Browse publications by year: 2020

Fulltext A novel and stable way for energy harvesting from Bi2Te3Se alloy based semitransparent photo-thermoelectric module

Fatima N, Karimov KS, Qasuria TA, Ibrahim MA

J Alloys Compd, 2020 Dec 30;849:156702.
PMID: 32834521 DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2020.156702

In this research, due to the present pandemic of COVID-19, we are proposing a stable and fixed semitransparent photo-thermoelectric cell (PTEC) module for green energy harvesting. This module is based on the alloy of Bismuth Telluride Selenide (Bi2Te3Se), designed in a press tablet form and characterized under solar energy. Here, both aspects of solar energy i.e., light and heat are utilized for both energy production and water heating. The semitransparent PTEC converts heat energy directly to electrical energy due to the gradient of temperature between two electrodes (top and bottom) of thermoelectric cells. The PTEC is 25% transparent, which can be varied according to the necessity of the utilizer. The X-ray diffraction of material and electric characterization of module i.e., open-circuited voltage (VOC) and Seebeck coefficient were performed. The experimental observations disclose that in the proposed PTEC module with an increment in the average temperature (TAvg) from 34 to 60 °C, results in the rise of VOC ∼ 2.4 times. However, by modifying the size of heat-absorbing top electrode and by increasing the temperature gradient through the addition of water coolant under the bottom electrode, an uplift in the champion device results in as increment of VOC ∼5.5 times and Seebeck coefficient obtained was -250 μV/0C, respectively. Results show that not only the selection of material but also the external modifications in the device highly effective the power efficiency of the devices. The proposed modules can generate electric power from light and utilize the penetrating sunlight inside the room and for the heating of the water which also acts as a coolant. These semitransparent thermoelectric cells can be built-in within windows and roofs of buildings and can potentially contribute to green energy harvesting, in situations where movement is restricted locally or globally.

MeSH terms: Alloys; Bismuth; Electricity; Hot Temperature; Heating; Humans; Solar Energy; Sunlight; Temperature; Water; X-Ray Diffraction; Volatile Organic Compounds; Pandemics
Fulltext A review on Malaysia's solar energy pathway towards carbon-neutral Malaysia beyond Covid'19 pandemic

Vaka M, Walvekar R, Rasheed AK, Khalid M

J Clean Prod, 2020 Nov 10;273:122834.
PMID: 32834565 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122834

COVID'19 pandemic has devastated several industries and solar energy is no exception. In its economic relief package, Malaysia has announced approximately US$ 2.9 billion in expenditure for the installation of new grids, LED street lights and rooftop solar panels. The Government will also open the tender for a 1400 MW solar power project in the year 2020, which is expected to generate 5 billion ringgit (US$1.1 billion) in investments. As these measures are intended to sustain the existing growth of solar energy potential in the country, it is vital to assess its status quo. Hence, this paper aims to review the current status of renewable energy in Malaysia as well as the initiatives taken before the pandemic to promote solar photovoltaic (PV) technology to meet the energy demands through the low-carbon pathway.

MeSH terms: Carbon; Health Expenditures; Government; Humans; Investments; Malaysia; Solar Energy; Technology; Pandemics; Renewable Energy
Fulltext Unravelling the myths of R0 in controlling the dynamics of COVID-19 outbreak: A modelling perspective

Mohd MH, Sulayman F

Chaos Solitons Fractals, 2020 Sep;138:109943.
PMID: 32834577 DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2020.109943

COVID-19 is an emerging and rapidly evolving pandemic around the world, which causes severe acute respiratory syndrome and results in substantial morbidity and mortality. To examine the transmission dynamics of COVID-19, we investigate the spread of this pandemic using Malaysia as a case study and scrutinise its interactions with some exogenous factors such as limited medical resources and false detection problems. To do this, we employ a simple epidemiological model and analyse this system using modelling and dynamical systems techniques. We discover some contrasting findings with respect to the observations of basic reproduction number: while it is observed that R0 seems to provide a good description of transmission dynamics in simple outbreak scenarios, this quantity might mislead the assessment on the severity of pandemic when certain complexities such as limited medical resources and false detection problems are incorporated into the model. In particular, we observe the possibility of a COVID-19 outbreak through bistable behaviour, even when the basic reproduction number is less than unity. Based on these findings, we caution policy makers not to make their decisions solely based on the guidance of the basic reproduction number only, which clearly could cause trouble.

