Integrating immersive technologies to architectural design studios

This research investigates the transformative potential of immersive technologies—Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR)—in architectural education, with a particular focus on their application within design studios. It addresses the evolution of architectural pedagogy from its classical origins, characterized by the master-apprentice model, through the formalized education systems of the traditional period, to the contemporary era where digital and immersive technologies play a pivotal role. The study is anchored in a mixed-method research design, integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of VR, AR, and MR on architectural education. Quantitative data were collected through pre- and post-experiment questionnaires administered to a diverse cohort of students and educators. Qualitative insights were garnered from in-depth interviews and case studies conducted across multiple educational institutions. These methods collectively facilitated a robust analysis of how immersive technologies influence teaching methodologies, student engagement, and educational outcomes. The thesis begins with a literature review that traces the historical context of architectural pedagogy, highlighting key developments and shifts that have shaped the design studio as the core of architectural education. The classical period, marked by the apprenticeship system and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts model, laid the groundwork for the studio-based learning approach. The traditional period saw the formalization of architectural education within academic institutions, influenced significantly by Donald Schon's theories on reflective practice and experiential learning. The core of the research focuses on contemporary architectural education and the integration of immersive technologies. The study identifies several key benefits of VR, AR, and MR in design studios, including enhanced spatial understanding, improved creativity, and more effective communication between students and educators. Immersive environments allow students to visualize and interact with architectural designs in a more tangible and realistic manner, fostering innovative problem-solving and design thinking. The research also explores the pedagogical implications of these technologies, demonstrating how they can support a more interactive and student-centered learning experience. However, the adoption of immersive technologies in architectural education is not without challenges. The thesis addresses critical issues such as the high cost of equipment, the need for specialized training for both students and educators, and the complexities of integrating these technologies into existing curricula. Despite these challenges, the findings indicate that the benefits of VR, AR, and MR far outweigh the drawbacks, providing a compelling case for their inclusion in architectural education. The research is guided by Bloom's Taxonomy, ensuring that the educational objectives align with higher-order thinking and deeper cognitive engagement. By employing Bloom's framework, the study emphasizes the importance of fostering creativity, communication, and confidence in students through the use of immersive technologies. The findings suggest that VR, AR, and MR can significantly enhance the quality of architectural education, preparing students for the demands of the modern architectural profession. The thesis concludes with practical recommendations for educators and institutions aiming to integrate immersive technologies into their curricula. These recommendations are based on the research findings and best practices identified through the case studies and interviews. The study advocates for a strategic approach to technology integration, emphasizing the need for adequate resources, training, and support to maximize the educational benefits of VR, AR, and MR. Overall, this research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the use of immersive technologies in education. It provides valuable insights into the potential of these tools to revolutionize architectural pedagogy, offering a roadmap for educators and institutions seeking to enhance their teaching practices and improve student learning outcomes. The research underscores the transformative potential of VR, AR, and MR, positioning them as critical components of the future of architectural education

Phenotypic and genetic investigation of plant phenological development, architecture and yield in winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.)

