Digital Commons Network^™

A Scenography Of Inscriptions And Intangibles In The Birthing Room, Johara Bellali

School of Art, Design and Architecture

Inscriptions on graph paper, on monitors and on various screensare ubiquitous in the birthing room; they reassure, worry, beep,light up and inform protocols. According to Latour (1985) theirpresence is not a result of a carefully planned logical choice, butof a legacy of mustering allies and convincing alignments. UsingBarad’s (2007) framework of agential realism, this paper explores thenotion of intra-actions between objects and agencies of observationin the phenomenon of birth, using a socio-political and historicalconfiguration. It presents some surprising accounts of obstetricsand gynaecology and showcases how historical inscriptions andinstruments materialized today’s birthing practices. It then presentshow, upon entering the birthing room, …

The Ecological And Social Effects Of Open Ocean Mussel Farming, Danielle Bridger

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Mussel aquaculture installations located in inshore waters have been shown to have a wide range of impacts on the surrounding environment and marine organisms, while also presenting a problem to other marine users. However, there is some evidence that moving these installations further offshore into the open ocean could mitigate these impacts. This thesis aimed to develop and pilot a robust monitoring programme that could be used to inform future management of aquaculture installations. A further aim was to assess the effects of mussel headlines at an open ocean long-line mussel farm, currently under development in Lyme Bay, southwest UK, …

A Phenotypic And Genomic Investigation Of The Identity And Variation In The European Dark Bee (Apis Mellifera Mellifera), Victoria G Buswell

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Apis mellifera (the Western honey bee) is a predominantly human managed pollinator consisting of different evolutionary lineages each containing a number of subspecies. Apis mellifera is threatened by various factors for example, parasites, viruses and pesticide use. The native subspecies of the British Isles Apis mellifera mellifera is additionally threatened by introgression resulting from the importation of foreign subspecies perceived to have more desirable characteristics. This thesis investigates the integrity of Apis mellifera mellifera in the UK and how that can be assessed. Initially, introgression levels over time in a conservation program were assessed. This revealed temporal decreases in introgression, …

Ecological Studies Of The South Atlantic Deep Sea To Inform Sustainable Management, Amelia Bridges

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Although deep-sea science continues to progress, the southern hemisphere represents a vast and yet understudied area, and the South Atlantic is no exception to this. However, as with other ocean basins, blue growth and the potential for expansion of new and emerging industries mean that information is required to characterise the ecology of the basin to inform sustainable management. Furthermore, novel tools will be required to assist in translating ecological knowledge into usable products that can facilitate marine spatial planning. The aims of this thesis were to contribute to our understanding of the benthic ecology of seamount and oceanic island …

A Step Towards Automating Real-Time Collection Of Ecological Data On Observational Platforms : A Pilot Study On Deep-Sea Benthic Species Syringammina Fragilissima, Erin Browne

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Despite current efforts to study deep-sea life, there is a dependency on technological advancements to asses it at a scale and pace required to inform effective management and conservation. Data collection platforms, such as Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) are routinely applied to studying the deep sea due to their ability to collect large image-based datasets. Thus, data collection in the deep sea is becoming less of a problem in comparison to data interpretation, where terabytes of video data is collected during expeditions and manual interpretation of this is currently the standard procedure. Deep learning (DL), a sub-field of artificial intelligence …

A Comparison Of Impa2 & Isyna1 Gene Expression And Intracelular Myo-Inositol Levels In Bipolar And Non-Bipolar Disorder Derived Human Lymphoblasts, Christina Rosette

Master's Theses

The thesis objective was to determine if myo-inositol concentration levels and the gene expression of IMPA2 & ISYNA1 differ among bipolar disorder types 1 and 2 compared to healthy controls (non-bipolar disorder). Previous studies have correlated different myo-inositol concentration levels with specific phases of bipolar and pharmaceutical treatments. Two genes, inositol monophosphatase 2 (IMPA2) and inositol-3-phosphate synthase 1 (ISYNA1), involved in de novo myo-inositol biosynthesis have been implicated in the pathophysiology of bipolar. In this study, differences in myo-inositol concentration and IMPA2 & ISYNA1 gene expression in lymphoblasts derived from subjects with bipolar types 1, 2, and healthy control were …

