Biotechnology Commons^™

Examining The Effects Of Artemisia Annua On Neuro2a Cells, Wesley Lim

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Artemisia annua L. is a well-known medicinal herb used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for many centuries and contains artemisinin, which exhibits antimalarial properties [1] and is a potential treatment for SARS-CoV-2 [2]. However, the neurological effect of A. annua and its compounds are poorly understood. We hypothesize that A. annua extracts and artemisinin will provide protection against oxidative stress in mouse neuronal Neuro2A cells. Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is an anti-oxidant enzyme that protects against oxidative damage [3]. Growth Arrest and DNA Damage-inducible 45 alpha (Gadd45a) is involved in DNA repair and is a common biomarker for DNA damage[4]. SOD1 …

Hybridization Kinetics Of Four-Way Junctions Localized On A Dna Scaffold, Katherine N. Taylor

Honors Undergraduate Theses

DNA computing is an ever-growing field with scientists trying to design structures that optimize logic gate communication to develop fast, biologically compatible, computational structures. We hypothesize that by using the principles of DNA computing, it is possible to design a DNA tile capable of studying localized DNA hybridization that can differentiate between oligonucleotides of different structural conformations. This includes synthetically manipulating DNA into a nanostructure that can perform Boolean logic functions to calculate the different rates of hybridization. To test our hypothesis, we designed a DNA Tile that incorporated a 4WJ using YES logic. Linear and hairpin single-stranded (ss) DNA …

A Tool To Automate Neuropathological Assessment In Huntington Disease Mouse Models, Samuel A. Moldenhauer

Honors Undergraduate Theses

As our life expectancy continues to rise, so does the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington disease (HD). Neurodegeneration leads to progressive regional brain atrophy, typically initiating prior to symptom onset. With the advancements of medical treatments designed to target neurodegeneration, researchers measure their impact on atrophy in animal models to assess their effectiveness. This is important because treatments designed to combat neuropathology are more likely to modify the disease itself, per contra to treatments designed to mask or treat symptoms. One method of brain region size quantification is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which while accurate, is prohibitively expensive. …

Assessing The Organic Acids-Solubilized Collagen Derived From The Skin Of Unicornfish (Naso Reticulatus Randall, 2011) On Physicochemical And Structural Characteristics: Toward Alternative Source For Industrial Applications, Dayang Fazrianie Harianto, Abdul Aziz Jaziri, Rossita Shapawi, Ruzaidi Azli Mohd Mokhtar, Wan Norhana Md. Noordin, Masmunira Rambli, Nurul Huda

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Converting skin by-product of unicornfish (Naso reticulatus Randall, 2011) into a valuable commodity like collagen is a good strategy to explore alternative sources for land-based animals. Additionally, marine fish collagens are preferable due to their safer and great properties. This project aimed to compare extractability of collagens prepared with three organic acids (i.e., acetic, lactic and citric acids), and their characteristics were also discussed. Collagen extracted with citric acid (CSCUS) (7.10%) had a significantly higher yield (p

Combating Corporate Fraud Through The Lens Of Corporate Governance In Malaysia, Emelia A. Girau, Dgku Habibah Ag Kee, Betsy Jomitin, Sazali Zainal Abidin, Imbarine Bujang

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The increasing incidence of corporate fraud in major global companies has drawn significant scrutiny to the effectiveness of corporate governance in mitigating such fraudulent activities. Despite substantial improvements in corporate governance practices and the implementation of new regulatory frameworks aimed at curbing corporate fraud, instances of fraud continue to rise. If this situation persists, it will become a serious impediment to making substantial progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The objective of this study is to explore the interplay between corporate governance attributes, whistleblowing policies, and the likelihood of corporate fraud occurrences within the context of Malaysia. The …

Fostering Corporate Resilience: Assessing Risk Management Committee Effectiveness In Malaysia’S Telecommunication And Media Sector Pre- And During The Covid-19, Flicia Rimin, Siti Rahayu Beli, Anastasiah Harbi, Imbarine Bujang, Jamaliah Said

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted organizations, underscoring the critical role of financial factors in determining performance. Maintaining a healthy financial stance during crises necessitates effective risk management, prompting the exploration of a Risk Management Committee (RMC) as a focal point for addressing risk issues and managing internal controls. A study spanning 2017 to 2021 assessed 11 listed companies in the Telecommunication and Media Sector, revealing that a combined RMC did not enhance financial performance, indicating its ineffectiveness during the crisis. The study advocates for a separate risk management committee due to the audit committee’s limitations in performing both functions. …

Sustainability Innovation, Firm Competitiveness, Export Performance, And Sales Growth: A System Dynamics Approach, Budi Harsanto, Joval Ifghaniyafi Farras, Egi Arvian Firmansyah

