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Multivariate analysis of apoptotic markers versus cell cycle phase in living human cancer cells by microfluidic cytometry

- Akagi, Jin, Skommer, Joanna, Matuszek, Anna, Takeda, Kazuo, Fujimura, Yuu, Khoshmanesh, Khashayar, Kalantar-zadeh, Kourosh, Mitchell, Arnan, Errington, Rachel, Smith, Paul, Darzynkiewicz, Zbigniew, Wlodkowic, Donald

  • Authors: Akagi, Jin , Skommer, Joanna , Matuszek, Anna , Takeda, Kazuo , Fujimura, Yuu , Khoshmanesh, Khashayar , Kalantar-zadeh, Kourosh , Mitchell, Arnan , Errington, Rachel , Smith, Paul , Darzynkiewicz, Zbigniew , Wlodkowic, Donald
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Conference paper
  • Relation: Microfluidics, BioMEMS, and Medical Microsystems XI
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  • Description: Measurement of apoptotic markers in tumors can be directly correlated with the cell cycle phase using flow cytometry (FCM). The conventional DNA content analysis requires cell permeabilization to stain nuclei with fluorescent probes such as propidium iodide or use of a costly UV-excitation line for Hoechst 33342 probe. The access to FCM is also still limited to centralized core facilities due to its inherent high costs and complex operation. This work describes development and proof-of-concept validation of a portable and user-friendly microfluidic flow cytometer (μFCM) that can perform multivariate real time analysis on live cells using sampling volumes as small as 10 microliters. The μFCM system employs disposable microfluidic cartridges fabricated using injection molding in poly(methylmethacrylate) transparent thermoplastic. Furthermore, the dedicated and miniaturized electronic hardware interface enables up to six parameter detection using a combination of spatially separated solid-state 473 (10 mW) and 640 nm (20 mW) lasers and x-y stage for rapid laser alignment adjustment. We provide new evidence that a simple 2D flow focusing on a chip is sufficient to measure cellular DNA content in live tumor cells using a far-red DNA probe DRAQ5. The feasibility of using the μFCM system for a dose-response profiling of investigational anti-cancer agents on human hematopoietic cancer cells is also demonstrated. The data show that μFCM can provide a viable novel alternative to conventional FCM for multiparameter detection of caspase activation and dissipation of mitochondrial inner membrane potential (ΔΨm) in relation to DNA content (cell cycle phase) in live tumor cells.
  • Description: Measurement of apoptotic markers in tumors can be directly correlated with the cell cycle phase using flow cytometry (FCM). The conventional DNA content analysis requires cell permeabilization to stain nuclei with fluorescent probes such as propidium iodide or use of a costly UV-excitation line for Hoechst 33342 probe. The access to FCM is also still limited to centralized core facilities due to its inherent high costs and complex operation. This work describes development and proof-of-concept validation of a portable and user-friendly microfluidic flow cytometer (

Implementation of SPC with FMEA in less-developed industries with a case study in car battery manufactory

- Akbarzadeh Khorshidi, Hadi, Gunawan, Indra, Esmaeilzadeh, Fathollah

Nurse educator knowledge, attitude and skills towards using high-fidelity simulation : a study in the vocational education sector

- Akhter, Zainab, Malik, Gulzar, Plummer, Virginia

  • Authors: Akhter, Zainab , Malik, Gulzar , Plummer, Virginia
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Nurse Education in Practice Vol. 53, no. (2021), p.
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  • Description: High-fidelity simulation has become an essential educational approach in nurse education globally. Several studies have explored the experience of undergraduate nursing students and educators with high-fidelity simulation; however, none have explored the experience of students in the vocational educational sector. The aim of the study was to explore nurse educators’ knowledge, attitude and skills toward using high-fidelity simulation in the setting of vocational education. An anonymous on-line survey design was conducted at three campuses of a major Australian Technical and Further Education vocational education setting. Forty-eight nurse educators teaching into Diploma of Nursing program for at least six months were invited to participate, 29 participated in the study, a response rate of 60%. Participants expressed lack of knowledge in managing technological issues, simulation facilitation procedures and conducting scenarios. Most participants had positive attitude towards high-fidelity simulation and rated their skills as ‘novice’. An urgent need for nurse educator training was identified to enhance knowledge and skills in technical and scenario management of high-fidelity simulation. A program of supportive mentoring by nurse educator mentors experienced in high-fidelity simulation, engaging with existing simulation associations, will enhance and sustain nurse educator knowledge, attitude and skills in a protected environment further, so that they can optimise training they provide to students for safe quality care of patients in the future. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd

Telomere therapy for chronic kidney disease

- Akinnibosun, Olutope, Maier, Michelle, Eales, James, Tomaszewski, Maciej, Charchar, Fadi

  • Authors: Akinnibosun, Olutope , Maier, Michelle , Eales, James , Tomaszewski, Maciej , Charchar, Fadi
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Epigenomics Vol. 14, no. 17 (2022), p. 1039-1054
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  • Description: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is estimated to affect almost 10% of individuals worldwide and is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Renal fibrosis, a central pathway in CKD progression (irrespective of etiology), is associated with shortened or dysfunctional telomeres in animal studies. Telomeres are specialized nucleoprotein structures located at the chromosome end that maintain genomic integrity. The mechanisms of associations between telomere length and CKD have not yet been fully elucidated, however, CKD patients with shorter telomere length may have decreased renal function and a higher mortality rate. A plethora of ongoing research has focused on possible therapeutic applications of telomeres with the overall goal to preserve telomere length as a therapy to treat CKD. Chronic kidney disease or CKD is one of the leading causes of illness and death worldwide. Scarring of the kidney tissue that occurs in CKD has been associated with shorter telomeres in studies using rats. Telomeres, said to act as the cellular ‘shoelace caps’, maintain the structure of chromosomes, allowing for genetic material inside cells to divide correctly. The length of telomeres (TL) is influenced by diverse factors such as genetics and lifestyle. The underlying processes for the associations between TL and CKD are still not understood, however, patients with CKD and shorter TL have reduced kidney function and an increased death rate. Therefore, research is focused on possible ways to preserve TL and treat CKD. Preserving telomere length may reduce rates of chronic kidney disease, thereby decreasing morbidity & mortality worldwide.

Analysis of interrupted time-series relating to statewide sports injury data

- Akram, Muhammad, Finch, Caroline

  • Authors: Akram, Muhammad , Finch, Caroline
  • Date: 2015
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Australasian Epidemiologist Vol. 22, no. 1 (2015), p. 29-31
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  • Description: This study aims to present a new approach towards the analysis of intervention time-series studies in the context of sports-related injury data. We used Victoria-wide hospital admission injury data associated with the sport of Australian football during the period 2006 to 2013. To estimate the state-wide effect of an implemented exercise training intervention that aimed to reduce the number of football-related injuries, time-series analysis was performed using a generalised least square (GLS) method. We show how the GLS method can be used to evaluate the impact of the intervention. Trend and seasonal patterns time series were also assessed using the 'Seasonal and Trend decomposition using Loess' nonparametric seasonal decomposition procedure. The model identified a decreasing trend in the seasonally adjusted number of injuries after the implementation of the intervention in the hospital admission data. The seasonal decomposition plots also indicate strong seasonal patterns in the injury time series.

Energy storage for short-term frequency stability enhancement in low-inertia power systems

- Akram, Umer, Mithulananthan, N., Shah, Rakibuzzaman, Basit, Saad

  • Authors: Akram, Umer , Mithulananthan, N. , Shah, Rakibuzzaman , Basit, Saad
  • Date: 2020
  • Type: Text , Conference paper
  • Relation: 2020 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference, AUPEC 2020
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  • Description: Power systems with large scale integration of inverter interfaced generation plants become vulnerable to short term frequency instability. The short term frequency stability is related to limiting the RoCoF and frequency nadir within acceptable standards following a contingency. Failure to limit frequency nadir and RoCoF can result in the activation of RoCoF relays and under frequency load shedding relays, leading to generation disconnection and unintentional load shedding. This can result in blackout. In this work energy storage system (ESS) is deployed in the two-area power system for improvement of short term frequency stability. A capacity optimization algorithm and dispatch scheme are developed for the ESS. The capacity estimation algorithm determines the required capacity of ESS. The proposed algorithm estimates the required capacity of energy storage while considering the complete dynamics of conventional generators, wind turbine, and power conversion systems. The dispatch scheme operates the ESS to inject the real power in the system to improve the short term frequency stability. The proposed methodology is verified in PSCAD. Simulation results depict the effectiveness of the proposed approach. © 2020 University of Tasmania.

