Browse publications by year: 2016

  1. Alia Hamad, Mani V, Ramasamy K, Lim SM, Abu Bakar Abdul Majeed
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1299-1310.
    The continued progression of neurodegeneration may result in dementia. The present study compared the neuroprotective
    activities between soybean and tempeh extracts in rats. The extracts were administered orally at 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg for
    15 days. Radial arm maze and elevated plus maze served as exteroceptive behavioural models for memory measuring.
    Brain cholinergic activities (acetylcholine and acetylcholinesterase) and neuroinflammatory related cytokines interleukin
    1β and interleukin-10 were also tested. Soybean and tempeh extracts significantly improved memory, but overall 40 mg/
    kg tempeh showed better improvement (p<0.05). The tempeh extracts at 20 and 40 mg/kg exhibited a significant (p<0.05)
    increase and decrease in the level of acetylcholine and acetylcholinesterase activities, respectively. Tempeh extract (40
    mg/kg) resulted in greater reduction (p<0.05) of inflammation than soybean extract. Altogether, tempeh extract may be
    beneficial in the management and prevention of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
  2. Mohamad Fakri E, Lim S, Musa N, Hazizul Hasan M, Adam A, Ramasamy K
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1289-1297.
    This study examined lactic acid bacteria (LAB)-fermented soymilk for their ability in hydrolyzing glucosides to aglycones
    and corresponding antioxidant capacity and memory enhancing effect. Twelve LAB isolated from Malaysian fermented food
    and milk products were incubated in commercially available soymilk for 48 h. Generally, soymilk supported LAB growth
    and significantly increased (p<0.05) conversion to bioactive aglycone by 2.1-6.5 fold when compared to unfermented
    soymilk. Lactobacillus fermentum LAB 9- fermented soymilk, in particular, was presented with increased total phenolic
    content (+10%) as opposed to unfermented soymilk. Lactobacilli (LAB 10-12)- and pediococci (LAB 5)-fermented soymilk
    elicited maximal DPPH radical-scavenging activity. LAB 1, 7, 8, 9 and 12 exhibited significantly higher (p<0.05) ferrous
    ion chelating activity when compared to control. Interestingly, LAB 9 had significantly improved memory deficit (p<0.05)
    in LPS-challenged mice. LAB-enriched nutritional value of soymilk could be useful against oxidative stress and memory
    deficit.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Antioxidants; Fermentation; Glucosides; Lactobacillus; Memory Disorders; Milk; Nutritive Value; Pediococcus; Oxidative Stress; Soy Milk; Mice; Lactobacillus fermentum; Lactobacillales
  3. Al-Sharabi A, Sarah Yasmin Tajuddin, Au Diya Fatihah Wan Saffiey, Syazana Jasman, Alwi H, Jumali M, et al.
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1959-1968.
    Kesan penambahan PbO dengan saiz 10 hingga 30 nm terhadap kekondukisan lebihan YBa2Cu3O7-δ telah dikaji. Kekonduksian lebihan ialah fluktuasi kekonduksian elektrik disebabkan oleh interaksi pasangan Cooper dengan elektron biasa berhampiran suhu genting, Tc. Sampel dengan komposisi permulaan YBa2Cu3O7-δ(PbO)x untuk x = 0.00- 0.45 peratus berat (% bt.) telah disediakan melalui tindak balas keadaan pepejal. Analisis fluktuasi dan kekonduksian lebihan menggunakan teori Aslamazov-Larkin (AL) untuk menentukan dimensi kekonduksian l telah dijalankan. Teori Lawrence-Donaich (LD) pula digunakan untuk menentukan panjang koheren ξc(0), gandingan Josephson J dan anisotropi γ = (ξab(0)/ξc(0)). Suhu genting mula adalah tertinggi (Tc mula = 94 K) untuk sampel x = 0.35. Analisis kekonduksian menunjukkan PbO menyebabkan peralihan kekonduksian daripada 2 dimensi ke 3 dimensi dengan suhu peralihan, T2D–3D tertinggi bagi sampel x = 0.20 (120 K). Model Lawrence-Donaich menunjukkan panjang koheren ξc(0) adalah terpanjang dan anisotropi terendah bagi sampel x = 0.25. Sampel ini juga menunjukkan gandingan Josephson tertinggi, J = 0.296. Dua kesan yang mungkin berlaku akibat penambahan PbO ialah pembentukan bahan bukan superkonduktor dalam sampel dan peningkatan hubungan antara butiran yang meningkatkan sifat-sifat kesuperkonduksian.
