Browse publications by year: 2023

Fulltext The role of tin species in doped iron (III) oxide for photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange dye under UV light

Arzaee NA, Betti N, Al-Amiery A, Roslam Wan Isahak WN

Heliyon, 2023 Jul;9(7):e18076.
PMID: 37483778 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18076

Iron (III) oxide, a stable semiconductor with versatile applications, was synthesized alongside Sn-doped Fe2O3 (Sn-Fe2O3) using the sol-gel technique. Characterization via X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and UV-visible spectroscopy confirmed the presence of α- and γ-Fe2O3 phases in the synthesized powders. Incorporation of the dopant reduced the initial band gap energy of Fe2O3 (2.2 eV) by approximately 0.1 eV. To evaluate photocatalytic performance, Fe2O3 and Sn-Fe2O3 were tested for decolorization efficiency of a methyl orange solution. Results revealed the 5 wt% Sn-doped catalyst as optimal, achieving complete degradation of methyl orange within 120 min under simulated solar light. The addition of small amounts of Sn effectively reduced the Fe2O3 band gap and significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance. Investigation of pH and dye concentration impact on photocatalytic degradation revealed superior activity under acidic conditions compared to alkaline. Furthermore, maintaining a moderate concentration of methyl orange (10 ppm) ensured optimum photocatalytic activity.
Fulltext Investigating tourism experiences and attention allocation of outbound tourists through the lens of the two-factor theory: A grounded theory analysis of Chinese tourists' travelogues in Malaysia

Li X, Cui W, Chee WM

Heliyon, 2023 Jul;9(7):e17896.
PMID: 37483812 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17896

A top-notch travel experience is vital for boosting a destination's competitiveness. Outbound travel notes of online travel agency capture tourists' experiences and emotions during their journeys, providing valuable insights for understanding tourist consumption behavior and improving tourism service policies. This study analyzes 1,012 travel blogs of Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia using grounded theory methodology. A dual-factor theoretical model is developed through open coding, spindle coding, and selective coding, illustrating the attention allocation problem of outbound tourists in their travel experiences. The study's hygiene factors comprise basic features, management aspects, and transportation components, while motivational factors include cultural elements, resource considerations, emotional factors, media influences, and commercial aspects. Research findings indicate that outbound tourists prioritize motivational factors, such as interpersonal service attributes and inherent emotional components. These factors play a crucial role in stimulating travel motivation and crafting memorable experiences. Moreover, hygiene factors, like infrastructure and security conditions, also impact tourists' experiences and are crucial for reducing dissatisfaction among outbound travelers. These results provide fresh perspectives on the factors influencing outbound tourists' experiences and their focal points during trips. The findings have significant implications for public sectors and industry professionals in tourism. By addressing the motivating and hygiene factors important to outbound tourists, they can enhance and fine-tune tourism service policies, ultimately increasing destination competitiveness. Measures such as improving infrastructure, raising service quality, and amplifying cultural experiences at the destination can all contribute to better travel experiences for tourists.
Fulltext Carbonation inhibitor by polyethylene glycol encapsulation of calcium hydroxide fine particles to improve antimicrobial and root canal penetration properties

Sidiqa AN, Zakaria MN, Cahyanto A, Joni IM, Maskoen AM

Heliyon, 2023 Jul;9(7):e18005.
PMID: 37483813 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18005