Dynamic derivative-droop control for supercapacitor synthetic inertial support

- Akram, Umer, Mithulananthan, N., Shah, Rakibuzzaman, Islam, Rabiul

  • Authors: Akram, Umer , Mithulananthan, N. , Shah, Rakibuzzaman , Islam, Rabiul
  • Date: 2020
  • Type: Text , Conference proceedings , Conference paper
  • Relation: 2020 IEEE Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting, IAS 2020 Vol. 2020-January
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  • Description: Energy storage is recognized as a potential solution to alleviate the impacts of inertia reduction and intermittency due to the integration of inverter based renewable energy sources (RES) in power systems. Out of various rapid responsive energy storage technologies, supercapacitor energy storage (SCES) is the most promising technology for synthetic inertia support. Because the SCES has high power density, very small response time, and large cycle life. In this paper, a dynamic derivative-droop control strategy is developed for SCES to provide the synthetic inertia in low inertia power system. The proposed strategy overcomes the limitations of separately applied derivative and droop controls. In addition, the use of time varying gains (referred as dynamic) instead of fixed gains improves the performance compared to derivative-droop coordinated control. Different types of events are created at different penetration levels of RES to test the robustness of the proposed control. A comparison, based on RoCoF and frequency nadir, between the derivative, droop, derivative-droop coordinated and the proposed controls is presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed control approach. © 2020 IEEE.

Design of energy storage for frequency stability in low-inertia power grid

- Akram, Umer, Mithulananthan, N, Shah, Rakibuzzaman, Alzahrani, Saeed

  • Authors: Akram, Umer , Mithulananthan, N , Shah, Rakibuzzaman , Alzahrani, Saeed
  • Date: 2023
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: IEEE Systems Journal Vol. 17, no. 3 (2023), p. 4763-4774
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  • Description: Short-term frequency instability is one of the major concerns in power systems with high percentage of converter-interfaced renewable energy sources. Energy storage system (ESS) has proven to be a viable solution for the problem of short-term frequency instability by fast frequency response (FFR). However, the appropriate location, size, and operating strategy of ESS are the main challenges for FFR. Power injection at some buses in large grids may lead to angular separation and instability. In addition, oversizing ESS could lead to huge investments without appropriate returns and under sizing may jeopardizes grid stability. Capacity estimation of ESS for FFR considering the suitable location and overall deployment strategies are missing in the current literature for large power grids. Hence, this research proposes a technique to place and size ESS for better FFR in power grids. The proposed technique consists of two steps. In the first step, a methodology based on frequency dynamic signature (FDS) is developed to identify the most suitable location. In the second step, the required capacity of the ESS is estimated based on a step reduction iterative algorithm (SRIA). SRIA and FDS consider the complete dynamics of power system components that affect the frequency dynamics of the system. The proposed methodology is thoroughly verified for various operating conditions in IEEE 39-bus using DIgSILENT PowerFactory. © 2007-2012 IEEE.

Improving synthetic inertial response of supercapacitor using supplementary control signal

- Akram, Umer, Mithulananthan, Mithulananthan, Shah, Rakibuzzaman

  • Authors: Akram, Umer , Mithulananthan, Mithulananthan , Shah, Rakibuzzaman
  • Date: 2019
  • Type: Text , Conference paper
  • Relation: 9th International Conference on Power and Energy Systems, ICPES 2019, Perth, 10-12 December 2019
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  • Description: Power systems with high penetration of inverter-based renewable generation units result in reduced inertia. In such power systems, the frequency events due to plant outage or large sudden increase/decrease in load power cause an increased rate of change of frequency (RoCoF) and larger frequency deviations. The higher RoCoF and larger frequency nadir can cause frequency instability which leads to blackout. Energy storage units may be deployed in such systems to support the frequency response. In this paper, Supercapacitor (SC) energy storage is used to provide the inertial response in power system with high penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources. Derivative control is employed for inertia emulation of SC. An additional control input signal based on the frequency deviation is added to improve the inertial response. The robustness of the proposed control is tested with different penetration levels of renewable generation. A comparison between the derivative control and the proposed control is presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme. © 2019 IEEE.

