim is to investigate whether the effects of IgG N-glycan profiles on dementia exists in a Chinese Han population. A case–control study, including 81 patients with dementia, 81 age- and gender-matched controls with normal cognitive functioning (NC) and 108 non-matched controls with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was performed. Plasma IgG N-glycans were separated …

A Blockchain-Based Authentication Protocol For Cooperative Vehicular Ad Hoc Network, A. F. M. S. Akhter, Mohiuddin Ahmed, A. F. M. S. Shah, Adnan Anwar, A. S. M. Kayes, Ahmet Zengin

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The efficiency of cooperative communication protocols to increase the reliability and range of transmission for Vehicular Ad hoc Network (VANET) is proven, but identity verification and communication security are required to be ensured. Though it is difficult to maintain strong network connections between vehicles because of there high mobility, with the help of cooperative communication, it is possible to increase the communication efficiency, minimise delay, packet loss, and Packet Dropping Rate (PDR). However, cooperating with unknown or unauthorized vehicles could result in information theft, privacy leakage, vulnerable to different security attacks, etc. In this paper, a blockchain based secure and …

Breaking-Down And Parameterising Wave Energy Converter Costs Using The Capex And Similitude Methods, Ophelie Choupin, Michael Henriksen, Amir Etemad-Shahidi, Rodger Tomlinson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Wave energy converters (WECs) can play a significant role in the transition towards a more renewable-based energy mix as stable and unlimited energy resources. Financial analysis of these projects requires WECs cost and WEC capital expenditure (CapEx) information. However, (i) cost information is often limited due to confidentiality and (ii) the wave energy field lacks flexible methods for cost breakdown and parameterisation, whereas they are needed for rapid and optimised WEC configuration and worldwide site pairing. This study takes advantage of the information provided by Wavepiston to compare different costing methods. The work assesses the Froude-Law-similarities-based “Similitude method” for cost-scaling …

Risk Factors For Covid-19 Infection, Disease Severity And Related Deaths In Africa: A Systematic Review, Hailay Abrha Gesesew, Digsu Negese Koye, Dagnachew Muluye Fetene, Mulu Woldegiorgis, Yohannes Kinfu, Ayele Bali Geleto, Yohannes Adama Melaku, Hassen Mohammed, Kefyalew Addis Alene, Mamaru Ayenew Awoke, Mulugeta Molla Birhanu, Amanuel Tesfay Gebremedhin, Yalemzewod Assefa Gelaw, Desalegn Markos Shifti, Muluken Dessalegn Muluneh, Teketo Kassaw Tegegne, Solomon Abrha, Atsede Fantahun Aregay, Mohammed Biset Ayalew, Abadi Kahsu Gebre, Kidane Tadesse Gebremariam, Tesfaye Gebremedhin, Lemlem Gebremichael, Cheru Tesema Leshargie, Getiye Dejenu Kibret, Maereg Wagnew Meazaw, Alemayehu Berhane Mekonnen, Dejen Y. Tekle, Azeb G. Tesema, Fisaha H. Tesfay, Wubshet Tesfaye, Befikadu L. Wubishet, Berihun A. Dachew, Akilew A. Adane

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2020. Objective The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive evidence on risk factors for transmission, disease severity and COVID-19 related deaths in Africa. Design A systematic review has been conducted to synthesise existing evidence on risk factors affecting COVID-19 outcomes across Africa. Data sources Data were systematically searched from MEDLINE, Scopus, MedRxiv and BioRxiv. Eligibility criteria Studies for review were included if they were published in English and reported at least one risk factor and/or one health outcome. We included all relevant literature published up until 11 August 2020. Data extraction and …

Shale Wettability: Data Sets, Challenges, And Outlook, Muhammad Arif, Yihuai Zhang, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021 American Chemical Society. The wetting characteristics of shale rocks at representative subsurface conditions remain an area of active debate. A precise characterization of shale wettability is essential for enhanced oil and gas recovery, containment security during CO2 geo-storage, and flow back efficiency during hydraulic fracturing. While several methods were utilized in the literature to evaluate shale wettability (e.g., contact angle measurements, spontaneous imbibition method,and NMR method), we here review the recently published data sets on shale contact angle measurements. The objectives of this review are to (a) develop a repository of the recent shale wettability data sets using …