MeSH terms: Administrative Personnel; Disease Outbreaks; Humans; Malaysia; Morbidity; Coronavirus Infections; Basic Reproduction Number; Pandemics
Fulltext Global stability and cost-effectiveness analysis of COVID-19 considering the impact of the environment: using data from Ghana

Asamoah JKK, Owusu MA, Jin Z, Oduro FT, Abidemi A, Gyasi EO

Chaos Solitons Fractals, 2020 Nov;140:110103.
PMID: 32834629 DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2020.110103

COVID-19 potentially threatens the lives and livelihood of people all over the world. The disease is presently a major health concern in Ghana and the rest of the world. Although, human to human transmission dynamics has been established, not much research is done on the dynamics of the virus in the environment and the role human play by releasing the virus into the environment. Therefore, investigating the human-environment-human by use of mathematical analysis and optimal control theory is relatively necessary. The dynamics of COVID-19 for this study is segregated into compartments as: Susceptible (S), Exposed (E), Asymptomatic (A), Symptomatic (I), Recovered (R) and the Virus in the environment/surfaces (V). The basic reproduction number R 0 without controls is computed. The application of Lyapunov's function is used to analyse the global stability of the proposed model. We fit the model to real data from Ghana in the time window 12th March 2020 to 7th May 2020, with the aid of python programming language using the least-squares method. The average basic reproduction number without controls, R 0 a , is approximately 2.68. An optimal control is formulated based on the sensitivity analysis. Numerical simulation of the model is also done to verify the analytic results. The admissible control set such as: effective testing and quarantine when boarders are opened, the usage of masks and face shields through media education, cleaning of surfaces with home-based detergents, practising proper cough etiquette and fumigating commercial areas; health centers is simulated in MATLAB. We used forward-backward sweep Runge-Kutta scheme which gave interesting results in the main text, for example, the cost-effectiveness analysis shows that, Strategy 4 (safety measures adopted by the asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals such as practicing proper coughing etiquette by maintaining a distance, covering coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing and washing of hands after coughing or sneezing) is the most cost-effective strategy among all the six control intervention strategies under consideration.
Fulltext Diagnosis and potential treatments for acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND): a review

Santos HM, Tsai CY, Maquiling KRA, Tayo LL, Mariatulqabtiah AR, Lee CW, et al.

Aquac Int, 2020;28(1):169-185.
PMID: 32834683 DOI: 10.1007/s10499-019-00451-w

Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) or formerly known as early mortality syndrome (EMS) is an emerging disease that has caused significant economic losses to the aquaculture industry. The primary causative agent of AHPND is Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium that has gained plasmids encoding the fatal binary toxins Pir A/Pir B that cause rapid death of the infected shrimp. In this review, the current research studies and information about AHPND in shrimps have been presented. Molecular diagnostic tools and potential treatments regarding AHPND were also included. This review also includes relevant findings which may serve as guidelines that can help for further investigation and studies on AHPND or other shrimp diseases.

MeSH terms: Plasmids; Vibrio parahaemolyticus; Seafood; Aquaculture; Pathology, Molecular
Fulltext Carry forward advantages of traditional medicines in prevention and control of outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic

Deng JG, Hou XT, Zhang TJ, Bai G, Hao EW, Chu JJH, et al.

Chin Herb Med, 2020 Jul;12(3):207-213.
PMID: 32834811 DOI: 10.1016/j.chmed.2020.05.003

Members of the China-ASEAN Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Traditional Medicine Research used the video conference platform to exchange and discuss the advantages of traditional medicine through the form of score exchange and report, and research and develop the amount and issues of the therapeutic COVID-19 products of concern. This paper mainly reviews the achievements of the implementation of the epidemic prevention and control plan, advances of scientific basic studies on SARS-CoV-2, analysis and screening of potential targets and pathways of antiviral compounds based on network pharmacology and development of antiviral food dual-use products. The authors believe that the declaration of the (10 + 3) special meeting of national leaders on epidemic prevention and control should raise the medical and pharmaceutical issues of common concern. It is the responsibility of our joint laboratory members to accelerate the development of traditional medicine research and industry. Also the authors believe that this exchange will certainly promote the development of the cause of cooperation.

MeSH terms: Antiviral Agents; China; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Humans; International Cooperation; Leadership; Medicine, Traditional
Fulltext Can India develop herd immunity against COVID-19?