An innovative approach toward a comprehensive distance education framework for a developing country

- Aktaruzzaman, Md, Plunkett, Margaret

  • Authors: Aktaruzzaman, Md , Plunkett, Margaret
  • Date: 2016
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: American Journal of Distance Education Vol. 30, no. 4 (2016), p. 211-224
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  • Description: ABSTRACT This article reports on part of a study conducted to collate the policies and practices of two successful distance education providers of the developed world with those of a provider in Bangladesh in order to inform a culturally appropriate distance education framework for a developing country. This article also describes an innovative theoretical model, Adapting Structuration Theory In Distance Education, conceptualized as part of a broader study, to address the underlying issues and to generate propositions for the framework.

Institutional and community perceptions of distance education in Bangladesh : Preparing for the 21st century

- Aktaruzzaman, Md, Plunkett, Margaret

  • Authors: Aktaruzzaman, Md , Plunkett, Margaret
  • Date: 2017
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education Vol. 18, no. 4 (2017), p. 20-34
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  • Description: Bangladesh Open University (BOU), the sole distributor of distance education (DE) in Bangladesh, is regarded as one of the mega universities in the world. Nonetheless, the institution faces numerous issues and challenges that revolve around not only its administrative and academic operations, but also the lack of acknowledgement of its sociological value and concomitant recognition within the local community. This study examines the perceived challenges facing DE provision in Bangladesh from the point of view of the local Bangladeshi community as well as senior academics and administrators within the institution. Qualitative case study formed the methodological basis of the study. Using purposeful non-random sampling supplemented with snowballing technique, five senior academics and directors from BOU were selected for individual semi-structured interviews. Four focus groups were also formed using stratified purposeful sampling to determine the perception of the community towards DE. The paper introduces an innovative theoretical model, ‘Adapting Structuration Theory In Distance Education (ASTIDE)’, conceptualised as part of a broader study, to address the underlying issues and challenges relating to the future provision of DE in Bangladesh.

International trade financing : A comparative study on the performance of state-owned and private commercial banks of Bangladesh

- Akter, Hazera, Barua, Suborna

  • Authors: Akter, Hazera , Barua, Suborna
  • Date: 2014
  • Type: Text , Conference paper
  • Relation: International Conference on Interdisciplinary Business and Economics Research p. 164-186
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  • Description: We investigate the comparative performance of state-owned commercial banks (SOCBs) and private commercial banks (PCBs) of Bangladesh with respect to efficiency and profitability in financing international trade. Taking a ten-year panel data over 2003-2012 of all four SOCBs and four categorised PCBs, we apply the non-parametric approach data envelopment analysis (DEA) to measure and compare efficiency of the banks using output-oriented Malmquist Productivity Indices (MPI). Furthermore, we develop some specialised profitability ratios on trade financing business of the banks to measure profitability. Our results suggest that PCBs are more efficient and profitable compared to SOCBs' although PCBs provide less trade financing than SOCBs'. The study recommends SOCBs to progress technologically for sustaining themselves in the competitive banking sector of Bangladesh. Moreover, we identify the sources of profitability that would explain the banks' strategic position in trade financing business which would motivate more banks to support international traders through trade financing.