Synergistic Effects Of A Domestic (Thiacloprid Based) Neonicotinoid Pesticide And Nitrogen, Phosphorus And Potassium Fertiliser On Common Earthworms (Lumbricus Terrestris)., Tristan Holmes

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Neonicotinoids are designed to target insect pests, but their extensive use and long persistence in soils mean that non-target soil organisms such as earthworms are likely to be chronically exposed to them. The common use of neonicotinoids in agricultural systems makes them highly likely to come into contact with other agro-chemicals that may give rise to synergistic effects. Chronic exposure of common earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) to neonicotinoids in single or combined use with inorganic NPK fertiliser may pose problems that are not accounted for in most biological risk assessments under laboratory conditions. To assess the impacts of such chronic exposure …

A Content Analysis Of Documentation Of Nature Play In Early Childhood Teacher Education Programs In Australia, Nicole C. Green, Vicki Christopher, Michelle Turner

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study theoretically aligns with research that purports that nature play positively contributes to sustainability stewardship. Early childhood teachers can plan for and nurture children’s capabilities and dispositions for sustainability stewardship. Initial teacher education programs contribute to the professional learning of preservice early childhood teachers’ perceptions regarding nature play. This article details the findings of content analysis to explore and uncover the existence of nature play in online, publicly available documents representing twenty-two early childhood teacher qualifications. In what ways is nature play evidenced in early childhood initial teacher education programs in Australia? The findings highlight potential discrepancies between the …

Evaluation Of Virtual Screening Strategies For The Identification Of Γ-Secretase Inhibitors And Modulators, Alicia Ioppolo, Melissa Eccles, David Groth, Giuseppe Verdile, Mark Agostino

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

γ-Secretase is an intramembrane aspartyl protease that is important in regulating normal cell physiology via cleavage of over 100 transmembrane proteins, including Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) and Notch family receptors. However, aberrant proteolysis of substrates has implications in the progression of disease pathologies, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), cancers, and skin disorders. While several γ-secretase inhibitors have been identified, there has been toxicity observed in clinical trials associated with non-selective enzyme inhibition. To address this, γ-secretase modulators have been identified and pursued as more selective agents. Recent structural evidence has provided an insight into how γ-secretase inhibitors and modulators are recognized …

A Privacy Preserving Online Learning Framework For Medical Diagnosis Applications, Trang Pham Ngoc Nguyen

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Electronic Health records are an important part of a digital healthcare system. Due to their significance, electronic health records have become a major target for hackers, and hospitals/clinics prefer to keep the records at local sites protected by adequate security measures. This introduces challenges in sharing health records. Sharing health records however, is critical in building an accurate online diagnosis framework. Most local sites have small data sets, and machine learning models developed locally based on small data sets, do not have knowledge about other data sets and learning models used at other sites.

The work in this thesis utilizes …

Early Childhood Teachers’ Perceptions Of Environmental Sustainability: A Phenomenographic Investigation, Jane Spiteri

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Early childhood teachers’ environmental perceptions can influence young children’s learning about environmental issues. Yet, to date, there is minimal research focusing on the perceptions of environmental sustainability held by early childhood teachers. This qualitative phenomenographic study collected data via individual semi-structured interviews with five early childhood teachers and one head teacher, in Malta. Preliminary findings revealed that the participants perceived environmental sustainability in terms of environmental concerns; environmental responsibility; and environmental protection. A mismatch between the participants’ environmental concerns and their pro-environmental behaviour emerged. The data also show that any environmental activities at school were done so uncritically. These findings …

A Review Of Undergraduate Education Student Responses To The Online Component Of Blended Learning: A Cautionary Tale, Ross S. Bernay, Chris Jenkin, Tafili Utumapu-Mcbride, Adrian Schoone, Andrew Gibbons

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Calls for enhancing the digital interface for teaching and learning within tertiary institutions have played out in one School of Education, with variable results. Online learning tasks were added in 2018 to regular classes to provide more flexibility for student engagement. A team of lecturers developed a questionnaire for students to be completed after the first semester pilot. Data and findings indicated that one-third of students identified online learning as an enhancement to their learning. A second survey was conducted one year later to assess changes made and analyse the longer-term impacts. During the COVID-19 lockdown, fully online pedagogy was …

Collaborative And Traditional Practice-Models As Perceived By Preservice Teachers: The Potential Impact Of Culture, Ilana Klima Ronen, Alexandra Danial-Saad, Rachel Holsblat