The worsening effects of climate change and malnutrition have significantly impacted global food and nutrition security. Diversifying food sources through the cultivation of underutilised crops could mitigate these challenges and promote resilient agricultural food systems. Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.) is a protein-rich crop grown in humid tropical regions. With its various edible plant parts, broad distribution in the tropics, and adaptation to diverse local environmental conditions, it has notable trait variations for exploration in crop improvement. Research on winged bean genetic diversity has been limited in the past 50 years, primarily relying on phenotypic assessments without the utilisation of molecular markers. However, recent advancements in genotyping techniques have enabled the integration of phenotypic and genetic data. Molecular breeding accelerates the characterisation of diverse core collections, leading to cultivar development, contributing to global initiatives for dietary diversity and nutritional resilience. A mini-core collection of winged bean comprising 22 accessions was formed from prior genetic diversity assessment of 91 accessions originating from seven countries, and two continents, using DArTseq SNP markers. Multi-locational trials of this mini core collection were carried out at three locations: the Field Research Centre of Crops for the Future Research Centre (CFF-FRC) in Semenyih, Malaysia (May 2019 to March 2020); the rainout shelter of the University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) in Semenyih, Malaysia (November 2020 to August 2021); and Fireflies Organic Farm (FF) in Broga, Malaysia (January to October 2021) in a randomised complete block design (RCBD). Among them, FP15 consistently exhibited shorter days to first flower (DtFF) and days to first pod (DtFP) within 79 and 81 days after sowing (DAS) at the CFF-FRC and 62 DAS and 64 DAS in the UNM rainout shelter, respectively with significant differences (p0.05) were found between phenological traits and yield traits. In contrast, significant positive correlations (p<0.05) were observed between architecture and yield-related traits, including stem length (StL) and pod length (PodLe) (r=0.791), PodLe and PodY (r=0.538), and PodLe and SY (r=0.526). These findings suggest that yield improvement could be achieved through selection based on plant architecture, particularly stem length, while phenological traits may have limited potential for direct yield selection. Nine accessions were identified based on their superior traits: FP15 and a57 for earliness in flowering and pod production, a10, a6, and a7 for consistent stem length, and a6, a13, a15, a35 and Ma3 for high pod yield and seed yield potential. An in-field evaluation of 192 F2 lines (TF2) from a cross between i10 (high above-ground biomass, shorter pods) and FP15 (early flowering, early maturity, high harvest index) was conducted at Beacon Eco Farm, Mantin, Malaysia, from June to December 2022. The study assessed plant phenology, architecture, yield, and yield components in an RCBD with four blocks. Significant differences (p<0.001) were observed between parents for flowering initiation, pod production, and seed harvest, with F2 progenies showing intermediate trait values. Significant positive correlations were found between DtFF and DtFP (rs=0.707), DtFF and DtMS (rs=0.455), and DtFP and DtMS (rs=0.554) at p<0.001. No significant differences were found between parents for architectural traits including number of branches (NoB), sum of branches length (SoBL), and StL, but transgressive segregation occurred in the TF2 population. Both parents differed (p<0.05) in yield components such as seeds per pod (SPP), above-ground biomass (AGB), and harvest index (HI) while significant differences (p<0.001) were observed for PodLe, pod width (PodWi), and below-ground biomass (BGB). Five TF2 lines — L012, L013, L014, L015, and L109— produced up to 15,120 kg/ha of pods and 5,725 kg/ha of seeds, with early flowering and seed harvest comparable to FP15, making them distinguished candidates for selection and advancement to the F3 stage. A genetic linkage map was constructed, followed by QTL analysis. Initially, a total of 4576 DArTseq SNP markers were filtered from 6025 SNP markers of 184 TF2 individual lines. A genetic linkage map consisting of ten linkage groups was constructed from 493 polymorphic SNP markers, with two linkage groups of Chromosome 03 were obtained. The map was 1053.3 cM in total. A total of 15 significant QTLs were identified for ten traits, including DtFF, DtFP, DtMS, 15th internode length (IntL15), 20th internode length (IntL20), NoB, pods per plant (PPP), PodLe, PodWi and seed colour (SC), distributed across six linkage groups: LG01, LG04, LG05, LG07, LG08, and LG09. These QTLs were major accounting for more than 15% of the phenotypic variation in each trait. Additionally, nine transcription factors potentially associated with germination, mature seed harvest, seed yield, seed colour and leaf chlorophyll content were identified. In-field evaluation of subsequent F3 and F4 generations will aid in selecting superior lines and refining QTL mapping for marker-assisted breeding. Further study of trait inheritance will provide deeper insights into winged bean yield traits. Multi-location trials will help identify key trait correlations in phenology, architecture, and yield, laying the foundation for developing improved cultivars with early maturity and high yield potential. QTL mapping of genetic regions responsible for trait expression will inform future breeding, not only for winged bean but also for other crops facing similar challenges. Ultimately, this project contributes to the efforts aimed at improving global food and nutrition security by expanding the range of crops available and improving their yield potential to address changing environmental conditions

