Biotechnology Commons^™

Special Issue Editorial: Business Innovation For The Sustainable Development Goals, Mohamed Saleem Nazmudeen, Fadzliwati Mohiddin, Stephen Singaraju, Seyed M Buhari

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Welcome to this special issue of the ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development (AJSTD), focused on “Business Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)." This collection features a robust ensemble of 30 papers that not only highlight innovative business practices across the ASEAN region but also align these innovations with the Sustainable Development Goals. These contributions span a diverse range of disciplines, grouped into five broad categories: Management and Strategy, Financial Innovations, Marketing and Consumer Behavior, Information Technology and Systems, and Environmental and Social Impact.

Role Of Extracytoplasmic Function (Ecf) Sigma Factors In The Survival And Symbiosis Of Nitrogen-Fixing Bradyrhizobium Under Desiccation Stress And Comparative Analysis Of Desiccation-Tolerant Rhizobial Isolates, Mohammad Kamruzzaman

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Rhizobia are soil bacteria that facilitate biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) through a symbiotic relationship with legumes such as soybeans. As an eco-friendly alternative to chemical nitrogen fertilizers, rhizobial inoculants can enhance plant growth and yield. However, they face various stresses, including drought (i.e., desiccation). Rhizobia can manage desiccation stress by accumulating trehalose, a disaccharide produced by genes such as otsA, otsB, and treS. Extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors sense external signals and regulate these desiccation-related genes during the stress. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of EcfG in response to desiccation stress and symbiosis. Based on the protein sequence …

Development And Application Of Guided Mode Resonance Biosensor Platforms For Highly Sensitive And Real-Time Cell Killing Assays, Seyedmohsen Vaziri

Electrical Engineering Dissertations - Archive

In this work, we developed and investigated the cancer cell killing efficacy of different instances using real-time high-sensitivity measurements facilitated by Guided-Mode Resonance (GMR) sensors. The GMR biosensor technology detects shifts in the spectral peak caused by changes in the refractive index of the surrounding medium, offering a label-free method for monitoring cellular events.

A549 cell line wild type and HER2 knockout (lung cancer cells) were exposed to different concentrations of Triton X-100 and ADC (Herceptin with αHFc-CL-DMDM). The GMR-based cell killing assay demonstrated exceptional sensitivity and specificity, with shifts in wavelength exhibiting a robust correlation with cell viability and …

Equipment Performance Cost Optimization Using Machine Learning (A Surface Condenser Case Study), Firdaus Basheer, Mohamed Saleem Haja Nazmudeen, Fadzliwati Mohiddin, Elango Natrajan

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Equipment performance assessment or prediction has usually been done using the conventional approach. Organization is often too busy to focus on improvement opportunities for equipment performance. Opportunities identifications are heavily reliant on expert opinion and the methods used often vary from one person to another depending on the knowledge they possess. The benefits of simplistic and realistic equipment performance prediction would significantly improve maintenance costs and hence could help to reduce the total operating cost of the asset. In this research work, a surface condenser was used as a case study. The solution proposed in this research work is to …

Conceptualizing The Real And Perceived Risk Factors For Household Solar Pv Investment On Energy Transition Agenda, Syed Quaid Ali Shah, Lai Fong Woon, Ariff Bahruddin, Muhammad Kashif Shad

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The value of electricity produced via solar technologies has increased rapidly over the past decade. This brings along an enormous possibility to generate a substantial share of the world’s energy demand, in tandem with pushing aggressive efforts to cut down carbon emissions. Distributed solar technology, such as the residential solar photovoltaic (PV) system has been acknowledged to be of significant potential. Nevertheless, realizing this potential will require overcoming economic and social barriers to get private individuals to invest in their households. As such, this paper aims to discuss the role of residential investors’ real risk and perceived risk toward investors’ …

An Rnai-Based Approach To Ips Calligraphus Management: A Promising Strategy For Forest Protection, Mary Wallace

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

As climate change leads to more frequent and severe extreme weather, host tree stress is increasing the occurrence of large-scale bark beetle outbreaks. One such beetle, Ips calligraphus (Germar), a native bark beetle in the southeastern United States, has traditionally been considered a secondary pest of pine trees. Management has relied on silvicultural practices that enhance forest resilience, enabling host trees to effectively use natural defenses to deter beetle infestation. However, during periods of forest stress caused by storms, droughts, human disturbance, and other factors, beetle outbreaks can cause considerable ecological and economic damage.