Training In The Practice Of Noninvasive Brain Stimulation: Recommendations From An Ifcn Committee, Peter J. Fried, Emiliano Santarnecchi, Andrea Antal, David Bartres-Faz, Sven Bestmann, Linda L. Carpenter, Pablo Celnik, Dylan Edwards, Faranak Farzan, Shirley Fecteau, Mark S. George, Bin He, Yun-Hee Kim, Letizia Leocani, Sarah H. Lisanby, Colleen Loo, Bruce Luber, Michael A. Nitsche, Walter Paulus, Simone Rossi, Paolo M. Rossini, John Rothwell, Alexander T. Sack, Gregor Thut, Yoshikazu Ugawa, Ulf Ziemann, Mark Hallett, Alvaro Pascual-Leone

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 As the field of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) expands, there is a growing need for comprehensive guidelines on training practitioners in the safe and effective administration of NIBS techniques in their various research and clinical applications. This article provides recommendations on the structure and content of this training. Three different types of practitioners are considered (Technicians, Clinicians, and Scientists), to attempt to cover the range of education and responsibilities of practitioners in NIBS from the laboratory to the clinic. Basic or core competencies and more advanced knowledge and skills are discussed, and recommendations offered regarding didactic and practical …

Led Illumination Spectrum Manipulation For Increasing The Yield Of Sweet Basil (Ocimum Basilicum L.), Md Momtazur Rahman, Mikhail Vasiliev, Kamal Alameh

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Manipulation of the LED illumination spectrum can enhance plant growth rate and development in grow tents. We report on the identification of the illumination spectrum required to significantly enhance the growth rate of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) plants in grow tent environments by controlling the LED wavebands illuminating the plants. Since the optimal illumination spectrum depends on the plant type, this work focuses on identifying the illumination spectrum that achieves significant basil biomass improvement compared to improvements reported in prior studies. To be able to optimize the illumination spectrum, several …

Motor Developmental Outcomes In Children Exposed To Maternal Diabetes During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Diana Arabiat, Mohammad A. L. Jabery, Vivien Kemp, Mark Jenkins, Lisa C. Whitehead, Gary Adams

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021 by the author. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Studies on the association of maternal diabetes with motor development in children provide inconsistent findings. We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Emcare, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar databases for primary observational, case–control, or cohort studies that report on the motor development of children exposed to maternal diabetes during pregnancy. Quality appraisal and data extraction were performed independently and in duplicate. A meta-analysis of summary measures was performed using random-effect models. Eighteen studies were identified for inclusion, however, only 13 were included in the meta-analysis. Exposure to maternal diabetes during pregnancy was associated with a …

Psychological Distress In Men With Prostate Cancer Undertaking Androgen Deprivation Therapy: Modifying Effects Of Exercise From A Year-Long Randomized Controlled Trial, Daniel A. Galvão, Robert U. Newton, Suzanne K. Chambers, Nigel Spry, David Joseph, Robert A. Gardiner, Ciaran M. Fairman, Dennis R. Taaffe

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021, The Author(s). Objectives: To assess the long-term effects of various exercise modes on psychological distress in men with prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Patients and methods: 135 prostate cancer patients aged 43–90 years on ADT were randomized to twice weekly supervised impact loading and resistance exercise (ImpRes), supervised aerobic and resistance exercise (AerRes), and usual care/delayed supervised aerobic exercise (DelAer) for 12 months, and completed measures of psychological distress using the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18). BSI-18 provides three subscales for anxiety, depression, and somatisation, as well as the global severity index (GSI) where higher scores indicate …

Characterization And Analysis Of Naturally Fractured Gas Reservoirs Based On Stimulated Reservoir Volume And Petro-Physical Parameters, Ali Al-Rubaye, Ahmed Al-Yaseri, Muhammad Ali, Hisham Ben Mahmud