Development of landslide tolerable and acceptable risk criteria for Malaysia

Landslide tolerable and acceptable risk criteria are strongly governed by utilitarian concerns i.e. financial power and the need for development and should be developed locally with historical landslide inventory, public perception, and engineering aspects being considered. The risk criteria of Hong Kong and that of the Australian Geomechanics Society are widely employed in many countries. The present study aims to develop and improve the landslide tolerable and acceptable risk criteria for Malaysia by taking into considerations of qualitative and quantitative inputs from various stakeholders. Based on the compiled landslide inventories, the Frequency-Number of fatalities (F-N) curve of Malaysia established from the present study have a similar slope gradient with those of Italy, Colombia, and Hong Kong. The F-N curve is a graphical tool (typically expressed on a log-log scale) used to depict the level of societal risk associated with a particular activity or project, which, in the present study, is landslides. As for the findings from the questionnaire surveys and interviews with landslide experts, public (non-experts) generally expressed the lowest acceptance in landslide risk for all scenarios (from low to high risk), whereas the experts were willing to accept a higher landslide risk as they understand that an ideal low landslide risk environment is not feasible under the current Malaysian scenario. Gender, occupation and educational level were the significant demographic factors influencing landslide risk acceptability in Malaysia. Modifications were proposed to the existing landslide risk criteria with a lower acceptance towards death upon taking into consideration findings from the present study. To demonstrate the application of the newly developed criterion and runout model, quantitative risk analyses (QRA) were performed to quantify landslide risk for a real-life case study. An important part of QRA concerns the development of a simple yet reliable model for predicting the impact / consequence of a landslide. A new empirical model for landslide runout estimation in Malaysia was proposed based on historical landslide data. The reliability of the proposed model was verified through a reasonable agreement between the actual runout and predicted values. Gumbel analysis was utilized to obtain the extreme rainfall scenario with a 10-year return period. It should be noted that Gumbel analysis is typically conducted for the probability distribution of extreme value in hydrologic studies for prediction of maximum rainfall. Seepage and probabilistic slope stability analyses were carried out to determine the probability of landslide occurrence of the studied slope. Using the newly developed empirical model, the runout of the landslide was predicted. The outcomes included a quantification of risks posed to elements within the runout path, such as houses and residents. The findings offer a quantitative estimation of the annual probability of fatalities for people. A F-N curve was employed to articulate the societal risk associated with this specific slope in the case study, which was then compared against the newly established risk criterion. These results carry significant societal implications and will furnish decision-makers and regulators with valuable insights for devising risk mitigation strategies for both existing slopes and forthcoming developments

The illusion of choice: barriers faced by mothers with young children in Kazakhstan in re/entering the labour market: an analysis with the concept of defamilisation

This thesis explores women’s experiences when combining motherhood and paid work, and the role that the state, the markets and the family play in this. The theoretical framework is based on the concept of defamilisation in order to explain the extent to which and the way in which three sectors, the state, the labour market and the family, impact the defamilisation of women (Lister, 1994). Mothers of young children, not only in Kazakhstan but in general need support from the state, employers and family (Dugarova, 2016). The state plays a key role not only in ensuring acceptable standards of living for people by decommodifying them from the labour market (Esping- Andersen, 1990; 1999), but it may also provide support to mothers of young children by defamilising them through assistance with childcare and allowing them to have free time to enter paid work (Lister, 1994; Chau and Yu, 2022). While there is research published on gender inequality in Kazakhstan in terms of gender-based discrimination and wage gender gap they experience (Omarova et al. 2017; Khamzina et al. 2020; Mukhamadiyeva et al. 2019; Bidaishiyeva et al. 2018), there are few if any empirical studies carried out on defamilisation and motherhood penalty in Kazakhstan. This thesis therefore makes an original contribution by filling this gap in research. Through semi-structured focus group discussion and secondary research, it explores whether and how the state, the markets and the family assist or hinder women from (re)entering paid work and their impact on defamilisation. This data was analysed through an interpretive approach and thematic method, and utilising an insider positionality approach (Geene, 2010; Wilson et al, 2022). The data collection for this research took place in December 2021 and May 2022 in Almaty and Turkestan, cities located in South of Kazakhstan. The findings show that despite conservative values and beliefs in the importance of traditional gender roles, a pragmatic rationale for having dual-earner household and women choosing to enter paid work for financial needs prevail. The financial situation in families plays a decisive role in women’s decisions to find paid work and commonly women whose partners earn generously postpone entering the labour market for an indefinite time. The findings also suggest that the state's lack of support for mothers of young children pushes them to seek paid work, but due to difficulties faced there to enter and retain, women remain dependent on their families. The traditional lifestyle of living in multigenerational households mean women are engaged in social exchange with members of extended family and receive support with childcare in return for unpaid domestic services. Therefore, the state, the labour market and the family present a complex environment for mothers of young children engaging in paid work, resulting in a strong pull from the family that ultimately hinders them from being able to maintain an acceptable living standard independently of their families