  4. Afifah-radiah Fauzi, Mariati Abdul Rahman, Saliana A. Aziz, Norashikin Hamzah, Badiah Baharin, Norzana Abdul Ghafar
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1923-1930.
    Periodontitis adalah penyakit kronik yang melibatkan kehilangan tulang dan inflamasi pada tisu periodontium. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) dan Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) merupakan penanda pro-inflamasi yang penting yang terlibat dalam periodontitis. Sebanyak 20 ekor tikus Sprague-Dawley dibahagikan kepada empat kumpulan iaitu: Kumpulan kawalan dengan salin normal (CS); kumpulan kawalan dengan madu Gelam 3 g/mL (CH); kumpulan ujian periodontitis dengan salin normal (TS); dan kumpulan ujian periodontitis dengan madu Gelam 3 g/mL (TH). Benang bersaiz 4/0 diikat pada molar pertama gigi tikus sebelah kiri bagi tujuan rangsangan penyakit periodontitis. Madu Gelam diberi secara paksa oral selama 15 hari. Selepas 15 hari, sampel plasma dan tisu dianalisis menggunakan kaedah Elisa dan pewarnaan histologi. Kehilangan tulang alveolar pada kumpulan TS adalah paling tinggi berbanding dengan kumpulan kawalan, CS dan CH namun, tiada perbezaan yang signifikan berbanding dengan kumpulan TH. Berdasarkan ujian imunohistokimia, ekspresi IL-6 dan TNF-α pada tisu periodontium adalah tinggi secara signifikan pada kumpulan TS berbanding dengan kumpulan lain. Namun, tiada perubahan aras IL-6 dan TNF-α yang signifikan pada plasma ke semua tikus kajian.
  5. Nabilah Afiqah Mohd Radzuan, Abu Bakar Sulong, Somalu MR
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1931-1921.
    Proses penyemperitan merupakan salah satu proses pra-pencampuran yang dapat membantu meningkatkan tahap serakan
    bahan pengalir dalam komposit polimer pengalir (CPC). Tahap keberaliran elektrik dilihat tidak begitu memuaskan
    walaupun telah melalui proses serakan melalui pengacuan mekanik. Kajian ini dijalankan bagi mengoptimumkan
    proses penyemperitan bahan gentian karbon terkisar (MCF) dan polipropilena (PP) iaitu suhu penyemperitan dan halaju
    putaran melalui kaedah reka bentuk eksperimen (Taguchi). Susunan orthogonal Taguchi L9 digunakan bagi menentukan
    aras yang paling optimum serta menjalankan analisis varian bagi memperoleh nilai keberaliran elektrik yang paling
    baik. Pengoptimuman parameter pada suhu penyemperitan 210ºC hingga 250ºC dan halaju putaran 50 hingga 90 rpm
    menggunakan komposisi bahan sebanyak 80 % bt. MCF dan 20 % bt. PP dengan tahap keberaliran elektrik meningkat
    pada tahap maksimum 3.67 S/cm. Pengoptimuman parameter ini menunjukkan bahawa reka bentuk eksperimen yang
    terhasil mampu menghasilkan nilai keberaliran elektrik yang tinggi serta mempunyai sifat mekanik yang baik.
  6. Mohamad Hanif Kamal Roslan, Che Aziz Ali, Kamal Roslan Mohamed
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1897-1904.