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021, The Author(s). Fracture is one of the most important geological phenomena that affect the production of hydrocarbon compounds in broken carbonate reservoirs. However, fracture controlling factors must be combined with well data to achieve accurate fracture modeling. Therefore, structural data, drilling data, well flow diagrams, cores data, wells production data, and dynamic reservoir data have been considered here. Finally, by combining the above-mentioned information and through statistical and mathematical methods, the mechanism of fracture creation, general trends, and dominant fracture patterns are determined. These patterns are directly related to the tectonic regime and the stresses governing the region. …

Low-Coverage Whole-Genome Sequencing Of Extracellular Vesicle-Associated Dna In Patients With Metastatic Cancer, Bella Nguyen, Nicholas C. Wong, Tim Semple, Michael Clark, Stephen Q. Wong, Connull Leslie, Bob Mirzai, Michael Millward, Katie Meehan, Annette M. Lim

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021, The Author(s). Low-coverage whole-genome sequencing (LC-WGS) can provide insight into oncogenic molecular changes. Serum extracellular vesicles (EV) represent a novel liquid biopsy source of tumoral DNA. This study compared copy number alteration (CNA) profiles generated from LC-WGS of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumoral DNA and EV-DNA obtained from cancer patients. Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the base of tongue (n = 3) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (n = 2) were included. LC-WGS (0.5-1X coverage) was performed on FFPE-DNA and serum EV-DNA. Similarity between CNA profiles was analysed using QDNAseq. FFPE samples had a mean CNA of 31 …

Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) Associations With Diseases In Ethnic Groups Of The Arabian Peninsula, Halima Al Naqbi, Aurélie Mawart, Jawaher Alshamsi, Habiba Al Safar, Guan K. Tay

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021, The Author(s). Since the discovery of human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), the function of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene families in a wide range of diseases have been the subject of research for decades. In particular, the associations of autoimmune disorders to allelic variants and candidate genes encoding the MHC are well documented. However, despite decades of research, the knowledge of MHC associations with human disease susceptibility have been predominantly studied in European origin, with limited understanding in different populations and ethnic groups. This is particularly evident in countries and ethnic populations of the Arabian Peninsula. Human MHC haplotypes, …

Revisiting Collaboration Within And Beyond The School Library: New Ways Of Measuring Effectiveness, Margaret K. Merga, Sayidi Mat Roni, Chin Ee Loh, Anabela Malpique

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Collaboration in school libraries can be viewed as a supportive and respectful working relationship between participants involved in developing, planning and creating learning opportunities and experiences, as well as to ensure optimal use of the school library resource. While strong collaboration between school library staff and teachers and leadership beyond the school library is a key goal of school libraries, actual levels of collaboration may be lower than desired. There is a paucity of recent research that captures factors relevant to effective collaboration from current and diverse …

The Role Of Background Knowledge In Reading Comprehension: A Critical Review, Reid Smith, Pamela Snow, Tanya Serry, Lorraine Hammond

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. A critical review was conducted to determine the influence background knowledge has on the reading comprehension of primary school-aged children. We identified twenty-three studies that met our criteria and focused on the links between background knowledge and reading comprehension of children in the mid to late primary years. Review findings highlight that higher levels of background knowledge have a range of effects that are influenced by the nature of the text, the quality of the situation model required, and the presence of reader misconceptions about the text. Our findings also indicate that background …

Detection And Recognition Of Moving Video Objects: Kalman Filtering With Deep Learning, Hind Rustum Mohammed, Zahir M. Hussain

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021. All rights reserved. Research in object recognition has lately found that Deep Convolutional Neuronal Networks (CNN) provide a breakthrough in detection scores, especially in video applications. This paper presents an approach for object recognition in videos by combining Kalman filter with CNN. Kalman filter is first applied for detection, removing the background and then cropping object. Kalman filtering achieves three important functions: predicting the future location of the object, reducing noise and interference from incorrect detections, and associating multi-objects to tracks. After detection and cropping the moving object, a CNN model will predict the category of object. The …