Addressing worsening I. calligraphus outbreaks will …

Bio-Bust: Investigating Biotech Stock Factors Contributing To Abnormal Returns In The Wake Of Silicon Valley Bank's Failure, Spencer Kent

CMC Senior Theses

Following the unprecedented collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in March 2023, this study explores abnormal stock price reactions within the biotechnology sector. As the chosen financial institution for countless Silicon Valley-type technology and healthcare firms, SVB's failure had a profound impact on small to mid-sized biotech companies. Analyzing a dataset of 180 biotech firms during a two-day event window over SVB’s collapse, I investigate whether exposure to SVB, or other factors, was the primary contributor to negative abnormal stock price reactions, considering variables such as the percentage of cash held at SVB, whether a firm maintained an active SVB …

Temporal Distribution Of Potential Waterborne Pathogens In Sequiota Spring, William J. Durstock

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Waterborne pathogens from human fecal matter pose a significant health risk in karst environments, where domestic wastewater can easily be transferred to the shallow groundwater system via old, leaky septic tanks and damaged sewer lines. This study monitored fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and potential pathogens in Sequiota Spring located in the karst region of southwest Missouri, using Microbial Source Tracking (MST) and Illumina DNA sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes. MST identified high levels of human fecal indicator bacteria (HFIB) (up to 110,000 cells/L) in July 2020. By June 2022, HFIB levels had dropped significantly (55-fold reduction) after the City …

Rare Variant Analyses Validate Known Als Genes In A Multi-Ethnic Population And Identifies Antxr2 As A Candidate In Pls, Tess D. Pottinger, Joshua E. Motelow, Gundula Povysil, Cristiane A. Martins Moreno, Zhong Ren, Hemali Phatnani, The New York Genome Center Als Sequencing Consortium, Timothy J. Aitman, Javier Santoyo‑Lopez, Scottish Genomes Partnership, Hiroshi Mitsumoto, Als Cosmos Study Group, Pls Cosmos Study Group, Gtac Investigators, David B. Goldstein, Matthew B. Harms

Neurology Faculty Publications

Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting over 300,000 people world‑ wide. It is characterized by the progressive decline of the nervous system that leads to the weakening of muscles which impacts physical function. Approximately, 15% of individuals diagnosed with ALS have a known genetic variant that contributes to their disease. As therapies that slow or prevent symptoms continue to develop, such as antisense oligonucleotides, it is important to discover novel genes that could be targets for treatment. Additionally, as cohorts continue to grow, performing analyses in ALS subtypes, such as primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), becomes possible …

Sdgs And Circularity In Fashion Industry: Bruneian Perspective Based On Basic Values, Izzah Mohd Noor, Shahid Anjum

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The fashion industry is facing significant textile waste, with millions of textiles ending up in landfills annually. Overconsumption of textiles and clothes due to fast fashion trends has negative environmental impacts. Transitioning to a circular economy is crucial for minimizing environmental impact and addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the United Nations' 2030 Agenda. This study investigates the adoption of Circular Economy practices and SDGs awareness in second-hand clothing. Using IBM SPSS Statistics Software and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, the study models consumer behaviors, and attitudes by investigating the influence of four key components from Schwartz's theory of …

Factors Influencing Consumers' Intention To Use Over-The-Top (Ott) Services: A Study In Brunei Darussalam, Hjh Faralisa Hj Zulfikri, Heru Susanto

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The market for over-the-top (OTT) services has witnessed significant growth and transformation, presenting new opportunities and challenges to service providers. This study aims to explore the factors that influence consumers' intention to use OTT services, focusing on the context of Brunei Darussalam. Drawing on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a theoretical framework, this study investigates the impact of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, innovativeness, service quality, information seeking, and entertainment on consumers' intention to use OTT services. A quantitative research approach was adopted and data were collected through an online survey conducted among the general public in Brunei …

Practical Challenges In Delivering Dsrna For Woody Plant Protection, Zachary Bragg

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Unprecedented weather events associated with climate change, coupled with extensive anthropogenic stresses, have reduced the effectiveness of traditional forest pest management approaches, which can no longer keep pace with invasive species overwhelming naïve landscapes and native pests experiencing eruptive and expansive outbreaks. Double-stranded RNA-(dsRNA) mediated gene silencing, a type of RNA interference (RNAi), has been coopted for use as a biopesticide against a multitude of agricultural and horticultural pests and could serve as a powerful tool for woody plant protection. While effective initiation of gene silencing and subsequent mortality have been demonstrated in multiple tree pests, effective and efficient methods …

Cyp6g2 Is The Major P450 Epoxidase Responsible For Juvenile Hormone Biosynthesis In Drosophila Melanogaster, Qiangqiang Jia, Liu Yang, Jiamin Wen, Suning Liu, Di Wen, Wei Luo, Weihua Wang, Subba R. Palli, Li Sheng

Entomology Faculty Publications

Background Juvenile hormones (JH) play crucial role in regulating development and reproduction in insects. The most common form of JH is JH III, derived from MF through epoxidation by CYP15 enzymes. However, in the higher dipterans, such as the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster, a bis-epoxide form of JHB3, accounted most of the JH detected. Moreover, these higher dipterans have lost the CYP15 gene from their genomes. As a result, the identity of the P450 epoxidase in the JH biosynthesis pathway in higher dipterans remains unknown.