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

A differential cultural aspect manifested when we compared the experiences of 96-Jewish and 107-Arab PSTs who participated in a collaborative academy-class-practice- model (ACPM), or a traditional-practice-model (TPM). The attempt to implement the collaborative ACPM was hesitantly accepted by Jewish-PSTs, whereas the Arab-PSTs welcomed it warmly. This led us to question whether culture played a role in the groups’ perceptions of the ACPM\TPM. A mixed methods questionnaire has been used to examine PSTs` pedagogical knowledge, the perceived benefits they gained during the practicum, and the importance they attributed to the advice of staff members and peers. Although the PSTs from both …

Anxious, Disconnected And ‘Missing Out’, But Oh So Convenient: Tertiary Students’ Perspectives Of Remote Teaching And Learning With Covid-19, Melissah B. Thomas, Helen Widdop Quinton, Zali Yager

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The higher education sector has learnt a great deal in the online delivery shift due to Covid-19, however, student voice has been underrepresented in literature. This paper reveals 15 student perspectives, including both international and domestic students, who were studying a Master of Teaching (Secondary) at one university in Melbourne, Australia, during heightened social distancing restrictions. The inductive thematic qualitative data analysis collected through semi-structured interviews showed opportunities and challenges of learning experiences. Emergent themes found affordances of convenience and challenges of relational and structural aspects of teaching and learning. Relational aspects of learning were more challenging, including peer collaboration, …

Changes In Students’ Perceptions Of Self-Assessment In Courses With Different Approaches To Assessment, Ester Aflalo

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The importance of student self-assessment and its contribution to learning in teacher education is well documented in the research literature. However, we still need to better understand when and why self-assessment actually works. This study examines preservice teachers’ perception of self-assessment prior to and following experiencing self-assessment. The study included 135 students studying at two education colleges in Israel. The students attended courses with differing evaluation approaches. The findings show that the experience with self-assessment in the courses with formative evaluation or integrative evaluation encourages the students’ positive perception of self-assessment, in contrast to summative evaluation courses. The study expands …

Ecology Of Family Experiences: Contextualizing Family Leisure For Human Development & Family Relations, Karen K. Melton, Camilla Hodge, Mat D. Duerden

Faculty Publications

All family leisure is not equal. Yet, little is known about the mechanisms linking different types of family leisure to different human development and family relations outcomes. The Ecology of Family Experiences (EFE) framework provides a sensitizing lens for the study of the conditions under which family leisure is beneficial to individuals and families. Specifically, the framework suggests three domains—Family, Activity, and Time—iteratively interact to generate different levels of individual and family outcomes (i.e., responses, meaning, and development). The EFE necessitates research built on ecologically valid study designs that incorporate innovative measurement approaches. Scholars using such approaches can increase the …

Prevalence And Associated Risk Factors Of African Animal Trypanosomiasis In Cattle In Lambwe, Kenya, Ivy Sylvia Okello, Eliakunda Mafie, Gillian Eastwood, Jahashi Nzalawahe, Leonard E.G Mboera, Samuel Onyoyo

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Background. African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) affects livestock productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to determine cattle AAT’s prevalence and associated risk factors in Lambwe Valley, Kenya. Methods. In a cross-sectional survey, livestock owners were recruited from four villages of Lambwe in Homa Bay, Kenya. Blood samples were collected from the jugular veins of cattle, and buffy coat smears were examined under a microscope. Parasites were further detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using a semistructured questionnaire, livestock owners were interviewed on their knowledge of AAT and control practices. Chi-square and multilevel models were used for the analysis. Results. The …

Potential Uses Of Artisanal Gold Mine Tailings, With An Emphasis On The Role Of Centrifugal Separation Technique, Jeanne Pauline Munganyinka, Jean Baptiste Habinshuti, Jean Claude Ndayishimiye, Levie Mweene, Grace Ofori-Sarpong, Brajendra Mishra, Adelana R. Adetunji, Himanshu Tanvar

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Few investigations have focused on the potential uses of artisanal gold (Au) mine tailings, despite the fact that artisanal gold mining activity contributes to environmental issues such as greenhouse gas. Mineralogical characterizations of artisanal gold mine tailings in Miyove gold mine (Baradega and Masogwe) in Rwanda were investigated for potential utilization as a source of valuable gold, using the centrifugal separation technique. Results of X-ray diffraction analysis, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence showed that artisanal gold mine tailings samples have significant amounts of gold to justify economical gold …