What Lies Beneath: Predicting Seagrass Below-Ground Biomass From Above-Ground Biomass, Environmental Conditions And Seagrass Community Composition, C. J. Collier, L. M. Langlois, Kathryn M. Mcmahon, J. Udy, M. Rasheed, E. Lawrence, A. B. Carter, M. W. Fraser, L. J. Mckenzie

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 Seagrass condition, resilience and ecosystem services are affected by the below-ground tissues (BGr) but these are rarely monitored. In this study we compiled historical data across northern Australia to investigate biomass allocation strategies in 13 tropical seagrass species. There was sufficient data to undertake statistical analysis for five species: Cymodocea serrulata, Halophila ovalis, Halodule uninervis, Thalassia hemprichii, and Zostera muelleri. The response of below-ground biomass (BGr) to above-ground biomass (AGr) and other environmental and seagrass community composition predictor variables were assessed using Generalized Linear Models. Environmental data included: region, season, sediment type, water depth, proximity to land-based sources …

Flow And Heat Transfer Characteristics Of Turbulent Swirling Impinging Jets [Thesis], Muhammad Ikhlaq

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Numerous industrial applications rely on impinging jets to impart convective heat and mass transfer in processes ranging from the cooling of electronic devices and gas turbine blades to drying of paper and food products. Conventionally, non-swirling impinging jets have been employed, but some studies have shown that inducing swirl allows better control of uniformity and improved convective fluxes. A better understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms that lead to such behaviour warrants deeper insights into the flow and heat transfer characteristics of impinging jets, both swirling and non-swirling. Whilst important to achieve, the flow field of an impinging jet is …

Investigating Self-Efficacy: Early Childhood Teachers’ Understanding Of Self-Efficacy, Dimity Franks

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Students are experiencing an increased pressure to perform academically at a younger age with reports of the narrowing of curriculum and student disengagement. Current research literature suggests curricula should reflect the increased pressures students are facing. A focus on the social and emotional skills to support student learning is recommended to increase student engagement and enrichment and prepare students for their future. Self-efficacy is one element of social and emotional learning that demands attention. Self-efficacy is considered important for teachers to understand as it can predict how students approach their tasks as well as influence their levels of motivation and …

Cost-Effectiveness Of Exercise Medicine For Prostate Cancer, Kim Edmunds

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Background

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is associated with numerous adverse effects that impact on quality of life and contribute further to the cost burden of prostate cancer (PCa) via treatment and supportive care. Exercise medicine is effective in slowing PCa progression, reversing treatment adverse effects and improving quality of life and survival of patients, however, no economic analyses have been conducted to determine whether exercise is cost-effective in this population.

Objectives

Firstly, to examine the adverse effects of ADT for PCa and the evidence supporting the use of exercise medicine in their management. Secondly, to conduct the first economic evaluations …

Assessment Of The Clinical Validity Of Ctdna Analysis For Melanoma Management, Anda-Gabriela Marsavela

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Metastatic melanoma is responsible for almost 80% of all skin cancer-related deaths and the incidence of people affected continues to rise worldwide. The emergence of targeted therapy and immune-checkpoint inhibitors has improved the clinical management of melanoma, but durable survival benefit is only seen in a minority of patients. The use of these very expensive systemic therapies on all appropriate patients also poses a high economic burden on health systems across numerous countries. Currently, surveillance for treatment failure is not optimal. Thus, reliable and accurate biomarkers of patient disease status are urgently required.

Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) analysis has emerged …

An Investigation Into The Efficacy Of Url Content Filtering Systems, Brett Ronald Turner

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Content filters are used to restrict to restrict minors from accessing to online content deemed inappropriate. While much research and evaluation has been done on the efficiency of content filters, there is little in the way of empirical research as to their efficacy. The accessing of inappropriate material by minors, and the role content filtering systems can play in preventing the accessing of inappropriate material, is largely assumed with little or no evidence. This thesis investigates if a content filter implemented with the stated aim of restricting specific Internet content from high school students achieved the goal of stopping students …

Digital Representation For Assessment Of Spoken Efl At University Level: A Case Study In Vietnam, Thi Bich Hiep Vu

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Assessing the speaking performance of students who are studying English as a Foreign Language (EFL) has mainly been conducted with face-to-face speaking tests. While such tests are undoubtedly interactive and authentic, they have been criticised for subjective scoring, as well as lacking an effective test delivery method and recordings for later review.

