Protection & regeneration of [beta]-cells: studies using the nod mouse

PhDDiabetes is a chronic disease affecting approximately 250 million people. To date, transplantation-based therapy is the therapy of choice; however, its success is hampered by the scarcity of transplantable human material. An alternative strategy is the promotion of regeneration in the pancreas. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), a subpopulation of bone marrow (BM) cells, can contribute to tissue repair in various pathological conditions via the formation of new blood vessels. In this thesis, I review and discuss the role and regenerative potential of EPCs in diabetes using non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a model of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Flow cytometry analyses of the EPC population in BM and blood of both diabetic and pre-diabetic NOD mice suggested that at the onset of diabetes, BM-derived EPCs are stimulated to enter the systemic circulation in response to signals from the pancreas. To further investigate the contribution of EPCs to β-cell regeneration, whole BM and cultured EPCs were transplanted into pre-diabetic and diabetic NOD mice soon after diabetes was diagnosed. Our data imply that BM cells from wild type mice administered before the onset of diabetes may have an effect in delaying β-cell destruction evidenced by glycaemic control, reduced inflammation and increased number of proliferating Ki-67+ Insulin+ cells. EPCs transplanted into early diabetic NOD mice had reduced inflammation and a higher survival rate compared to control mice that did not receive EPCs. I therefore believe that both BM and EPCs show great promise in regenerating the damaged pancreas of NOD mice. In addition to promoting endogenous β-cell regeneration using EPCs, I have investigated a strategy to protect β-cell death via apoptosis, using a protease peptide XG-102 developed by Xigen. Since apoptosis of β-cells is one of the putative mechanisms involved in the cascade of events leading to T1D, we tested XG-102, for prevention of β-cell loss in the NOD mouse. Treated mice had a larger number of islets and inflammation was less prevalent compared to control mice. Additionally, XG-102 treated mice showed better control of their blood glucose. In conclusion, both therapeutic strategies showed great promise in regenerating the damaged pancreas of NOD mice. While these strategies are still under further investigation, they offer encouragement in the quest for the treatment of early diabetes in the future

Disposable E-Tongue For The Assessment Of Water Quality In Fish Tanks [TD370. C456 2008 f rb].

E-lidah pakai buang cetakan skrin yang sesuai untuk pemantauan kualiti air dalam tangki pemeliharaan ikan berdasarkan penderia susun atur dan pengecaman pola diterangkan. Disposable screen-printed e-tongues that are suitable for the monitoring of water quality in fish tanks, based on sensor array and pattern recognition is described

Open University Malaysia (OUM) : The Path Travelled (2000 – 2020) & The Way Forward (2021 – 2030) - Issues, Challenges, Opportunities

Moving forward into the 3rd decade since its establishment, Open University Malaysia (OUM) was established with the core mission of knowledge globalization utilizing the open and distance learning (ODL) concept. The initiative of this research paper is to identify the issues and challenges faced by the organization in the aspect of their new media marketing methods as it continues to operate in a dynamic and borderless world of advancing digital communication technologies. Target samples of the OUM alumni, OUM new learners and the general public could only be approached through online questionnaires due to the onset of the country’s Movement Control Order (MCO) ruling during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is still in-force since 18th March 2020. The final analysis will identify the strengths and weaknesses of OUM’s current online digital marketing communication strategies, and also introduce new media improvements and opportunities that should be considered by the university to enhance their corporate communications and marketing strategies for greater brand awareness and business economics. (Abstract by author

UNDERSTANDING HOW THE TRAFFICKING OF CYTOKINETIC ENZYMES IS REGULATED DURING MITOTIC EXIT IN SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Exploring the Condition of Wards in Malaysia Hospital Buildings