    Batuan Formasi Singa yang terdiri daripada batu lumpur dominan, berselang lapis dengan batu lodak, batu pasir dan
    juga sedikit unit konglomerat tertabur secara meluas di kepulauan Langkawi. Formasi Singa boleh dibahagikan kepada
    sepuluh fasies sedimen dan empat sekutuan fasies. Keputusan kajian menunjukkan Formasi Singa telah terendap di
    lautan cetek, iaitu di sub-sekitaran luar pesisir, transisi, muka pesisir serta dalam alur. Lautan cetek Lembangan Singa
    dipengaruhi oleh iklim sejuk kerana terdapat sedimen asalan glasier, iaitu fasies batu lumpur berpebel. Kertas kerja ini
    akan menjelas dan membincangkan segala aspek sedimentologi formasi batuan ini.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Tetrahydroisoquinolines; Gastropoda
  7. Mohd. Suhaimi Ahmad, Muhammad Ridwan Fahmi, Mustaqqim Abdul Rahim, Naimah Ibrahim
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1857-1867.
    Suatu kajian untuk menilai kesan gabungan aktiviti guna tanah dan perubahan musim terhadap kualiti sumber air telah dijalankan di Terusan Utara, Kedah. Kajian ini dijalankan di lima stesen terpilih selama 12 bulan berdasarkan Indeks Kualiti Air (WQI) dan Piawaian Interim Kualiti Air Kebangsaan (INWQS). Kajian mendapati kualiti air di Terusan Utara berada pada Kelas III dan berlaku peningkatan kualiti air dari hulu ke hilir. Hampir semua stesen berpotensi sebagai punca pencemaran berdasarkan aktiviti guna tanah terutamanya di Pelubang, Jitra serta Tunjang. Kajian menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan ketika perubahan musim pada DO, TSS serta BOD, namun tidak pada ammonia, pH dan COD. Secara amnya, kombinasi aktiviti guna tanah dan perubahan musim boleh mempengaruhi atau memberi kesan terhadap kualiti sumber air. Oleh itu, tindakan segera perlu dilakukan untuk mengawal punca pencemaran bagi memastikan kualiti sumber air di Terusan Utara kekal terpelihara.
    MeSH terms: Ammonia; Animals; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Tetrahydroisoquinolines; Bivalvia
  8. Shidqiyyah Abdul-Hamid, Norliza Muhammad, Isa Naina Mohamed
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45(12):1815-1822.
    Postmenopausal osteoporosis is one of the main health problems in aging women. It was due to several factors including oxidative stress, which can be controlled through intake of antioxidants from food sources. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is one of the natural product rich in antioxidants and has been proven to protect osteoporotic bone. This study was conducted to gain in-depth understanding on virgin coconut oil’s activity on osteoporosis at molecular level. Thirty two female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups, namely Sham operated group, ovariectomized control group (Ovx+Ctrl), ovariectomized with VCO treatment (Ovx+VCO), and ovariectomized with estrogen treatment (Ovx+E). All treatments were administered orally for ten weeks. Bone samples were obtained to examine changes on expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), osteocalcin and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) genes. The results indicated that rats receiving VCO treatment had experienced significant increments in SOD, GPX and osteocalcin gene expressions compared to the ovariectomized control group, besides the gene expressions of Runx2 which also showed an increment pattern. In conclusion, VCO helps to protect bone in osteoporotic rat model by increasing the expressions of antioxidant genes and genes which increase the osteoblast acitivities.
    Keywords: Osteoporosis; ovariectomized rat model; postmenopausal; virgin coconut oil
    MeSH terms: Animals; Estrogens; Femur; Malaysia; Osteoporosis; Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  9. Shafiq M, Alamgir, Atif M
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1773-1777.
    Countless statistical tools are available to extract information from data. Life time modeling is considered as one of
    the most prominent fields of statistics, which is evident from the developments made in this field in the last few decades.
    Almost every statistic for life time analysis is based on precise life time observations, however, life time is not a precise
    measurement but more or less fuzzy. Therefore, in addition to classical statistical tools, fuzzy number approaches to
    describe life time data are more suitable. In order to incorporate fuzziness of the observations, fuzzy estimators for the
    three parameter lognormal distribution were suggested. The proposed estimators cover stochastic variation as well as
    fuzziness of the observations.