Longitudinal data modelling using penalized splines and ranked set sampling

- Al Kadiri, Mohammad

  • Authors: Al Kadiri, Mohammad
  • Date: 2012
  • Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
  • Full Text: false
  • Description: "Longitudinal studies, where data is collected by measuring the same experimental units several times over a relatively long period, are becoming increasingly common. Conventional statistical approaches have limitations when applied to the analysis of longitudinal data ... Practical limitations of longitudinal analysis that relate to missing data and large data set sizes were explored in this thesis with the application of a sampling technique known as Ranked Set Sampling (RSS). We developed this sampling method, which has not previously been applied to longitudinal data, for fixed and mixed-effects models. This thesis also illustrated inference techniques to estimate these models after selecting sample units by RSS."
  • Description: Doctor of Philosophy

Marginal longitudinal curves estimated via Bayesian penalized splines

- Al Kadiri, Mohammad, Bani-Mustafa, Ahmed, Finch, Caroline

  • Authors: Al Kadiri, Mohammad , Bani-Mustafa, Ahmed , Finch, Caroline
  • Date: 2010
  • Type: Text , Conference paper
  • Relation: Australian Statistical Conference 2010 , 6th December, 2010 Fremantle Published in Statistics & Probability Letters Vol. 80 Issue 15-16 Vol. 80, p. 1-19
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  • Description: The six cities air pollution is used to estimate and investigate the marginal curve of a function describing lung growth for set of children in a longitudinal study. This article proposes penalized regression spline technqiue based ona semiparametric mixed models (MM) framework for an additive model. This smoothing approach fits marginal models for longitudinal unbalanced measurements by using a Bayesian inference approach, implemented using a Markov chain Monte Carlo approach with the Gibbs sampler. The unbalanced case in which missing or different number of measurements for a set of subjects is more practical and common in real life studies. This methodology makes it possible to establish a straightforward approach to similar models using R programming, when it is not possible to do so using existing codes.

Study on complex rock slope stability in large scale open cut mine : Mechanism and evaluation

- Al Mandalawi, Maged

  • Authors: Al Mandalawi, Maged
  • Date: 2016
  • Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
  • Full Text: false
  • Description: This thesis is restricted access for an unlimited timeframe and therefore will not be available for public use.
  • Description: Doctor of Philosophy

Analysis of a combined circular–toppling slope failure in an open–pit

- Al Mandalawi, Maged, You, Greg, Dahlhaus, Peter, Dowling, Kim, Sabry, Mohannad

  • Authors: Al Mandalawi, Maged , You, Greg , Dahlhaus, Peter , Dowling, Kim , Sabry, Mohannad
  • Date: 2019
  • Type: Text , Conference paper
  • Relation: 2nd GeoMEast International Congress and Exhibition on Sustainable Civil Infrastructures, Egypt 2018 - The official international congress of the Soil-Structure Interaction Group in Egypt, SSIGE 2018 p. 10-30
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  • Description: Most studies of rock slope failures on open–pit mines have considered either toppling or circular failure stability analysis. By comparison, complex circular–toppling failure has received much less attention in the published literature. This paper presents a study using a range of methods to investigate a failure that occurred in July 2008 in Handlebar Hill, an open–pit base metal mine, near Mt Isa, Australia. Circular failure is the typical slope failure mechanism in slopes with low–strength rocks, although direct/flexural toppling of jointed columns can also occur. The study reviews circular–toppling failure mechanisms in the context of the local geotechnical and geo–hydrological conditions, which include the interaction between fault contacts and the existing deformed rocks. General limit equilibrium methods are used to evaluate the sensitivity of slope models to rock strength parameters and the trigger mechanisms. Finite element methods are used to assess the failure mechanisms and slope displacement, and a kinematic approach is used to evaluate structurally controlled slope instability mechanisms. The results demonstrate that the most credible failure mechanism was shearing along a circular path through the upper weaker rocks (leached Magazine Shale) that in turn initiated secondary block toppling, and the progressive nature of the slope failure mechanism. The use of conventional and numerical techniques for back–analysis of the combined circular–toppling failure provided key insights into the failure mechanisms and factors controlling slope instability. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Initiation mechanism of extension strain of rock mine slopes

- Al Mandalawi, Maged, Sabry, Manar, Sabry, Mohannad

Characterising and structural review of the rock mass and its geological structures at open pit mine in Queensland-Australia

- Al Mandalawi, Maged, Sabry, Manar, You, Greg, Sabry, Mohannad

Modelling and analyses of rock bridge fracture and step-path failure in open-pit mine rock slope