Hospital buildings condition necessitated the findings of this study especially the state of the wards in the hospital buildings. The objective of this study is to examine the conditions of the wards in the hospital buildings, and proffer recommendations to various stakeholders for enhancement. A quantitative approach was used where the condition of the hospital wards was ranked respectively by the participants were physicians, psychologists, dentists, veterinarians, medical doctors, medical officers, nurses, and other hospital buildings professional users constitute the sample stratum. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 was used to analyse the data; descriptive and inferential such as reliability, validity, and ranking. The salient finding is that polluted ventilation, faulty ceiling lamps, faulty fire alarms, faulty wall (wall finishes/painting) and faulty window handles, were the condition of wards that were ranked highest (slightly bad) and merely affected. This implies that there is the need to use a better maintenance management approach to avert further decline in the condition of the hospital wards. Also, the research findings states that hospital buildings conditions and components of wards could be in the good state at all times using a holistic approach that will reduce more wards component depreciations for quality services outputs for the users. The wards conditions in the hospital buildings could be greatly improved by using proper strategies and maintenance management plans. Most of the studies about hospital building wards had focused on thermal comfort, but there is a paucity of studies that investigate the hospital buildings' condition of wards with low number in respondent active participation. Despite the constant rise in maintenance costs, there are numerous complaints and critiques of hospital buildings reported in the media. The lack of proper consideration for maintenance management and weaknesses in Malaysia hospitals has led to the deterioration of hospital buildings and reduced healthcare services. The study was being able to highlight some beneficial qualities and were also highlights some weaknesses of wards condition in the Malaysian hospital buildings which can tentatively be curtailed so users can be comfortable and satisfied

Genetic Predisposition Of M2 Annexin A5 Haplotype In Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Among The Malays In Malaysia

Repeated Pregnancy Loss (RPL) is a prevalent condition where conventional hereditary thrombophilia factors have been ruled out in Malaysia population. M2/ANXA5 haplotype, a variation at the core promoter region of Annexin A5 (ANXA5) gene, was suggested to be a predisposition factor for RPL. ANXA5 is a placenta anticoagulant protein which binds on the surface of syncitiotrophoblasts to prevent thrombotic events that would lead to RPL. In this study, the prevalence of M2/ANXA5 haplotype was 42.2% in Malay population and 34.9% for parous controls. When compared M2/ANXA5 clinically defined primary and secondary RPL carriers to M2/ANXA5 carriers in random populations, odds ratio of 1.52 (95% CI:1.1 to 2.1) was determined

Institutions and economic development: a Granger causality analysis of panel data evidence

This study examines the causal relationship between institutions and economic development using a panel Granger causality test. The study incorporates two institutional datasets, the International Country Risk Guide (ICRG) and World Governance Indicators (WGI). The empirical results based on 60 countries show that there is a bi-directional causality between institutions and economic development. The findings also suggest that causality patterns between institutions and economic performance vary at different stages of income level. Better institutional quality fosters economic development in higher income countries, whereas economic development tends to enhance institutional quality in lower income countries

Comparison Of Proteomes Of Avirulent Mycobacterium Tuberculosis H37Ra And Virulent Mycobacterium Tuberculosis H37Rv

M. tuberculosis H37Ra, which was discovered in 1935, was derived from the virulent strain H37. In order to identify the factors that are correlated to virulence in M. tuberculosis H37Rv, 2D-gel profile of three virulent strains at culture grown for three time points (14, 28 and 50 days) were compared with its avirulent counterpart M. tuberculosis H37Ra. A total of 250 protein spots were visualized by Coomassie blue staining. The protein profiles of the M. tuberculosis H37Rv and M. tuberculosis H37Ra were highly similar (R2~0.70), thirty one spots were found to be differentially expressed at 14, 28 and 50 days cultures, whereby 14 spots were identified from Tris extract and 17 spots were identified from TLB extract

Amateur radio based weather station

Weather i s an important factor in daily activities and economic sectors, such as tourism and agriculture. As easy as it may seems to be to get a weather report from mass media, it is difficult to get local weather status at a specific area, which may be differed fr om other places at a few kilometers away. In rural areas, where telecommunication and transportation are hard to establish, local weather report is even harder to come by. This project presents an alternative using weather station that based on amateur rad io as its communication tool. In this final year project report, a detailed description about project concept and technical aspect is given. Based on the methodology as mentioned in the report, the outcome of the project is described. At the end of this re port, recommendations are made to further improve the project