Gowrisankar A, Rondoni L, Banerjee S

Eur Phys J Plus, 2020;135(6):526.
PMID: 32834913 DOI: 10.1140/epjp/s13360-020-00531-4

World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak to be a public health crisis of international concern. Further, it provided advice to the global community that countries should place strong measures to detect disease early, isolate and treat cases, trace contacts and promote "social distancing" measures commensurate with the risk. This study analyses the COVID-19 infection data from the top 15 affected countries in which we observed heterogeneous growth patterns of the virus. Hence, this paper applies multifractal formalism on COVID-19 data with the notion that country-specific infection rates follow a power law growth behaviour. According to the estimated generalized fractal dimension curves, the effects of drastic containment measures on the pandemic in India indicate that a significant reduction of the infection rate as its population is concern. Also, comparison results with other countries demonstrate that India has less death rate or more immunity against COVID-19.
Fulltext Data-driven dynamic clustering framework for mitigating the adverse economic impact of Covid-19 lockdown practices

Rahman MA, Zaman N, Asyhari AT, Al-Turjman F, Alam Bhuiyan MZ, Zolkipli MF

Sustain Cities Soc, 2020 Nov;62:102372.
PMID: 32834935 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2020.102372

The COVID-19 disease has once again reiterated the impact of pandemics beyond a biomedical event with potential rapid, dramatic, sweeping disruptions to the management, and conduct of everyday life. Not only the rate and pattern of contagion that threaten our sense of healthy living but also the safety measures put in place for containing the spread of the virus may require social distancing. Three different measures to counteract this pandemic situation have emerged, namely: (i) vaccination, (ii) herd immunity development, and (iii) lockdown. As the first measure is not ready at this stage and the second measure is largely considered unreasonable on the account of the gigantic number of fatalities, a vast majority of countries have practiced the third option despite having a potentially immense adverse economic impact. To mitigate such an impact, this paper proposes a data-driven dynamic clustering framework for moderating the adverse economic impact of COVID-19 flare-up. Through an intelligent fusion of healthcare and simulated mobility data, we model lockdown as a clustering problem and design a dynamic clustering algorithm for localized lockdown by taking into account the pandemic, economic and mobility aspects. We then validate the proposed algorithms by conducting extensive simulations using the Malaysian context as a case study. The findings signify the promises of dynamic clustering for lockdown coverage reduction, reduced economic loss, and military unit deployment reduction, as well as assess potential impact of uncooperative civilians on the contamination rate. The outcome of this work is anticipated to pave a way for significantly reducing the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 spreading. Moreover, the idea can be exploited for potentially the next waves of corona virus-related diseases and other upcoming viral life-threatening calamities.
Fulltext Potential benefits of combination of Nigella sativa and Zn supplements to treat COVID-19

Rahman MT

J Herb Med, 2020 Oct;23:100382.
PMID: 32834942 DOI: 10.1016/j.hermed.2020.100382

An effective vaccine to prevent the SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19 is yet to be approved. Further there is no drug that is specific to treat COVID-19. A number of antiviral drugs such as Ribavirin, Remdesivir, Lopinavir/ritonavir, Azithromycin and Doxycycline have been recommended or are being used to treat COVID-19 patients. In addition to these drugs, rationale and evidence have been presented to use chloroquine to treat COVID-19, arguably with certain precautions and criticism. In line with the proposed use of chloroquine, Nigella sativa (black seed) could be considered as a natural substitute that contains a number of bioactive components such as thymoquinone, dithymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, and nigellimine. Further benefits to use N. sativa could be augmented by Zn supplement. Notably, Zn has been proven to improve innate and adaptive immunity in the course of any infection, be it by pathogenic virus or bacteria. The effectiveness of the Zn salt supplement could also be enhanced with N. sativa as its major bioactive component might work as ionophore to allow Zn2+ to enter pneumocytes - the target cell for SARSCoV-2. Given those benefits, this review paper describes how N. sativa in combination with Zn could be useful as a complement to COVID-19 treatment.

MeSH terms: Antiviral Agents; Chloroquine; Doxycycline; Humans; Ribavirin; Azithromycin; Ritonavir; Nigella sativa; Lopinavir
Fulltext A research vision for food systems in the 2020s: Defying the status quo

Fanzo J, Covic N, Dobermann A, Henson S, Herrero M, Pingali P, et al.