- Al Mandalawi, Maged, You, Greg, Dahlhaus, Peter, Dowling, Kim, Sabry, Mays

  • Authors: Al Mandalawi, Maged , You, Greg , Dahlhaus, Peter , Dowling, Kim , Sabry, Mays
  • Date: 2019
  • Type: Text , Conference paper
  • Relation: 2nd GeoMEast International Congress and Exhibition on Sustainable Civil Infrastructures, Egypt 2018 - The official international congress of the Soil-Structure Interaction Group in Egypt, SSIGE 2018, 24-28 November 2018 p. 198-226
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  • Description: Rock Bridge fracturing and coalescence with pre-existing discontinuities in rock mass due to the initiation, propagation and interaction of these fractures refers to instability mode of step-path failure. Step-path failure is a typical type of instable mode of man-made and natural rock slopes. The continuum finite element method was applied to work on deeper insight into the propagation of tensile cracks which developing in the intact rock bridges that can finally coalesce to form step-path failure. In this paper, based on the intact rock fracturing hypothesis, two selected slope simulations from the Handlebar Hill open - pit mine near Mt. Isa in Queensland, Australia, modeled the process of fracturing and step-path failure through different pre-existing discontinuities. The empirical models of Bobet and Einstein (1998) and the progressively cracks development are observed within crack initiation, propagation and coalescence in the intact rock bridges. Proposed slope models of the mine included four joint-net distributions through the rock masses considering the geometry of structures (dip angles, spacing, lengths and orientation) illustrated the extension cracks from the flaw tips and propagated to the slope surface. Modes of intact rock bridges fracturing (shear, tensile and a combination of shear and tensile) have been observed. Tensile fracture is usually generated when the rock bridge angle is sub-vertical. Shear fracture can be initiated in less steep rock bridge angles. A combination of shear and tensile failure is normally generated in slopes with. Slope with explicit large-scale structures of steeper dip angles increased the yielding. Larger structures show much higher potential for yielding as the tensile stresses increasing. Major joint plane spacing resulted in less potential for relative deformations between neighboring structures and consequently reduced slope instability. The changes of length and spacing have more influence on slope stability than a change in the dip angle of the structures. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Attitudes of healthcare providers towards family involvement and presence in adult critical care units in Saudi Arabia : A quantitative study

- Al Mutair, Abbas, Plummer, Virginia, O'Brien, Anthony, Clerehan, Rosemary

  • Authors: Al Mutair, Abbas , Plummer, Virginia , O'Brien, Anthony , Clerehan, Rosemary
  • Date: 2014
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Clinical Nursing Vol. 23, no. 5-6 (2014), p. 744-755
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  • Description: Aims and objectives: To describe healthcare providers' attitudes to family involvement during routine care and family presence during resuscitation or other invasive procedures in adult intensive care units in Saudi Arabia. Background: Previous research has shown that healthcare professionals have revealed a diversity of opinions on family involvement during routine care and family presence during resuscitation or other invasive procedures. Attitude assessment can provide an indication of staff acceptance or rejection of the practice and also help identify key potential barriers that will need to be addressed. It has also been evident that participation in the care has potential benefits for patients and families as well as healthcare providers. Design: A quantitative descriptive design. Methods: A questionnaire was used with a convenience sample of 468 healthcare providers who were recruited from eight intensive care units. Results: The analysis found that healthcare providers had positive attitudes towards family involvement during routine care, but negative attitudes towards family presence during resuscitation or other invasive procedures. Physicians expressed more opposition to the practice than did nurses and respiratory therapists. Staff indicated a need to develop written guidelines and policies, as well as educational programmes, to address this sensitive issue in clinical practice. Conclusion: Family is an important resource in patient care in the context of the critical care environment. Clinical barriers including resources, hospital policies and guidelines, staff and public education should be taken into account to facilitate family integration to the care model. Relevance to clinical practice: The findings can help to develop policies and guidelines for safe implementation of the practice. They can also encourage those who design nursing and other medical curricula to place more emphasis on the role of the family especially in critical care settings. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.