The carbonation of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) is affected by humidity and a saturated atmosphere. Ca(OH)2 from nature is easily carbonation and self-aggregates into calcium carbonate (CaCO3), resulting in larger particle size impairing the antimicrobial properties due to lack of penetration into the dentinal tubules and lower ion dissociation. To reduce the particle size, the wet beads milling process with distilled water as the medium is commonly used, but often results in great carbonation of the final product. Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) may inhibit the carbonation process as well as re-agglomeration. However, it requires intensive drying of the fine Ca(OH)2 particles. As an alternative, we used ethanol as a medium in the milling process, which is easily dried and compatible with PEG as a surfactant. This study aimed to evaluate PEG 400 as a dispersing agent in ethanol medium in the beads milling process to prevent carbonation of the fine Ca(OH)2 particles. The following groups were analysed CaP-PEG (Ca(OH)2-PEG) with ethanol as a medium, CaP-Eth (Ca(OH)2 with ethanol as a medium), CaP-DW (Ca(OH)2 with distilled water as a medium), CaPC (Ca(OH)2-carbonated) as the negative control and CaC (Ca(OH)2 analytical grade) as the positive control The final particle results were characterized to evaluate the crystal structure, functional groups, and particle size. The corresponding pH and antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis were assessed at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days. The penetration ability was evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscope. The data obtained were analysed by ANOVA with a significance level of 5%. PEG was able to inhibit carbonation and stabilize pH for up to 14 days, providing increased antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis. PEG also facilitates the ability of fine Ca(OH)2 particles to penetrate deeper into the dentine tubules by reducing particle size.
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dentists after the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Varghese E, Krishnan R, Muddebihal F, Dawood T, Gowrish S, Lavanya T, et al.

Dent Res J (Isfahan), 2023;20:66.
PMID: 37483904

BACKGROUND: Dentists are at an increased risk of encountering cross-infections because of working in close proximity with oral mucosa and saliva making use of high-speed rotary instruments during treatment generating large amount of aerosols and splatter which in turn increases the probability of nosocomial spread of infections. The present study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dentists after the COVID-19 pandemic.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present cross-sectional study was conducted using Google Forms wherein a well-structured questionnaire composed of a total of 25 closed-ended questions was distributed among practicing dentists through online mode. Step-wise linear regression analysis was done to determine the influence of independent variables on the knowledge, attitude, and practice scores of the participants. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: On analyzing the results, multiple linear regression analysis revealed no significant difference in the knowledge scores among the participants, while good attitude and practice scores were significantly associated with higher qualification of the participants. Another noteworthy finding in the study was the significant correlation observed between the various components of the knowledge, attitude, and practice scores among the participants (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: It could be concluded from the findings of the present survey that dentists were found to have good knowledge scores about the COVID-19 pandemic. They should, however, pay more emphasis on practicing tele-triaging and proper screening and should follow various guidelines and advisories issued from time to time by the competent authorities.
Fulltext In silico identification and in vitro assessment of a potential anti-breast cancer activity of antimicrobial peptide retrieved from the ATMP1 Anabas testudineus fish peptide

Law D, Abdulkareem Najm A, Chong JX, K'ng JZY, Amran M, Ching HL, et al.

PeerJ, 2023;11:e15651.
PMID: 37483971 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15651

A previous study has shown that synthetic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) derived from Anabas testudineus (ATMP1) could in-vitro inhibit the progression of breast cancer cell lines. In this study, we are interested in studying altered versions of previous synthetic AMPs to gain some insight into the peptides functions. The AMPs were altered and subjected to bioinformatics prediction using four databases (ADP3, CAMP-R3, AMPfun, and ANTICP) to select the highest anticancer activity. The bioinformatics in silico analysis led to the selection of two AMPs, which are ATMP5 (THPPTTTTTTTTTTTYTAAPATTT) and ATMP6 (THPPTTTTTTTTTTTTTAAPARTT). The in silico analysis predicted that ATMP5 and ATMP6 have anticancer activity and lead to cell death. The ATMP5 and ATMP6 were submitted to deep learning databases (ToxIBTL and ToxinPred2) to predict the toxicity of the peptides and to (AllerTOP & AllergenFP) check the allergenicity. The results of databases indicated that AMPs are non-toxic to normal human cells and allergic to human immunoglobulin. The bioinformatics findings led to select the highest active peptide ATMP5, which was synthesised and applied for in-vitro experiments using cytotoxicity assay MTT Assay, apoptosis detection using the Annexin V FTIC-A assay, and gene expression using Apoptosis PCR Array to evaluate the AMP's anticancer activity. The antimicrobial activity is approved by the disc diffusion method. The in-vitro experiments analysis showed that ATMP5 had the activity to inhibit the growth of the breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) after 48 h and managed to arrest the cell cycle of the MDA-MB-231, apoptosis induction, and overexpression of the p53 by interaction with the related apoptotic genes. This research opened up new opportunities for developing potential and selective anticancer agents relying on antimicrobial peptide properties.