    MeSH terms: Biometry; Statistical Distributions; Life
  10. Abdur Razzaque Mughal, Zakiyah Zain, Nazrina Aziz
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1763-1772.
    In this study, group acceptance sampling plan (GASP) proposed by Aslam et al. (2011) is redesigned where the lifetime of
    test items are following Pareto distribution of 2nd kind. The optimal plan parameters are found by considering various
    pre-determined designed parameters. The plan parameters were obtained using the optimization solution and it also
    concludes that the proposed plan is more efficient than the existing plan as it requires minimum sample size.
    MeSH terms: Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; Sample Size; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated
  11. Ser G, Keskin S, Can Yilmaz M
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1755-1761.
    Multiple imputation method is a widely used method in missing data analysis. The method consists of a three-stage
    process including imputation, analyzing and pooling. The number of imputations to be selected in the imputation step
    in the first stage is important. Hence, this study aimed to examine the performance of multiple imputation method at
    different numbers of imputations. Monotone missing data pattern was created in the study by deleting approximately 24%
    of the observations from the continuous result variable with complete data. At the first stage of the multiple imputation
    method, monotone regression imputation at different numbers of imputations (m=3, 5, 10 and 50) was performed. In the
    second stage, parameter estimations and their standard errors were obtained by applying general linear model to each
    of the complete data sets obtained. In the final stage, the obtained results were pooled and the effect of the numbers of
    imputations on parameter estimations and their standard errors were evaluated on the basis of these results. In conclusion,
    efficiency of parameter estimations at the number of imputation m=50 was determined as about 99%. Hence, at the
    determined missing observation rate, increase was determined in efficiency and performance of the multiple imputation
    method as the number of imputations increased.
    MeSH terms: Data Interpretation, Statistical; Models, Statistical; Linear Models
  12. Fudziah Ismail, Kasim Hussain, Norazak Senu
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1747-1754.
    In this article, the general form of Runge-Kutta method for directly solving a special fourth- order ordinary differential
    equations denoted as RKFD method is given. The order conditions up to order seven are derived, based on the order
    conditions, we construct a new explicit four-stage sixth-order RKFD method denoted as RKFD6 method. Zero-stability of
    the method is proven. Comparisons are made using the existing Runge–Kutta methods after the problems are reduced
    to a system of first order ordinary differential equations. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the efficiency and
    competency of the new method.
  13. Nor Azah Samat, Syafiqah Husna Mohd Imam Ma’arof
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1741-1745.
    Disease frequency is used to measure the situation of the disease with reference to the population size and time period
    which is in a fractional form. The lower part of the fraction, known as denominator is the important part as it was used
    to calculate a rate or ratio. Since the disease frequency is based on a ratio estimator, the results are highly dependent
    upon the value of denominator. Therefore, the main aim of this paper was to propose a new method in calculating the
    denominator for the relative risk equation with the application to chikungunya disease data from Malaysia. The new
    method of calculating the denominator of the relative risk equation includes the use of discrete time-space stochastic
    SIR-SI (susceptible-infective-recovered for human population and susceptible-infective for vector population) disease
    transmission model instead of the total disease counts. The results of the analysis showed that the estimation of expected
    disease counts based on total posterior means can overcome the problem of expected counts estimation based on the total
    number of disease especially when there is no observed disease count in certain regions. The proposed new approach to
    calculate the denominator for the relative risk equation is suitable for the case of rare disease in which it offers a better
    method of expected disease counts estimation.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Disease Susceptibility; Disease Vectors; Humans; Malaysia; Paper; Population Density; Risk; Rare Diseases; Chikungunya Fever
  14. Salmah Husseinsyah, Chun KS, Yeng CM, Azimah Ismail
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1733-1739.
