Opinions on Riverboat Casinos and the Perceived Impacts on Community Quality by Quad Cities\u27 Residents

The purposes of the study were to determine the opinions of Quad Cities residents about legalized riverboat casinos in their communities and their perceptions on the importance of community quality attributes and impacts of legalized riverboat casinos on these attributes. Differences of opinions among respondents with different demographic characteristics also were examined. Stratified systematic random sampling method was used to draw samples from the Quad Cities telephone directory; 200 residents were selected from each city. Of the 800 questionnaires mailed, 231 were returned. Residents agreed that the presence of riverboat casinos was good for the community. The majority of community quality attributes were rated as either very important or important. Residents perceived all attributes to be either improved or having no change because of the riverboat casino operations

Elucidation of the WNT & AKT/Phosphoinositide-3-Kinase Pathways in Colorectal Carcinoma

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer III Malaysia and is currently the commonest cancer in males. Genetics, experimental and epidemiological data suggest that CRC develops from complex interaction between inherited susceptibility and environmental factors. Accumulating evidence suggests that the Wnt and PI3K (phosphoinositide-3-kinase)/Akt signalling pathways playa causative role in tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer. By employing immunohistochemical method, the expressIOn and correlation of several key regulators or related biomolecules of the Wnt and PI3K1Akt signalling pathways in 47 archival formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues of surgically resected colorectal cancer (CRC) specimens performed at Kuala Lumpur Hospital (KLH) between 1999 and 2000, were studied. Laser captured microdissection technique, polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing were used to investigate mutations in exon 3 of the p-catenin gene. Mutations in the mutation cluster region (MCR) of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene were also investigated. The expressions of Wnt-l, WISP-l and FRAT-l mRNA were determined by reverse-transcription and real-time polymerase chain reaction method. The results showed that: The expressions ofWnt-l, FRAT-I, APC, nuclear p-catenin, cytoplasmic p-catenin, membrane p-catenin, membrane E-cadherin, cytoplasmic E-cadherin, WISP-I, cyclin-Dl, p-Aktl (Ser473), p-Akt1l2/3 (Thr308), p-BAD (Ser136), p-GSK 3p(Ser9) and survivin were found in 55.3%, 36.2%, 51.1% 44.6%, 95.7%,30.6%,46.8%,95.7%,31.9%, 10.6%,34%,44.7%,57.4% 44.7% and 59.6% of CRC tissues, respectively and 17.5%, 5% 100%, 0%, 75%, 100%, 100%, 50%, 12.5%, 0%, 5%, 12.5%, 22.5%, 22.5% and 32.5% of apparently normal adjacent tissues, respectively. The sum of scores for all biomolecules except APC, membrane p-catenin and membrane E-cadherin staining was significantly higher in CRC tissues in comparison to apparently normal adjacent tissues (p < 0.05). The sum of score for APC, membrane p-catenin and membrane E-cadherin staining was significantly lower in CRC tissues in comparison to apparently normal adjacent tissues (p < 0.05). The expression of Wnt and PI3K1Akt signalling pathway-related biomolecules was interrelated. The results ofnucleotide sequencing showed that no mutations at exon-3 of p-catenin were found. However, point mutations in the mutation cluster region of the APC gene leading to the formation of truncated APC protein, were found in four out eleven CRC tissues examined. A 1.43 to 21.26-foid and 1.11 to 109.14-fold increase in the level of expression of Wnt-l and FRAT-1 mRNA was found in eight out of eleven CRC tissues relative to apparently normal adjacent tissues. On the other hand, a 1.94 to 46.69-fold increase in the level of WISP-I mRNA was found in all the CRC tissues. This study has provided important information for researchers and clinicians in terms of clinical evidence of the involvement of the Wnt signalling pathway and PI3K1Akt signalling pathway in colorectal tumorigenesis. In addition, the present study also provided crucial information on the elucidation of the relationship between the biomolecules of these signalling pathways towards understanding their roles in colorectal tumourigenesis and the identification of potential targets for advance therapeutic intervention ofCRe. Based on our current results, we propose that Wnt-I, FRAT-1 and WISP-I could be served as potent therapeutic target for the treatment of CRe. On the basis of our present study, we conclude that the Wnt and PI3K1Akt signalling pathways are involved in tumourigenesis of CRC in Malaysia. These pathways are interrelated although they might also act independently in promoting tumour growth and inhibition of apoptosis. This study has also provided useful information for the search or design of better antitumour interventions

The development of distance education programmes for future marine engineering in the Union of Myanmar