Interaction With Augmented Reality Sandbox Does Not Produce Greater Gains In Topographic Map Skills For Undergraduate Students, Celeste Kenworthy

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The augmented reality (AR) sandbox allows students to interact with topographic maps in a 3D space. Being able to understand topographic maps is important to geologists and they are taught in many introductory geology courses. Recent research has focused on whether the AR sandbox can improve students’ topographic map skills. Previous studies have found that students who interact with the AR sandbox do not score significantly better on topographic map assessments (TMAs) than their peers. One proposed reason for this is the limited time students have to interact with the AR sandbox. This study sought to address this by creating …

Can Gdp Be Predictive Of Fertility Rates In Sweden?, Hannah Coleman

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Fertility rates in a country vary and can be influenced by numerous different aspects of an individual’s life and the society in which they live. One aspect that may influence fertility rates at the national level is the gross domestic product (GDP). GDP is an indicator of a country’s economic productivity. Because fertility is linked to both economic development and individual resources, GDP may be a useful indicator of fertility rates. If so, knowing or predicting GDP could be used to project the fertility rates of a population years into the future. To determine if a reasonable connection between GDP …

Optimization And Standardization Of Dms Chemical Mapping Experiments For Probing Rna 3d Structure, Sarah Brady

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

RNA plays a significant and crucial role in biological processes. The properties of RNA are ultimately responsible for each molecule’s unique function. The configuration and structural integrity of RNA is important for its functionality. Chemical mapping detailed in this thesis can be used to analyze the 3D structure of an RNA sequence. RNA is modified via methylation of adenine and cytosine bases using dimethyl sulfate, then reverse transcribed to DNA, then sequenced. The sites where the bases were methylated become mutations in the DNA sequence, allowing for identification of these locations when analyzing sequencing data. Conditions for modification can be …

Unstacking The Matryoshka Nesting Doll: A Self-Study Of Playful Language Instruction For Adult Second Language Learners, Marine Pepanyan

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In the recent three decades teaching second language (L2) vocabulary has expanded from sentence-level morphosyntactic features and pragmatics to the promotion and advancement of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT). Nevertheless, the L2 instructors are constantly seeking alternative strategies for vocabulary teaching and assessment due to a superficial level of vocabulary memorization and lack of student engagement. As an instructor-practitioner, I undertook a self-study of the process of implementing Playful Language Instruction (PLI) of L2 vocabulary in an Intensive English Program. In this self-study I combined conceptual lenses of theories of play, CLT, and the Adult Learning Theory to examine how playful …

Pulsed Nuclear Space Propulsion And International Law: Some Preliminary, Glenn Reynolds, Leigh Outten

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

Pulsed Nuclear Space Propulsion, researched in the 1950s and 1960s by such eminent physicists as Freeman Dyson, Ted Taylor, Theodore von Karman, and Hans Bethe, involves propelling large spacecraft using compact nuclear explosions from specialized atomic devices. This technology is often known by the name of the Air Force project in which it was developed: Orion. It has long been believed that the 1962 Limited Test Ban Treaty prohibits the use of nuclear pulse space propulsion. After a survey of the Orion project and its results and a review of the applicable law, this Article concludes that language in the …

Inequality By Unnatural Selection: The Impact Of Tax Code Bias On The Racial Wealth Gap, Phyllis C. Taite

Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

A Comprehensive Review On The Decontamination Of Lead(Ii) From Water And Wastewater By Low-Cost Biosorbents, Jonas Bayuo, Mwemezi Rwiza, Kelvin Mtei

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

The disadvantages of conventional methods in water and wastewater management including the demand for high energy consumption, the creation of secondary toxic sludge, and operation cost are much too high for developing countries. However, adsorption using low-cost biosorbents is the most efficient non-conventional technique for heavy metals removal. The high adsorption capacities, cost-effectiveness, and the abundance of agricultural waste materials in nature are the important parameters that explain why these biosorbents are economical for heavy metals removal. The present investigation sought to review the biosorption of lead [Pb(II)] onto low-cost biosorbents to understand their adsorption mechanism. The review shows that …

Remediation Of Soils Contaminated By Fluoride Using A Fermentation Product Of Seaweed (Eucheuma Cottonii), Ruth Lorivi Moirana, Josephine Mkunda, Marcos Paradelo, Revocatus Machunda, Kelvin Mtei