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

In recent times, the interplay between sustainability innovation, firm competitiveness, export performance, and sales growth has garnered significant attention. Research on sustainable innovation's effects on firm competitiveness, export performance, and sales growth remains limited, especially concerning specific contexts like Halal Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The study proposes to bridge this gap by developing a System Dynamics model that considers firm competitiveness, sales growth, export performance, and sustainable innovation. This research uses the system dynamic method which is carried out in four stages. The first stage, analyzing the system mechanism for sustainable innovation, the second stage, building correlations between …

Thriving In Turbulent Times: The Dynamic Link Between Economic Condition And Fintech Business Lending Success, Nur ‘Asyiqin Ramdhan, Imbarine Bujang, Amirul Afif Muhamat, Ninuk Dewi Kesumaningrum

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

This study aimed to understand how FinTech business lending was affected by the pandemic crisis, which caused small businesses to struggle with limited access to funds. During this crisis, demand for alternative financing, like peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, surged. However, P2P lending faces challenges related to information imbalances, especially during crises, when transparency and economic conditions impact investor decisions in Malaysia. We examined factors like platform interest rates, loan duration, investment size, bank lending rates (BLR), inflation, and the crisis using ARDL analysis. Our long-term analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between investment size and P2P lending, while economic conditions had …

The Perspective Of Cash Flow Risks On Earnings Measurement, Daisuke Suzuki, Junpei Yamada, Shoji Kamimura

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The essence of earnings in financial statements is significantly influenced by changes in the economic environment. The main objective of this paper is to elucidate a universal principle capable of explaining any types of earnings measurements. To achieve this, we examine the factors influencing earnings by modeling them from a cash flow perspective. Consequently, this paper directs the attention away from stocks and flows, placing emphasis on the risks inherent in income and expenditure in the context of earnings measurements. It highlights the crucial role of these risks in earnings. Additionally, we illustrate that adjusting these risk tolerances enables the …

Testing The Strength Of Thin Feather-Edge Monolithic Multilayered Zirconia Crowns: A Pilot Study With A Novel Acoustic Test, Estelle Saab, Camille Haddad, Maher Abboud, Maha Daou, Amine Zoghbi

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Introduction: Limited research has explored the mechanical characteristics of recently introduced multilayered monolithic zirconia (MZC) crowns with feather-edge margins design. Moreover, most of the conventional techniques for evaluating the mechanical behavior of brittle dental ceramics rely on destructive tests, making it impossible to precisely evaluate real strength values due to premature crack initiation detection failure.

Objectives: The main objective of the study was to assess the load capacity of translucent multilayered monolithic zirconia crowns with feather-edge margin thicknesses of 0.4 mm and 0.5 mm. Additionally, the research introduced a novel non-destructive acoustic emission testing (AET) technique in the …

Nudcl2 Is Required For Cytokinesis By Stabilizing Rcc2 With Hsp90 At The Midbody, Xiaoyang Xu, Yuliang Huang, Feng Yang, Xiaoxia Sun, Rijin Lin, Jiaxing Feng, Mingyang Yang, Jiaqi Shao, Xiaoqi Liu, Tianhua Zhou, Shanshan Xie, Yuehong Yang

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Cytokinesis is required for faithful division of cytoplasmic components and duplicated nuclei into two daughter cells. Midbody, a protein-dense organelle that forms at the intercellular bridge, is indispensable for success- ful cytokinesis. However, the regulatory mechanism of cytokinesis at the midbody still remains elusive. Here, we unveil a critical role for NudC-like protein 2 (NudCL2), a co-chaperone of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), in cytokinesis regulation by stabilizing regulator of chromosome condensation 2 (RCC2) at the midbody in mam- malian cells. NudCL2 localizes at the midbody, and its downregulation results in cytokinesis failure, multinu- cleation, and midbody disorganization. Using iTRAQ-based …

Mechanistic Analysis Of Four-Way Dna Junctions And Cytokine-Binding Aptamers For Therapeutic Interventions, Roaa S. Mahmoud

Theses and Dissertations

DNA is inherently dynamic and topologically diverse and can fold into many different structures. Besides the canonical Watson-Crick structure, other higher-order structures such as G-quadruplexes (G4), i-motifs (iM), and four-way DNA junctions are possible. Although these high-order DNA structures are known to form transiently, they are important due to the crucial roles they play in many cellular processes including DNA replication, recombination, and repair. Among these DNA structures, 4-way junctions (also known as Holliday junctions, HJ) which are formed during the repair of double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) and interact with proteins have garnered significant attention due to their central role …

An Assessment Of User Satisfaction On Remote Court Hearings In The Brunei Civil Court, Hazwani Masli, Seyed M. Buhari

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Remote court hearings (RCHs) have significantly benefited the Brunei Civil Court in maintaining its judicial system and reducing backlogs as a preventative measure, during COVID-19. RCHs have enhanced the judicial system's accessibility, saving resources and increasing court performance and productivity. However, technical problems and mistrust have slowed the RCH's adoption. This study assessed user satisfaction with remote court hearings using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework. Three external variables influenced the perceived usefulness of remote court hearings: trust, perceived risk, and fairness expectations. This study also included moderator variables such as age group and professions. This study showed that trust, …

Exploiting Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization And Column Generation For Solving Vehicle Routing Problem With Discretized Time Windows, Krittin Phornsiricharoenphant

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

No abstract provided.