    In this study, the corn stalk (CS) had been utilized as natural filler in low density polyethylene (LDPE). The effect of CS
    loading and coconut oil coupling agent (COCA) on tensile, thermal and water absorption properties of LDPE/CS composites
    were investigated. The increases of CS decreased the tensile strength and elongation at break of LDPE/CS composites, but
    increased in Young’s modulus. The incorporation of CS also contributed to high water uptake of LDPE/CS composites.
    However, the presence of CS has increased the crystallinity of composites and LDPE matrix due to nucleating effect. The
    addition of COCA has significantly increased the tensile strength, elongation at break, water resistivity and crystallinity
    of LDPE/CS composites, but slightly reduced in Young’s modulus. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) also evidence
    the presence of COCA improved the adhesion between CS and LDPE matrix.
  15. Chansiriwat W, Tanangteerapong D, Wantala K
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1723-1731.
    The aim of this research was to synthesize zeolite from coal fly ash by hydrothermal method. The effect of aging temperature
    and time on zeolite P1 synthesis (Na-P1) from Mae Moh coal fly ash (MFA) without adding any alumina and silica sources
    were examined during the synthesized process. The central composite design (CCD) was used for experimental design
    to obtain the optimal process parameters of the aging temperature (105-195ºC) and time (12-84 h) where the specific
    surface area was used as a response. The chemical and physical properties of Na-P1 such as specific surface area,
    crystalline phase, compositions and morphology were examined. The response results showed that the specific surface
    area of Na-P1 decreased with an increase of both aging temperature and time, whereas the XRD intensity of Na-P1
    increased with an increase of both aging temperature and time. The composition of SiO2
    /Al2
    O3
    in mass ratio of coal fly
    ash was observed, which was suitable to Na-P1 synthesis. The maximum specific surface area of zeolite products was
    found at the designed condition of aging temperature of 105ºC and time of 12 h. Thus, zeolite P1 can be prepared by
    hydrothermal method without adding any alumina and silica sources.
  16. Norfazliana Abdullah, Mukhlis A. Rahman, Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman, Ismail lF, Juhana Jaafar
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1715-1721.
    This paper reports the preparation of the dual layer ceramic hollow fiber membrane that made of alumina and a mixed
    ion electron conducting (MIEC) material for simultaneous reaction and separation applications. Alumina hollow fiber
    membrane was prepared using the phase inversion process followed by a sintering technique at elevated temperature. The
    alumina hollow fiber membrane was used as membrane support onto which a thin and dense layer of lanthanum strontium
    cobalt ferrite (LSCF) was deposited. The main objective of this study was to investigate the LSCF coating formulations
    used in the deposition of LSCF layer onto alumina substrate membrane. The sintering temperature of thin LSCF layer was
    varied to investigate gas-tightness properties of LSCF membrane. A series of characterizations were conducted for both
    the support and the LSCF membrane. The result showed that the thin layer membranes with thicknesses ranging from 3
    to 20 µm were successfully deposited on the surface of alumina hollow fiber support. The sintering process improved the
    gas-tightness properties but the sintering temperature above 1150o
    C caused defects on the surface of LSCF membrane.
  17. Norwahyu Jusoh, Lau KK, Yeong YF, Azmi M. Shariff
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1707-1714.
    The increasing demands of natural gas pushes energy industries to explore the reservoirs contain high CO2 concentration
    and impurities including heavy hydrocarbons. High efficiency of using membrane technology in CO2
    -natural gas separation
    has extended its potential application to offshore environment. Due to the limited studies related with the separation of
    CO2
    under offshore conditions, the present work has investigated the separation performance of a commercial membrane
    in removing bulk CO2
    from methane at elevated pressure condition. A wide range of offshore operating conditions
    including pressure from 10 to 50 bar, CO2
    concentration from 25 to 70% and temperature of 30o
    C, 40o
    C and 50o
    C were
    studied. High relative CO2 permeance and relative CO2
    /CH4
    selectivity were observed when the pressure and the CO2
    concentration increased. This work, therefore substantial is to bridge the gap and facilitates the application of membrane
    technology for offshore operating conditions.