MeSH terms: Animals; Female; Humans; Peptides/pharmacology; Cell Death; Apoptosis
Fulltext Safety and efficacy of oil palm phenolic supplementation in improving lipid profile among hyperlipidemic adults: a phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Muhammad Ismail Tadj NB, Ibrahim NI, Tg Abu Bakar Sidik TMI, Zulfarina MS, Haji Mohd Saad Q, Leow SS, et al.

Front Pharmacol, 2023;14:1190663.
PMID: 37484009 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1190663

Introduction: Oil palm phenolic (OPP) is an antioxidant aqueous palm oil by-product and contains a high amount of phenolics. OPP has been proven to have many therapeutical benefits, and one of them is as an antihyperlipidemic agent. The previous phase 1 clinical trial proved OPP was safe to be orally consumed by healthy volunteers and yielded a good lipid profile. Thus, this phase 2 clinical trial was conducted to determine the effectiveness of OPP in improving the lipid profile among hyperlipidemic subjects. Methods: A parallel, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial was conducted for 2 months on 50 hyperlipidemic subjects aged 20-50 years old. The subjects were randomly distributed to two treatment arms with 25 participants each: control/placebo (11 males and 14 females) and 250 mg of OPP (10 males and 15 females). The subjects were required to consume one capsule per day for 60 days. Fasting blood sampling for routine blood profile (hematology, liver function, renal function, and lipid) analysis and a medical examination were conducted at baseline, day 30, and day 60. t-test analysis was used to compare the difference between two test groups. Results: The baseline lipid profile between control group (TC, 5.78 ± 0.52 mmol/L; LDL, 3.88 ± 0.51 mmol/L; HDL, 1.30 ± 0.25; TG, 1.30 ± 0.82), and 250 mg OPP (TC, 5.76 ± 0.54 mmol/L; LDL, 3.82 ± 0.59 mmol/L; HDL, 1.37 ± 0.34; TG, 1.25 ± 0.54) is insignificant. No serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported. No abnormality in fasting blood parameters in all groups was found. Compared to the control group among male participants, the 250 mg OPP group showed an improved serum triglyceride level. There were no statistically significant changes in all blood parameters from day 1 to day 60 with the exception of triglyceride level. Conclusion: The absence of SAEs reported and no abnormal findings in biochemistry and hematology results suggested that the 250 mg OPP was safe to be taken by hyperlipidemic patients with a high probability of reducing triglyceride level in hyperlipidemic male patients The outcomes from this phase II trial suggest that by incorporating OPP supplements into the diet may be a promising strategy for individuals with hyperlipidemia to improve their lipid profiles and reduce cardiovascular risk. However, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action and establish the long-term efficacy and safety of OPP supplementation in larger scale. Limitation: Small samples size hence lack of diversity (25 subjects per groups) and early sharing of treatment-response results. Clinical Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04573218.
Fulltext A Comparison of the National Cervical Cancer Policies in Six Developing Countries with the World Health Organization Recommendations: A Narrative Review

Amir SM, Idris IB, Said ZM, Yusoff HM, Manaf MRA

Iran J Public Health, 2023 Jun;52(6):1108-1120.
PMID: 37484154 DOI: 10.18502/ijph.v52i6.12952

BACKGROUND: This study reviewed cervical cancer policies implemented in developing countries that adhered to WHO standards. Despite long being known as a preventable disease, cervical cancer is still one of the leading causes of mortality among women. Nine out of ten cervical cancer deaths occurred in less-developed countries, suggesting that the preventive and control approaches in these countries might differ from those in developed nations.
METHODS: Cervical cancer policies in six developing countries from each WHO region were selected while related data from the Cervical Cancer Country Profiles 2021 by WHO were retrieved for comparison.
RESULTS: The cervical cancer policies that were included in this review were from Malaysia, Thailand, Iran, Kenya, Argentina, and Ukraine. According to the latest guidelines on the management of cervical cancers, WHO recommendations have been elaborated on primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. A comparison of policies among these selected countries showed variation in each level of prevention. The cancer burden in each country was also found to determine the progression of cervical cancer prevention and policy controls in these countries.
CONCLUSION: This review emphasizes the dissimilarities of cervical cancer policies in six developing countries compared to recommendations by the WHO. Identifying these discrepancies could help policymakers in developing nations to recognize the pressing issues surrounding cervical cancer prevention and establish more effective prevention and control approaches.
Fulltext Experimental study on the eco-friendly plastic-sand paver blocks by utilising plastic waste and basalt fibers

Iftikhar B, Alih SC, Vafaei M, Ali M, Javed MF, Asif U, et al.