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

This study investigated the efficacy of fermented seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii) on the remediation of fluoride-contaminated soil. The soil was amended with either 1.25, 3.0, or 5.0% (w/w) fermented seaweed (FSW), parallel with the controls (0%). The amendment improved the physicochemical properties of the soil particularly pH regulated from strong alkaline (9.3) to neutral (7.0) which is essential for germination, crop growth, and yield. The amount of water soluble-fluoride (Ws-F) dropped from 81.7 ± 3.1 mg/kg to 42.7 ± 2.4, 33.7 ± 1.2, 19.6 ± 0.9, and 12 ± 1.3 mg/kg following 0, 1.25, 3, and 5% amendment dosage, re- spectively. …

Capacitive Deionization: A Promising Technology For Water Defluoridation: A Review, Tusekile Alfredy, Joyce Elisadiki, Yusufu Abeid Chande Jande

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is among the promising technologies employed for water purification. CDI has been studied for the removal of various ionic species from water including fluoride ion (F⁻) with promising results. However, there is no comprehensive literature that summarizes the use of CDI for water defluoridation applications. Therefore, this review paper critically analyzes different electrode materials that have been studied for water defluoridation, their electrosorption capacities and F⁻ removal efficiencies. It further discussed the parameters that influence CDI efficiency during defluoridation and point out the issues of F⁻ selectivity when co-existing with other ions in …

Effects Of Polyethylene Oxide Particles On The Photo-Physical Properties And Stability Of Fa-Rich Perovskite Solar Cells, Richard Kipyegon Koech, Yusuf A. Olanrewaju, Reisya Ichwani, Moses Kigozi, Deborah O. Oyewole, Omolara V. Oyelade, Dahiru M. Sanni, Sharafadeen A. Adeniji, Erika Colin‑Ulloa, Lyubov V. Titova, Julia L. Martin, Ronald L. Grimm, Abdulhakeem Bello, Oluwaseun K. Oyewole, Esidor Ntsoenzok, Winston O. Soboyejo

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

n this paper, we use Polyethylene Oxide (PEO) particles to control the morphology of Formamidinium (FA)‑rich perovskite films and achieve large grains with improved optoelectronic properties. Consequently, a planar perovskite solar cell (PSC) is fabricated with additions of 5 wt% of PEO, and the highest PCE of 18.03% was obtained. This solar cell is also shown to retain up to 80% of its initial PCE after about 140 h of storage under the ambient conditions (average relative humidity of 62.5 ± 3.25%) in an unencapsulated state. Furthermore, the steady‑state PCE of the PEO‑modified PSC device remained stable for long (over …

African Animal Trypanosomiasis: A Systematic Review On Prevalence, Risk Factors And Drug Resistance In Sub-Saharan Africa, Ivy Sylvia Okello, Eliakunda Mafie, Jahashi Nzalawahe, Leonard E.G Mboera

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) a parasitic disease of livestock in sub-Saharan Africa causing tremendous loses. Sub-Saharan continental estimation of mean prevalence in both large and small domestic animals, risk factors, tsetse and non-tsetse prevalence and drug resistance is lacking. A review and meta-analysis was done to better comprehend changes in AAT prevalence and drug resistance. Publish/Perish software was used to search and extract peer-reviewed articles in Google scholar, PubMed and CrossRef. In addition, ResearchGate and African Journals Online (AJOL) were used. Screening and selection of articles from 2000–2021 was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses …

Glioma And The Gut-Brain Axis: Opportunities And Future Perspectives, Antonio Dono, Jack Nickles, Ana G Rodriguez-Armendariz, Braden C Mcfarland, Nadim J Ajami, Leomar Y Ballester, Jennifer A Wargo, Yoshua Esquenazi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The gut-brain axis has presented a valuable new dynamic in the treatment of cancer and central nervous system (CNS) diseases. However, little is known about the potential role of this axis in neuro-oncology. The goal of this review is to highlight potential implications of the gut-brain axis in neuro-oncology, in particular gliomas, and future areas of research. The gut-brain axis is a well-established biochemical signaling axis that has been associated with various CNS diseases. In neuro-oncology, recent studies have described gut microbiome differences in tumor-bearing mice and glioma patients compared to controls. These differences in the composition of the microbiome …