Glob Food Sec, 2020 Sep;26:100397.
PMID: 32834952 DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100397

•Research and science should not only inform food and environmental policy but should be adopted and mainstreamed into actions at all levels.•Food systems are faced with grander and interconnected challenges and constraints that bring about new research questions.•Research has a vital role in charting a positive and sustainable direction for global food security, nutrition, and health.•The status quo must be challenged to shape food systems transformation to deliver sustainable, healthier diets.• Global Food Security provides a platform where evidence is shared in an accessible manner for those who need to act on it.
Otological outcome in cleft lip and palate children with middle ear effusion

Azman A, Manuel AM

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol, 2020 Nov;138:110274.
PMID: 32836138 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2020.110274

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the factors contributing to middle ear pathology, hearing and speech development among cleft palate children treated for middle ear effusion.
METHOD: A prospective cross-sectional otoscopic and audiological analysis was conducted on 102 cleft palate children (204 ears) aged 1-18 years old who were treated for middle ear effusion at our centre. Retrospective chart review was done to determine patient characteristics and prior patient management. The aim was to assess the effect of ventilation tube insertion (VTI) on hearing, speech and chronic otitis media; comparing the timing and number of ventilation tubes per ear and determining other factors affecting the short-term and long-term outcome.
RESULTS: 68 children or 130 ears (63% of all cases) were selectively treated with ventilation tube insertion. Repeat procedures (more than 2) were performed in 41 ears. Among children with VTI performed, the incidence of chronic otitis media in children after the age of 4 was 17%. Overall, abnormal tympanic membrane findings and hearing loss were detected in nearly half the cases who were previously treated with VTI. Early ventilation tube insertion at less than 1 year of age, resulted in a better middle ear and hearing outcome in children less than 4 years old (p

MeSH terms: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Cleft Lip*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Infant; Middle Ear Ventilation; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies
Fulltext Effects of COVID-19 in E-learning on higher education institution students: the group comparison between male and female

Shahzad A, Hassan R, Aremu AY, Hussain A, Lodhi RN

Qual Quant, 2020 Aug 04.
PMID: 32836471 DOI: 10.1007/s11135-020-01028-z

In response to the emerging and ever solution to the COVID-19 outbreak. This study proposes a theoretical framework based on literature and model to determined E-learning portal success. The study compared males and females to E-learning portal usage. The study objective is to check the difference between male and female E-learning portals' accessibility among the students' perspective. The study included service quality, system quality, information quality, user satisfaction, system use, and E-learning portal success. The empirical data of 280 students participated from the different universities of Malaysia through google surveys analyzed using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling. The study further divided the full model into two domains, which are female and male. In the male model, information quality and system quality have direct relationships with user satisfaction. Information quality also supported the relationship with system use. At the same time, there is a positive relationship between user satisfaction and E-learning portals. Likewise, in the female model, E-service quality and Information quality both are supported by system use and user satisfaction. Similarly, system quality has a positive relationship with user satisfaction, and user satisfaction has a positive relationship with E-learning portals. The study will be further helpful for the Malaysian universities policy-makers such as top management, ministry of higher education, Malaysian universities union in designing the policies and programs on E-learning Portal Success in the country. The findings of the study reveal that males and females have a different level of in terms of usage of towards E-learning portals in Malaysian Universities.

MeSH terms: Computer-Assisted Instruction; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Goals; Humans; Learning; Malaysia; Male; Personal Satisfaction; Surveys and Questionnaires; Students; Universities; Least-Squares Analysis
Fulltext Manifesto for a post-pandemic modeling

Ausloos M, Grech D, Di Matteo T, Kutner R, Schinckus C, Stanley HE

Physica A, 2020 Dec 01;559:125086.
PMID: 32836719 DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2020.125086
Fulltext Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Its Use in COVID-19: Important Facts

Das S, Rajalingham S

Indian J Surg, 2020 May 28.
PMID: 32837060 DOI: 10.1007/s12262-020-02411-8
Fulltext Should community pharmacies provide COVID-19 screening services?

Tan CS

Drugs Ther Perspect, 2020;36(10):463-465.
PMID: 32837196 DOI: 10.1007/s40267-020-00753-7
Fulltext Pharmacotherapeutic considerations for systemic rheumatic diseases amid the COVID-19 pandemic: more questions than answers

Kow CS, Hasan SS

Drugs Ther Perspect, 2020 Aug 16.
PMID: 32837197 DOI: 10.1007/s40267-020-00767-1

Thus far, associations between the presence of systemic rheumatic disease and an increased risk of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) acquisition or a worse prognosis from COVID-19 have not been conclusive. It is not known for certain if there is an association between any pharmacological agent used for rheumatologic treatment, including biological and non-biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and an increased risk of COVID-19 acquisition or adverse outcomes from COVID-19, although these agents have been associated with an overall higher risk of infections. The pharmacological management of patients with a rheumatic disease without COVID-19 should currently follow usual treatment approaches. Individualized approaches to adjusting DMARD regimens in patients with documented COVID-19 seems prudent, with specific attention paid to the severity of the infection. Patients receiving antimalarials (hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine) may continue treatment with these agents. Treatment with sulfasalazine, methotrexate, leflunomide, immunosuppressants and biological agents other than interluekin-6 receptor inhibitors and JAK inhibitors should be stopped or withheld. It should be reasonable to resume DMARD treatment when patients are no longer symptomatic and at least 2 weeks after documentation of COVID-19, although the decision should be individualized, preferably based on infection severity.