Heliyon, 2023 Jun;9(6):e17107.
PMID: 37484238 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17107

Plastic waste poses a significant hazard to the environment as a result of its high production rates, which endanger both the environment and its inhabitants. Similarly, another concern is the production of cement, which accounts for roughly 8% of global CO2 emissions. Thus, recycling plastic waste as a replacement for cementitious materials may be a more effective strategy for waste minimisation and cement elimination. Therefore, in this study, plastic waste (low-density polyethylene) is utilised in the production of plastic sand paver blocks without the use of cement. In addition to this, basalt fibers which is a green industrial material is also added in the production of eco-friendly plastic sand paver blocks to satisfy the standard of ASTM C902-15 of 20 N/mm2 for the light traffic. In order to make the paver blocks, the LDPE waste plastic was melted outside in the open air and then combined with sand. Variations were made to the ratio of LDPE to sand, the proportion of basalt fibers, and sand particle size. Paver blocks were evaluated for their compressive strength, water absorption, and at different temperatures. Including 0.5% percent basalt fiber of length 4 mm gives us the best result by enhancing compressive strength by 20.5% and decreasing water absorption by 50.5%. The best results were obtained with a ratio of 30:70 LDPE to sand, while the finest sand provides the greatest compressive strength. Moreover, the temperature effect was also studied from 0 to 60 °C, and the basalt fibers incorporated in plastic paver blocks showed only a 20% decrease in compressive strength at 60 °C. This research has produced eco-friendly paver blocks by removing cement and replacing it with plastic waste, which will benefit the environment, save money, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and be suitable for low-traffic areas, all of which contribute to sustainable development.
Fulltext The evolution of Airbnb research: A systematic literature review using structural topic modeling

Ding K, Niu Y, Choo WC

Heliyon, 2023 Jun;9(6):e17090.
PMID: 37484274 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17090

This study employs advanced text-mining techniques to offer an in-depth and comprehensive overview of the extensive body of research on Airbnb. By analyzing 1021 articles published in 416 journals spanning the period from 2015 to 2022, this study aims at revealing Airbnb research topics and trends. The results show that the primary focus of academic inquiry regarding Airbnb revolves around two domains: the company's operational practices and its impacts on various domains. Within the realm of Airbnb's operational practices, four distinct research topics emerge as particularly prominent and extensively explored. These encompass the dynamics of 'trust in Airbnb,' the formulation and implementation of 'house rules,' the mechanisms of governing 'Airbnb pricing' strategies, and the critical examination of 'value creation in Airbnb' initiatives. Meanwhile, the most researched impacts of Airbnb are on urban tourism, rental housing markets, tourist destinations, and hotels. These spheres have received significant scholarly attention due to the profound implications and transformative effects engendered by Airbnb's disruptive presence in these areas. Moreover, the findings underscore that research pertaining to Airbnb's operational aspects has witnessed a significant increase in popularity over time, indicating a marked shift in the focal points of Airbnb research. Notably, the research topics that have experienced substantial growth include 'trust in Airbnb,' 'Airbnb pricing,' and 'impacts on tourist destinations.' Lastly, this study found that Airbnb-related research articles in hospitality and tourism journals tend to be more delving into industry-specific phenomena and challenges. Conversely, non-hospitality and tourism journals provide a broader coverage of topics related to Airbnb, encapsulating diverse areas of inquiry beyond the boundaries of the industry. This literature review provides valuable insights into existing research on Airbnb and highlights several critical areas for future research.
Fulltext Determinant factors of entrepreneurial ideation among university students: A systematic literature review

Wardoyo C, Narmaditya BS, Handayati P, Fauzan S, Prayitno PH, Sahid S, et al.