    MeSH terms: Carbon Dioxide; Hydrocarbons; Industry; Methane; Pressure; Technology; Temperature; Natural Gas
  18. D. Hambali, Z. Zainuddin, I. Supa’at, Z. Osman
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1697-1705.
    The composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) composed of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as host polymer, lithium tetraflouroborate
    (LiBF4
    ) as dopant salt, dissoÅlved in the mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and dimethyl phthalate (DMP) as plasticizing
    solvent, with the addition of silica (SiO2
    ) as inorganic filler were prepared by the solution casting technique. The CPE films
    were prepared by varying the concentrations of SiO2
    from 1 to 5 wt. %. The CPE film containing 3 wt. % of SiO2 exhibits
    the highest ionic conductivity of 1.36 × 10-2 S cm-1 at room temperature while for temperature dependence studies, the
    plot obtained obeyed Arrhenius rule and the calculated activation energy was 0.11 eV. The ionic conductivity of the CPEs
    was found to depend on the concentration of ion pairs of dopant salt as showed by FTIR spectra. The calculated value of
    lithium ions transport number, tLi+ for the highest conducting CPE film was 0.15. This result indicates that anionic species
    are the main contributor to the total conductivity of the CPE. The CPE film has an electrochemical stability higher than
    the non-filler film.
  19. Shrestha R, Subedi DP, Gurung JP, Wong CS
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1689-1696.
    The development of a non-thermal plasma jet with a capillary configuration working at atmospheric pressure is reported
    in this paper. The plasma jet is powered by a power source with frequency of several kilohertz. The working gas is
    argon. The plasma obtained has been characterized by optical emission spectroscopic measurements and electrical
    measurements of the discharge using voltage and current probes. The electron temperature has been estimated by using
    the modified Boltzmann plot method utilizing the Ar 4p-4s transition. The electron temperatures at various positions
    along the plasma jet length have been obtained and it is found that the electron temperature decreases at position further
    from orifice. The electron density has been estimated from current and voltage measurements using the power balance
    method. The effects of gas flow rate, applied voltage and frequency on the characteristics of the plasma jet have also been
    investigated. The applications of the atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) developed to modify the surface properties
    of Polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate (PC) have been tested. Our results showed that the atmospheric
    pressure non-thermal plasma jet can be effectively used to enhance the surface wettability and surface energy of the
    PET and PC. The plasma jet has also been tested for inactivation of prokaryotic cells (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus
    aureus). In the case of E. coli, better than 4 log10 reduction can be achieved. The effect of plasma jet on the pH of cell
    culture medium has suggested that the plasma species, particularly the electrons, are solely responsible for the effect
    of inactivation of living cells.
    MeSH terms: Argon; Atmospheric Pressure; Electricity; Electrons; Escherichia coli; Polycarboxylate Cement; Polyethylene Terephthalates; Electric Power Supplies; Pressure; Prokaryotic Cells; Staphylococcus; Temperature; Wettability
  20. Noor Sakinah Khalid, Fatin Izyani Mohd Fazli, Noor Kamalia Abd Hamed, Muhammad Luqman Mohd Napi, Fhong SC, Mohd Khairul Ahmad
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1675-1678.
    Titanium dioxide (TiO2
    ) nanorods and nanoparticles had been successfully done by hydrothermal method and spray
    pyrolysis deposition technique, respectively. Form XRD results, crystallite structure for TiO2
    nanorods is rutile phase
    at 2θ degree 27.5° which corresponded to [110] orientation. Whereas, TiO2
    nanoparticles produced anatase phase at
    2θ degree 25.3° which corresponded to [110] plane. The structure of nanorods and nanoparticles were characterized
    using FESEM. The size of nanorods was in the range of 80 to 100 nm. While, the nanoparticles size was ranging from
    25 to 35 nm. The HeLa cells were grown on those TiO2
    and were observed under fluorescence microscope. The cells
    showed healthy sign of growth on TiO2
    nanorods and nanoparticles substrates. Thus, TiO2
    nanorods and nanoparticles
    are biocompatible to HeLa cells.
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