The shipping industry is changing day after day in the areas of safety, operation, construction, manning, and management system. Seafarers need to go onboard ships with their ability and conduct being trained onboard and at the Maritime Education and Training (MET) Institute. Many of the young generation in the Union of Myanmar join seagoing ships as deck cadets or engineroom apprentices after attending mandatory maritime training courses at the Institute of Marine Technology (IMT). This dissertation deals with the MET system and the competency certification of seafarers in the Union of Myanmar in chapter 1 and chapter 2. Myanmar seafarers need proper training for them to progress in their professional knowledge while they are working onboard amongst multinational crew. Amongst other types of teaching the distance learning programme is an alternative which is a convenient and efficient education system for people who are working away from conventional institute. The distance learning institutes for seafarers conducted in Australia and Japan are observed in chapter 5. Accordingly, the IMT is the most preferable institute in the country to establish the distance learning programmes for the Myanmar mariners who are not capable to study the traditional education programmes. The methods of distance education conducted by the IMT are proposed there include how teaching should be conducted between teachers and students and what kinds of learning materials are essential to achieve the students’ progression. The effective learning programmes are discussed for mariners of ocean-going. Pre-sea training engineering apprentices at shipyards, and inland marine engineers and engine drivers

Characterisation of Plant Derived Damnacanthal and Nordamnacantbal Induced Cytotoxicity on Human HT29 Colon Adenocarcinoma Cell Line

Nordamnacanthal and damnacanthal are two anthraquinones isolated from the roots of Morinda elliptica. They were found to exhibit cytotoxic activity against HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells. The cytotoxic concentrations of damnacanthal and nordamnacanthal that inhibited 50% growth (IC₅₀) of HT29 were 17 µg/ml and 7 µg/ml respectively. For the comparative purposes, the ICsos of several cytotoxic drugs against HT29 were also determined. The inhibition effect of nordamnacanthal was found to be comparable to etoposide (IC₅₀ = 7 µg/ml). cisplatin (IC₅₀ = 5 µg/ml) and doxorubicin (IC₅₀ = 6 µg/ml). The compound was found to be less active than methotrexate (MTX) (IC₅₀ < 0.05 µg/ml) and leunase (IC₅₀ = 2 µg/ml). On the other hand, the cytotoxic effect of damnacanthal was less active as compared to all cytotoxic drugs. However both compounds were found to be less toxic against non-cancerous fibroblast 3T3 ceJJs with the ICsos of 30 /lglml (damnacanthal) and 21 /lglm] (nordamnacanthal) respectively. Furthermore, damnacanthal and nordamnacanthal were found to induce apoptosis on HT29 cells at their ICso concentration as demonstrated by conventional agarose gel electrophoresis and also morphological alterations. DNA laddering was obtained after 12 hours of treatment by both compounds in a dose-independent but time-dependent fashion. Both compounds also caused cell death with apoptotic features such as cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, nuclear fragmentation, and the presence of apoptotic bodies. In addition, caspase-3 was found to be activated during the execution of apoptosis induced by these compounds. This caspase activation was inhibited by a peptide based general caspase inhibitor, benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp (OMe) fluoromethylketone (Z-V AD-FMK). In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential antitumor activites of damnacanthal and nordamnacanthal

Lifelong Effectiveness of Caries Prevention Programs by System Dynamics Model

Doctor of Philosophy in Oral Health Sciences, 2022Dental caries is still considered a burden of disease not only in Thailand but also around the world. Various preventive and promotion programs are implemented for dental caries in individuals and communities among the population. For long-term assessment of preventive programs, simulation models are gaining attention to be approached. Objective: This study aims to estimate the lifelong outcomes of caries prevention programs among Thai age groups by conducting the System Dynamics Model (SDM). Methodology: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were conducted to identify the efficacy of interventions: supervised toothbrushing, fluoride varnish, dental sealant, and oral health examination for dental caries according to age groups. Based on the effectiveness of interventions from meta-analyses and their coverage rates, the SDM was simulated to estimate the lifelong dental caries outcome under interventions: supervised toothbrushing, fluoride varnish, combined supervised toothbrushing and fluoride varnish, dental sealant, combined supervised toothbrushing, and sealant, and oral health examination by comparing base case (no intervention was provided). Results: it is found that at the age of 5 years old, the population with caries in deciduous teeth was the lowest in combined supervised toothbrushing and fluoride varnish, 258,876 (38.17 %) followed by supervised toothbrushing, 266,049 (39.23%), fluoride varnish, 276,703 (40.79 %), and base case, 290,829 (42.88 %). All these interventions can reduce the caries population until above 15 years old compared to the base case. The caries population was lowest under combined supervised toothbrushing and sealant, 257,655 (37.99%), followed by a sealant, 264,507 (38.99%) at 15 years old. From above 23 years old, the caries population under all of the above interventions and the oral health examination were not different from the base case. Conclusion: according to SDM simulation, it is considered that combined interventions are more effective than other interventions provided separately. Each intervention could reduce the caries population by above 15 years from they started compared to the base case. If the interventions have better effective rates and coverage rates, the caries population could be reduced by more than the estimated result from the model