Heliyon, 2023 Jun;9(6):e17227.
PMID: 37484297 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17227

Entrepreneurial ideation has gained robust prominence in the educational context, being a prominent variable in predicting the entrepreneurial intention of students. Thus, this systematic review seeks out and identifies the determinant factors of entrepreneurial ideation and understands the link between entrepreneurial ideation and intention. This paper adopted a systematic review of the literature in Scopus and Web of Science databases during 2016 and 2022, using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). Based on predefined inclusion criteria, a total of 14 articles published within the last decade were analyzed in detail. The findings of this review indicate that entrepreneurship ideation is determined by several factors, including entrepreneurship education, motivation, market, entrepreneurial imaginativeness, and information technology. The results also confirm that there is a link between entrepreneurial ideation and entrepreneurial intention among university students. This paper also highlights the trends in entrepreneurship ideation for university students' education and the primary role of entrepreneurial learning. The findings of this paper are to allocate avenues for future research on the theme of entrepreneurial ideations.
Fulltext Effect of ultrasonic vibration on the mechanical properties of 3D printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polylactic acid samples

Maidin S, Rajendran TK, Nor Hayati NM, Sheng YY, Ismail S, Muhammad AH

Heliyon, 2023 Jun;9(6):e17053.
PMID: 37484304 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17053

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is an extrusion-based AM process that is widely used due to its cost-effectiveness and user friendly. However, FDM also has some limitations such as the appearance of seam lines between layers and the production of excess material residue leading to poor surface finish, poor bonding between layers and porosity. This paper presents the findings on the application of ultrasonic vibration in an open-source FDM 3D printer to investigate its effect on the mechanical properties and microstructure of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and Polylactic Acid (PLA) samples. Two units of ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer were clamped horizontally on the surface of the 3D printer platform. The ultrasonic vibration was transmitted directly to the platform while the sample received vibration with a specific frequency while the printing process commences. Two process parameters, namely build orientation and ultrasonic vibration were selected to analyze their significance and optimization on the mechanical properties and the microstructure of the printed samples. High compressive and low surface roughness are required to have the best properties for the printed sample. Therefore, the optimization parameters are performed with these settings where the compressive strength is maximized and the surface roughness is minimized. The result shows that the overall compressive strength in ABS and PLA samples created in the Z-axis orientation is higher than in the X-axis orientation. However, the compressive strength of ABS and PLA samples is not much different after the ultrasonic vibration was applied during the printing process. The microstructure analysis shows that bonding between the layers is similar when applying ultrasonic vibration for both ABS and PLA samples. Furthermore, the result indicates that the surface roughness increased at 10 kHz and then decreased or became smoother at 20 kHz for both ABS and PLA material samples. The analysis shows that the build orientation significantly affects the compressive strength in ABS and PLA samples. However, the ultrasonic vibration has no considerable impact. In surface roughness, the build orientation and ultrasonic vibration significantly affect ABS samples. However, the PLA samples are only slightly affected. The optimum parameters for both materials are found where Z-axis orientation and 0 kHz of the ultrasonic vibration samples gave the best compressive strength and surface roughness value.
Fulltext Solar irradiation prediction using empirical and artificial intelligence methods: A comparative review

Nawab F, Abd Hamid AS, Ibrahim A, Sopian K, Fazlizan A, Fauzan MF

Heliyon, 2023 Jun;9(6):e17038.
PMID: 37484325 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17038