Targeting DNA damage repair pathways in breast and ovarian cancers

Background DNA damage could be due to many endogenous and exogenous agents producing DNA lesions which block the transcription process affecting the gene expression, cell growth and survival. The DNA damage response network detects the damage and any flaw in the network including defects in DNA repair systems can lead to cancer. Thus, drugs targeting DNA repair systems relying on this concept are under development with various drug monotherapy or combination therapies. Targeting DNA repair genes of nucleotide excision repair system (XAB2) and Fanconi anaemia repair system (FANCD2 and FANCA) for synthetic lethality is a novel strategy for treating breast and ovarian cancers. Hence, the synthetic lethality concept is an exciting area for future research. Methods In this study, XAB2 expression in the breast cancer cohort was investigated. Cisplatin and olaparib sensitivity was evaluated in a panel of gene XAB2, FANCD2, FANCA deficient and proficient breast and ovarian cancer cell lines. XAB2 expression and the clinicopathological outcomes were investigated in the ovarian cancer cohort. The gene knockdown and cisplatin sensitivity were tested in platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant ovarian and breast cancer cell lines. Functional studies for wild and knockdown genes such as PI FACS-cell cycle and Annexin V-apoptosis assay were performed. Results In breast cancer cases, results showed that a low XAB2 nuclear expression was associated with a high tumour grade and poor breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) in patients. In invasive breast cancer, low XAB2 expression had clinicopathological associations with aggressive forms of breast cancer. In gene knockdown, cisplatin and olaparib were synthetically lethal in gene-deficient breast cancer cell lines. In ovarian cancers, XAB2 was significantly overexpressed in serous adenocarcinoma. The low XAB2 expression was significantly linked to good overall survival. The cisplatin was selectively toxic in gene-deficient platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer cell lines. The drug cytotoxicity was associated with double-strand breaks (DSBs) formation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in gene-deficient cells. The gene expression was a predictor of platinum sensitivity in ovarian cancer patients. The gene knockdown not only increased platinum sensitivity but also reduced invasion and migration in breast and ovarian cancer cell lines. The cisplatin drug was selectively toxic in gene-deficient breast and ovarian cancer cells. Conclusion Targeting DNA repair genes was an attractive synthetic lethality strategy and the chemoprevention in gene-deficient breast cancers. In ovarian cancers, gene deficiency was a biomarker for drug inhibitor sensitivity. It provided alternative synthetic lethality approaches for inhibitors in clinics. The gene depletion can re-sensitize ovarian cancer patients to platinum. Therefore, studying the expression of DNA repair proteins assisted in new drug therapies development and opened alternative treatment options

Development of novel therapeutic agents designed to enhance insulin secretion through activation of the trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1)

Produced in the pancreas, insulin is widely considered the most important hormone involved in metabolic homeostasis. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease affecting 537 million people worldwide which results from a defect in insulin action, secretion, or both. Over time, existing antihyperglycemic treatments designed to control type 2 DM (T2DM) typically become ineffective due to changes in disease progression including weight gain and increased insulin resistance, highlighting the importance for the continued development of new therapeutic agents which exert their effects through diverse/ novel mechanisms. Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is a G protein-coupled receptor located in the brain, stomach, intestines and pancreatic β-cells which has roles in mediating neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders. Although most of the existing research into TAAR1 agonists has focused on their role within the central nervous system for application in schizophrenia treatments, studies have identified activation of pancreatic TAAR1 enhances insulin secretion, thus TAAR1 is a promising target for novel antihyperglycemic treatments for T2DM. This thesis reports the rational design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of a series of ligands intended to exhibit a peripherally restricted TAAR1 agonist profile, based on N-((1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)-4-chloro-N-isopropylaniline (RO5073012, 59), as part of a structure activity relationship study. The analogues are computationally predicted to be substrates of the P-glycoprotein transporter and experimentally predicted to have low blood brain barrier permeability through immobilised artificial membrane reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography, preventing the likelihood of inducing potential undesired on-target effects. The data obtained from high range rat insulin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (Mercodia) shows that the novel analogues enhance insulin secretion in control and glucolipotoxicity conditions designed to mimic an environment typically associated with patients with poorly controlled T2DM. We also demonstrate that one compound, N-((1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl)-4-chloro-N-isopropylaniline (76c), upregulates the secondary messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) using the cAMP select ELISA (Cayman Chemical). This suggests 76c mediates its therapeutic effects via TAAR1 thus indicating a potential role for these molecules as novel therapeutic agents in the treatment of T2DM

Transmedia authorship as a media industries practice

This thesis offers an analytical framework to investigate transmedia authorship within the context of the media industries. Through the case studies of the Wizarding World and Star Wars, it transcends the dichotomy, prevalent in media authorship research, between viewing authorship as tied to individual genius or to the collaborative effort of numerous contributors. Challenging current understandings of transmedia authorship as relying on a central authorial figure (Jenkins, 2006; Evans, 2011; Freeman, 2016), the case studies demonstrate that transmedia authorship is mutable, like the texts to which it relates. The thesis uses paratextual analysis (Genette, 1997 [1987]; Gray, 2010), as well as the concept of performance in linguistics (Austin, 1975) and media authorship (Gray, 2010; Hadas, 2020), to show how a ‘transmedia author-function’ emerges from the performed relationships between a primary authorial figure and the other contributors to the fictional universe, as mediated through officially-branded material and public commentary by key creatives. The crux of the study lies in recognising the media industries as a key player in the construction of authorship and its fluidity. Accordingly, the thesis demonstrates that the performed relationships serve as a mechanism through which authorial authority can be bestowed or limited. The case studies show how media corporations contribute to shifts in the transmedia author-function; by showcasing or sidelining different authorial figures, IP owners can encourage a more or less collaborative conception of authorship, with the aim of pursuing different strategic objectives for the future of the transmedia universe as brand