Results In this study, we show that Cyp6g2 serves as the major JH epoxidase responsible for …

The Mechanoreceptor Piezo Is Required For Spermatogenesis In Bombyx Mori, Zhongjie Zhang, Xiaojing Liu, Bo Hu, Kai Chen, Ye Yu, Chenxin Sun, Dalin Zhu, Hua Bai, Subba Reddy Palli, Anjiang Tan

Entomology Faculty Publications

Background The animal sperm shows high diversity in morphology, components, and motility. In the lepidopteran model insect, the silkworm Bombyx mori, two types of sperm, including nucleate fertile eupyrene sperm and anucleate unfertile apyrene sperm, are generated. Apyrene sperm assists fertilization by facilitating the migration of eupyrene spermatozoa from the bursa copulatrix to the spermatheca. During spermatogenesis, eupyrene sperm bundles extrude the cytoplasm by peristaltic squeezing, while the nuclei of the apyrene sperm bundles are discarded with the same process, forming matured sperm.

Results In this study, we describe that a mechanoreceptor BmPiezo, the sole Piezo ortholog in B. mori, …

Impact Of Financial Management System On Organizational Accountability And Responsibility: A Study Of Corporate Entities, Nur Farhanah Binti Marjuni, Junaid M. Shaikh

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

This research investigates the impact of Financial Management Systems (FMS) on organizational accountability and responsibility in Brunei's manufacturing sector, utilizing a mixed-methods approach that includes primary data collected through questionnaires distributed to 41 local manufacturing companies and supplemented by secondary data from other ASEAN countries for comparative analysis. The primary focus is to assess the awareness and significance of efficient FMS implementation. Findings demonstrate a substantial influence of FMS on organizational accountability and responsibility, supported by an analysis of primary and secondary data from the ASEAN region. Nevertheless, this study acknowledges limitations such as its exclusive focus on Brunei and …

Contemporary Vs. Traditional Dna-Based Mutation Testing To Detect Hereditary Breast And Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (Hboc) In Women: A Meta Narrative Review, Hannah Olivia Cantu, Jacob Hipp, Nyela Y. Lopez, Duc Duy Nguyen

Research Methods Poster Session 2024

No abstract provided.

Developing A Novel Gold Nanoparticle-Based Colorimetric Assay For The Detection Of Cytomegalovirus (Cmv) In Pediatric-Derived Urine Specimens, Sonam Gupta

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of the Herpesviridae family and is known to infect people of all ages. In most cases, CMV infection is asymptomatic, and the virus is cleared from the host without showing any significant symptoms. However, 1 out of 200 babies are born with congenital CMV infection, which affects multiple organs, including the brain, liver, spleen, lung, and inner ear. One long-term health problem in 1 out 5 babies born with congenital CMV infection is hearing loss. The progression of CMV-associated hearing loss in the first two years of life may lead to developmental delays in language, …

Measures Of Feed Efficiency In Beef Cattle: Biological Basis And Effect On Response To Dietary Supplementation, Modoluwamu Idowu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

During the feedlot receiving period, newly weaned beef cattle face various stressors, including weaning, transportation, vaccination, and exposure to pathogens. Additionally, changes in diet and low dry matter intake contribute to nutrient deficiencies, heightening susceptibility to disease and performance declines. Therefore, we examined the effects of dietary supplementation with a multicomponent blend of prebiotics and probiotics on the health, immune status, metabolism, and performance of newly weaned beef steers during a 35-day receiving period. Our results showed that compared to the control group, the supplemental additive (SYNB) increased average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake, and meal events during the …

Exploring Natural Raw Materials For The Development Of Hot Melt Adhesives For Linings Of Paintings, Erica Factor

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Natural raw materials will be explored for developing hot melt adhesives for the lining of paintings. The leading raw material is a natural resin called "Damar". This resin is obtained from the tree family Dipterocaupocea in India and Southeast Asia. This material has shown promising results from initial testing. Damar, with the potential for other natural raw materials, will be combined with synthetic ingredients to create sustainable formulations. The formulations will be tested on linen to replicate the application onto paintings. The sustainability, tackiness, texture, and overall performance of each formula will be considered. Once a formulation has been selected, …

The Ethics Of Brain-Machine Interfaces, Devon J. Lynn

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Brain Machine Interfaces (BMI) are a rapidly developing technology that raise unique ethical issues that demand review. They have demonstrated impressive restorative potential, particularly for individuals living with epilepsy, and those who are locked in. Although BMIs have the potential to provide significant benefit to millions of users, further advancement of the technology should proceed cautiously, according to the guidelines outlined in this paper. Failure to adhere to ethical guidelines could lead to severe privacy concerns, and would violate moral principles of beneficence, virtue ethics, care ethics, and utilitarianism. Despite the moral risks, BMIs hold promise for reshaping future healthcare …