Technology has increasingly been integrated into speaking tests over the last decade and become known as computer-assisted or computer-based assessment of speaking. Although this method is widely acknowledged to measure certain aspects of language speaking effectively, such as pronunciation and grammar, it has not yet proved to be …

Performer Training Evolutions: Nsp The Firstborn Son Of Smat, Chelsea Crothers

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study examined the Nobbs Suzuki Praxis (NSP), a performer training that evolved as an Australian variant of the Japanese Suzuki Method of Actor Training (SMAT). There has been little research on NSP up until now and this study seeks to establish its importance as a training approach that has the potential to be transformative for the performers who practice it. The study utilised a multi-modal approach that included traditional and practice as research methodologies. The origins of NSP in SMAT were traced to identify similarities and differences, and reveal NSP’s inspirations and the reasons for its subsequent divergent evolution. …

Energy And Throughput Efficient Strategies For Heterogeneous Future Communication Networks, Haitham El-Mohamdy Khaled

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

As a result of the proliferation of wireless-enabled user equipment and data-hungry applications, mobile data traffic has exponentially increased in recent years.This in-crease has not only forced mobile networks to compete on the scarce wireless spectrum but also to intensify their power consumption to serve an ever-increasing number of user devices. The Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) concept, where mixed types of low-power base stations coexist with large macro base stations, has emerged as a potential solution to address power consumption and spectrum scarcity challenges. However, as a consequence of their inflexible, constrained, and hardware-based configurations, HetNets have major limitations in adapting …

Understanding Stage Management In The 21st Century In Australia: A Preliminary Survey, Ping Sum (Teresa) Fok

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

As a vocation that has been around for at least 150 years, stage management has gone through years of evolution in its scope of practice. From existing as a purely mechanical part of the theatre process to becoming vital co-creators in collaboration with Directors, Designers, and Playwrights, the roles and skills of a Stage Manager has expanded beyond the theatre into the events and entertainment industry that includes large sporting events, rock concerts, and corporate productions.

Academic research into Stage Management is presently in its infancy, with a dearth of published literature. This research contributes a timely and critical reflection …

Siblings Of People With Intellectual Disability: Relationships And Decision-Making Across The Life Span, Wendy Simpson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

A growing amount of research focuses on siblings of children with disabilities. However, limited evidence exists to provide a solid understanding and depth of knowledge of the issues that affect adult sibling relationships when one has intellectual disability. Since sibling relationships are the longest lasting family relationship, they are becoming more important because people with disability are outliving their parents or main caregivers. The increased longevity of people with disability has a societal and economic impact that has been recognised in the context of the recently introduced National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Australia. By exploring the experiences of siblings …

Factors Associated With Intimate Partner Homicide In A West Australian Context, William Anthony Thompson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Domestic Violence (DV) is prevalent within Australian society with one in four women experiencing some form ofDV (ABS 2017) in their life. The Australian homicide rate is about 250 deaths per year, of which 52% are domestic related (Virueda & Payne 2010). Domestic homicides include Intimate Partner Homicide (IPH), where the victim and offender shared, or formerly shared an intimate relationship (for example married, defacto and ex partners; Bryant & Cussen 2015). This study analysed the factors of West Australian (WA) IPHs from 2012-2017 inclusive. The aim was to identify aetiologies of IPH offending across ethnicity and gender to understand …

The Youth Work Career: Exploring Long-Term Careers Of Professional Youth Workers In Western Australia, John Sutcliffe

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this research was to explore the meaning and experiences of the long-term careers of youth workers. This study selected a Western Australian sample group of 10 degreequalified youth workers who had graduated between 1990 and 1999 and had experienced careers in youth work spanning 20 years. The existing literature pertaining to long-term youth work careers was sparse in certain aspects, which established the primary need for the research focus. The related literature was found to represent a negative image of youth work as a career. Youth work was considered lacking in professional identity and was most commonly …