Further Optimization Of A Simplified Protocol For Tooth Sample Preparation For Analysis Using The Applied Biosystems™ Rapidhit™ Id Instrument, Yen H. Dang

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Due to the destructive nature of mass casualty incidents (MCIs) or mass fatality events (MFEs), tooth samples are often one of the only viable sources for Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) because of the incredible integrity of the enamel layer surrounding the tooth. However, the resilient structure of the tooth requires harsh chemicals and a labor-intensive sample preparation protocol to ensure successful STR profile development. Considering this difficulty, one of the promising resolutions is the Applied Biosystems RapidHIT™ ID ID platform, which is a fully automated system that is designed to perform cell lysis, DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, …

Electrospun Tamarindus Indica-Loaded Antimicrobial Pmma/Cellulose Acetate/Peo Nanofibrous Scaffolds For Accelerated Wound Healing: In-Vitro And In-Vivo Assessments, Elbadawy A. Kamoun, Elbadawy A. Kamoun

Nanotechnology Research Centre

In this work, Tamarindus indica (T. indica)-loaded crosslinked poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/cellulose acetate (CA)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) electrospun nanofibers were designed and fabricated for wound healing applications. T. indica is a plant extract that possesses antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antimalarial and wound healing properties. T. indica leaves extract of different concentrations were blended with a tuned composition of a matrix comprised of PMMA (10 %), CA (2 %) and PEO (1.5 %), and were electrospun to form smooth, dense and continuous nanofibers as illustrated by SEM investigation. In vitro evaluation of T. indicaloaded nanofibers on normal human skin fibroblasts (HBF4) revealed a high …

Exploring A Medicinal Strain Of White-Rot Fungus For Biofuel Applications, Kortney L. Lucius

Masters Theses

The major limitation to producing biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass, such as miscanthus straw, is the difficulty in accessing fermentable carbohydrates encased in lignin. Traditional methods for separating lignin are economically and environmentally costly. Biological pretreatment using white-rot fungi, such as Trametes versicolor, has been demonstrated to potentially reduce the need for harsh chemical and physical pretreatment methods. Despite these efforts, the process of converting lignocellulose to ethanol remains financially challenging. To explore a potential co-product for the process, this study evaluated the efficacy of T. versicolor strain CM-101, known for producing the valuable medicinal macromolecule polysaccharide-K (PSK), as a …

Utilizing Ai Integrated Neuroimaging Technology To Expand Upon Machine Learning In Positron Emission Tomography Technology With The Aim Of Detecting Amyloid Beta Biomarkers Early In The Onset Of Alzheimer's., Ethan S. Terman

UROP Posters

Early intervention in Alzheimer's is vital for treatment. The earlier a professional can detect symptoms and make a diagnosis the earlier a prognosis can be implemented. With the prevalence of data in our day-to-day world combined with Artificial intelligence (AI), utilizing both for machine learning can pave the way for more accurate and efficient detection of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. AI combined with Machine learning (ML) increases diagnostic efficiency and reduces human errors, making it a valuable resource for physicians and clinicians alike. With the increasing amount of data processing and image interpretation required, the ability to use AI …

Developing Cellular Systems To Elucidate Rna Structural Dynamics Of Cag Expansion Transcripts In Spinocerebellar Ataxias, Victoria Demeo

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a diverse group of over 40 genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders, many of which are caused by a trinucleotide CAG repeat expansion in the coding region of specific genes. These expansions lead to the production of polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts that interfere with normal protein function, triggering cellular dysfunction and contributing to disease pathogenesis. The most well-known of these SCAs, such as SCA1, SCA2, and SCA3, exhibit progressive neurodegeneration, yet the precise mechanisms through which these mutations cause disease remain poorly understood.

A significant challenge in studying CAG repeat expansion disorders lies in the complexity of the disease …

Modernizing And Harmonizing Regulatory Data Requirements For Genetically Modified Crops-Perspectives From A Workshop, Ming Hua Huang, Debbie Mahadeo, Carey A Mathesius, Mitscheli Sanches Da Rocha, Shuang Song, Ewa Urbanczyk-Wochniak

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Genetically modified (GM) crops that have been engineered to express transgenes have been in commercial use since 1995 and are annually grown on 200 million hectares globally. These crops have provided documented benefits to food security, rural economies, and the environment, with no substantiated case of food, feed, or environmental harm attributable to cultivation or consumption. Despite this extensive history of advantages and safety, the level of regulatory scrutiny has continually increased, placing undue burdens on regulators, developers, and society, while reinforcing consumer distrust of the technology. CropLife International held a workshop at the 16th International Society of Biosafety Research …