XRD and SEM Analysis, and Semiconductor Type Determination of TiO2 for Dye-sensitized Solar Cell

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a wide band-gap n-type semiconductor. Anatase TiO2 is the most common structure used in high performance dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Nanoporous TiO2 serves double-duty as an electron acceptor and a scaffold to hold large numbers of dye molecules in DSSC. The porosity of TiO2 is a key feature as it has roughly a thousand times greater a surface area than the equivalent flat area. In this work, TiO2 crystallite size (43.55 nm) has been calculated by using XRD data, and the morphology and the grain-size of TiO2 (average grain size of 0.2 mm ~ 0.3 mm) with different solvents have been also studied by SEM

The burden of dengue, source reduction measures, and serotype patterns in Myanmar, 2011 to 2015-R2.

BACKGROUND: Myanmar is currently classified as a high burden dengue country in the Asian Pacific region. The Myanmar vector-borne diseases control (VBDC) program has collected data on dengue and source reduction measures since 1970, and there is a pressing need to collate, analyze, and interpret this information. The aim of this study was to describe the burden of hospital-based dengue disease, dengue control measures, and serotype patterns in Myanmar between 2011 and 2015. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using annual records from the Dengue Fever/Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Prevention and Control Project in Myanmar. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2015, there were a total of 89,832 cases and 393 deaths in hospitals, with 97% of cases being in children. In 2013 and 2015, there was an increased number of cases, respectively at 21,942 and 42,913, while during the other 3 years, numbers ranged from 4738 to 13,806. The distribution of dengue deaths each year mirrored the distribution of cases. Most cases (84%) occurred in the wet season and 54% occurred in the delta/lowlands. Case fatality rate (CFR) was highest in 2014 at 7 per 1000 dengue cases, while in the other years, it ranged from 3 to 5 per 1000 cases. High CFR per 1000 were also observed in infants < 1 year (CFR = 8), adults ≥ 15 years (CFR = 7), those with disease severity grade IV (CFR = 17), and those residing in hilly regions (CFR = 9). Implementation and coverage of dengue source reduction measures, including larval control, space spraying, and health education, all increased between 2012 and 2015, although there was low coverage of these interventions in households and schools and for water containers. In the 2013 outbreak, dengue virus serotype 1 predominated, while in the 2015 outbreak, serotypes 1, 2, and 4 were those mainly in circulation. CONCLUSION: Dengue is a serious public health disease burden in Myanmar. More attention is needed to improve monitoring, recording, and reporting of cases, deaths, and vector control activities, and more investment is needed for programmatic research

Development of Leucaena Mimosine-Degrading Bacteria in the Rumen of Sheep in Myanmar

Myanmar has an agricultural base, and about 70% of people reside in rural areas. They depend for survival on agriculture and small-scale crop production, with ruminant livestock consuming fibrous agricultural residues. For optimal ruminant production, concentrates are needed as supplements to these residues. As concentrates are expensive, researchers are testing alternative protein sources like legumes, including foliage from leguminous trees such as leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala). Leucaena is the most widely used leguminous tree as a ruminant feed because it is rich in protein (~ 22%) and contains easily digestible fibre (23% neutral detergent fibre, 16.6% acid detergent fibre; Ni Ni Maw 2004). Khin Htay Myint (2005) noted that 25% of leucaena in the ration tended to increase nitrogen retention without decreasing dry matter and organic matter digestibilities. However, leucaena leaves contain a toxic non-protein amino acid, called mimosine. Research workers have endeavoured to reduce mimosine toxicity in animals fed leucaena in Myanmar (Aung Aung 2007, Wink Phyo Thu 2010) and one avenue of research was the development of mimosine-degrading bacteria in the rumen of sheep fed leucaena. In this paper we describe an experiment tracing the development of mimosine-degrading bacteria in the rumen of sheep