Regulation of ABCG2 through interactions with Alpha-1-Acid Glycoprotein and EMMPRIN

The human ABCG2 transporter, a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily, plays a crucial role in the efflux of various substrates, including chemotherapeutic drugs from cells. Its involvement in drug efflux has been extensively associated with multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells, highlighting the pressing need for a deeper understanding of ABCG2 regulation. One way that proteins are regulated is through interactions with other proteins, impacting their function. The thesis investigated the possible role of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) as an extracellular acceptor of ABCG2 substrates, therefore accelerating efflux. Secondly, the thesis studied whether extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) acts to stabilize ABCG2 and increase its expression or stability. ABCG2:AAG interactions were investigated through functional time- course transport assays using stably transfected HEK293T-sfGFP- ABCG2 cells and rates of efflux were measured and compared. Semiquantitative analysis of HEK293T-sfGFP-ABCG2 cells co- transfected with EMMPRIN were studied for ABCG2:EMMPRIN interactions. Addition of AAG was not found to have increased the rate of mitoxantrone efflux by ABCG2. Co-expression with EMMPRIN did not result in increased ABCG2 expression in whole cell lysates. Though results from experiments were inconclusive in relation to the proposed hypotheses, groundwork has been laid out for future protein biophysical work that enables investigation of ABCG2 protein-protein interactions

Identification of an exosomal miRNA signature in newly diagnosed essential hypertensive adults

Background: Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and premature death globally. Less than half of adults with hypertension are properly diagnosed and treated, highlighting a critical gap in current healthcare practices. The limitations of existing blood pressure measurement methods make it challenging to detect early cases of hypertension, which are often asymptomatic and, consequently, commonly undetected. This indicates the need for improved diagnostic and treatment strategies, particularly through precision medicine approaches. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) serve as master regulators of gene expression and are transported extracellularly by exosomes in various body fluids including plasma. Exosomal miRNAs have been implicated in hypertension development and have potential as non-invasive disease biomarkers. However, the profile of exosomal miRNA in a multi-ethnic population of essential hypertensives has yet to be elucidated. Aim and objectives: This study aimed to investigate potential biomarkers of hypertension to enhance early detection. The objectives of this study were to screen and validate the differentially expressed exosomal miRNA profiles in essential hypertensive adults and identify their predicted targets and associated pathways. Methods: Plasma exosomes were isolated and characterised. Total plasma exosomal RNA were extracted from ethnically Chinese and Malay stage 1 essential hypertensive and normotensive adults (30 to 55 years old). Samples were subjected to small RNA sequencing, differential expression analysis, target prediction, and pathway enrichment analysis. The differential expression profile was validated with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTqPCR). The diagnostic value of the differentially expressed miRNAs were assessed. Enriched pathways and gene ontologies of predicted miRNA targets were compared against systemically dysregulated pathways to validate its biological function. Results: Characterisation of plasma exosomes showed preferential release of medium- to large-vesicles with a significantly increased number of particles between 150 to 200 nm (P = 0.021) and an increased mean size (mean = 104.7 ± 19.3; P = 0.036) in hypertensives. Immunoblotting showed significantly xix reduced CD9 expression in hypertensives. The combination of hsa-miR-184, hsa-miR-432-5p, hsa-miR-1-3p, and hsa-miR-1246, along with BMI, efficiently identified hypertension risk with the highest area under the curve (AUC = 0.966, P < 0.0001) for the receiver’s operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The miRNA signature together with systemically dysregulated pathways further highlighted the convergence of aberrant metabolic pathways in the development of hypertension. Conclusions: This study provided the first comprehensive exosomal miRNAome in a multi-ethnic population of newly identified essential hypertensive adults. The differentially expressed miRNAs in essential hypertension provided leads for further validation and may provide unbiased insights into mechanisms involved in the early stages of hypertension, facilitating novel biomarker discovery or therapy development to alleviate the burden of CVDs