MeSH terms: Antimalarials; Biological Factors; Chloroquine; Humans; Hydroxychloroquine; Immunosuppressive Agents; Methotrexate; Rheumatic Diseases; Sulfasalazine; Coronavirus; Coronavirus Infections; Antirheumatic Agents
Fulltext Economic perspective of coronavirus (COVID-19)

Usman M, Ali Y, Riaz A, Riaz A, Zubair A

J Public Aff, 2020 Aug 07.
PMID: 32837324 DOI: 10.1002/pa.2252

This study aims to present a quick overview of the novel coronavirus (afterward COVID-19) which triggers from Wuhan, spread approximately 213 countries and territories around the globe, and still currently ongoing. Particularly, we are interested to investigate the economic perspective of COVID-19. This paper uses data from online published articles and current media sources, as the COVID-19 situation is unfolding yet. To deeply explore the said matter, we divide the economic impact into six dimensions that is, Chinese economy, Central Asian economies, South Asian economies, South East and West Asian economies, European economies, Northern African, and Middle Eastern economies. The paper concludes that epidemic situations like COVID-19 severely affect economies around the globe. The basic reasons behind such severity are immobility of labor, reduction in productivity, discontinuation of the supply chain, a decline in exports, uncertainty, and so on. This study is quite important for businesses and policymakers to estimate and plan current and post-COVID-19 situations.

MeSH terms: Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Coronavirus; Coronavirus Infections; Uncertainty; African Continental Ancestry Group; European Continental Ancestry Group; Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Fulltext 10 "C" in COVID19

Shetty SS, Merchant Y, Shabadi N, Aljunid ST

Oral Surg, 2020 May 29.
PMID: 32837534 DOI: 10.1111/ors.12527

World war "C"1 has set in against an invisible virus. The routes of transmission include *Contact of contaminated objects,*Circulating droplets in the air called aerosols disseminated through *Cough, sneeze, ocular secretions2 from an infected individual.

MeSH terms: Aerosols; Cough; Eye; Face; Sneezing
Fulltext Sharing Information on COVID-19: the ethical challenges in the Malaysian setting

Yusof ANM, Muuti MZ, Ariffin LA, Tan MKM

Asian Bioeth Rev, 2020 Sep;12(3):349-361.
PMID: 32837556 DOI: 10.1007/s41649-020-00132-4

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised challenges in dealing with information sharing by the public and the authorities. There are two categories of information sharing on social media that are believed to be potentially problematic and unethical: the sharing of personal information of patients and the sharing of fake news or false information. We present a discussion on how the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia can be ethically handled in terms of information sharing. It is recommended that the public should cultivate the basic skills to evaluate information and determine its validity. On the other hand, the authorities should refrain from placing the blame on patients to avoid them from being stigmatized. It is crucial that all parties are aware of their ethical duty to ensure only ethical and valid information gets shared on social media.
Fulltext Paediatric Palliative Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Malaysian Perspective

Chong LA, Khoo EJ, Kamar AA, Tan HS

Asian Bioeth Rev, 2020 Aug 13.
PMID: 32837563 DOI: 10.1007/s41649-020-00142-2

Malaysia had its first four patients with COVID-19 on 25 January 2020. In the same week, the World Health Organization declared it as a public health emergency of international concern. The pandemic has since challenged the ethics and practice of medicine. There is palpable tension from the conflict of interest between public health initiatives and individual's rights. Ensuring equitable care and distribution of health resources for patients with and without COVID-19 is a recurring ethical challenge for clinicians. Palliative care aims to mitigate suffering caused by a life-limiting illness, and this crisis has led to the awareness and urgency to ensure it reaches all who needs it. We share here the palliative care perspectives and ethical challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia.

MeSH terms: Emergencies; Emergency Service, Hospital; Health Resources; Humans; Malaysia; Palliative Care; Public Health; World Health Organization; Conflict of Interest; Pandemics; Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing

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