Solar irradiation data is essential for the feasibility of solar energy projects. Notably, the intermittent nature of solar irradiation influences solar energy use in all forms, whether energy or agriculture. Accurate solar irradiation prediction is the only solution to effectively use solar energy in different forms. The estimation of solar irradiation is the most critical factor for site selection and sizing of solar energy projects and for selecting a suitable crop selection for the area. But the physical measurement of solar irradiation, due to the cost and technology involved, is not possible for all locations across the globe. Numerous techniques have been implemented to predict solar irradiation for this purpose. The two types of approaches that are most frequently employed are empirical techniques and artificial intelligence (AI). Both approaches have demonstrated good accuracy in various places of the world. To find out the best method, a thorough review of research articles discussing solar irradiation prediction has been done to compare different methods for solar irradiation prediction. In this paper, articles predicting solar irradiation using AI and empirical published from 2017 to 2022 have been reviewed, and both methods have been compared. The review showed that AI methods are more accurate than empirical methods. In empirical models, modified sunshine-based models (MSSM) have the highest accuracy, followed by sunshine-based (SSM) and non-sunshine-based models (NSM). The NSM has a little lower accuracy than MSSM and SSM, but the NSM can give good results in sunshine data unavailability. Also, the literature review confirmed that simple empirical models could predict accurately, and increasing the empirical model's polynomial order cannot improve results. Artificial neural networks (ANN) and Hybrid models have the highest accuracy among AI methods, followed by support vector machine (SVM) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The increase in efficiency by hybrid models is minimal, but the complexity of models requires very sophisticated programming knowledge. ANN's most important input factors are maximum and minimum temperatures, temperature differential, relative humidity, clearness index and precipitation.
Fulltext A bibliometric analysis of emerging adulthood in the context of higher education institutions: A psychological perspectives

Wider W, Fauzi MA, Gan SW, Yap CC, Akmal Bin Ahmad Khadri MW, Maidin SS

Heliyon, 2023 Jun;9(6):e16988.
PMID: 37484333 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16988

In recent years, there has been a rise in studies aimed at better understanding the needs and traits of emerging adults and the role that higher education institutions play in their development and success. Despite the relevance of higher education institutions to the emerging adulthood development, there has been scant work done to synthesise the literature on this topic. A bibliometric method was utilised to retrieve 2484 journal articles from Web of Science (WoS). Utilizing co-citation analysis and co-word analysis, we determined the most influential publications, mapped the knowledge structure, and predicted future trends. The results of the co-citation analysis indicate five clusters, while the co-word analysis indicates four. The results could be used as a roadmap for the future of research on emerging adults by a variety of interested parties, including policymakers, university administrators, funders, and academics.
Fulltext Corrigendum to "Energy saving potential analysis applying factory scale energy audit - A case study of food production" [Heliyon 9 (3), (March 2023) Article e14216]

Al Momani D, Al Turk Y, Abuashour MI, Khalid HM, Muyeen SM, Sweidan TO, et al.

Heliyon, 2023 Jun;9(6):e16551.
PMID: 37484411 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16551

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14216.].
Thermal performance of gasifier cooking stoves: A systematic literature review

Rabby MII, Uddin MW, Sheikh MR, Bhuiyan HK, Mumu TA, Islam F, et al.

F1000Res, 2023;12:38.
PMID: 37484517 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.126890.2

A systematic literature review was conducted to summarize the overall thermal performance of different gasified cooking stoves from the available literature. For this purpose, available studies from the last 14 years (2008 to 2022) were searched using different search strings. After screening, a total of 28 articles were selected for this literature review. Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases were used as search strings by applying "Gasifier cooking stove" AND "producer gas cooking stove" AND "thermal performance" keywords. This review uncovers different gasified cooking stoves, cooking fuels, and fabrication materials besides overall thermal performances. The result shows that the overall thermal performance of different gasified cooking stoves was 5.88% to 91% depending on the design and burning fuels. The premixed producer gas burner with a swirl vane stove provided the highest overall thermal performance range, which was 84% to 91%, and the updraft gasified stove provided the lowest performance, which was 5.88% to 8.79%. The result also demonstrates that the wood pellets cooking fuel provided the highest thermal performance and corn straw briquette fuel provided the lowest for gasified cooking stoves. The overall thermal performance of wood pellets was 38.5% and corn straw briquette was 10.86%.

MeSH terms: Cooking; Household Articles*; Particulate Matter
Fulltext Novel Natrosol/Pectin-co-poly (acrylate) based pH-responsive polymeric carrier system for controlled delivery of Tapentadol Hydrochloride

Zafar N, Mahmood A, Ilyas S, Ijaz H, Muhammad Sarfraz R, Mahdi WA, et al.

Saudi Pharm J, 2023 Aug;31(8):101671.
PMID: 37484541 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2023.06.004

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to create a controlled delivery system for Tapentadol Hydrochloride by developing interpenetrating networks (IPNs) of Natrosol-Pectin copolymerized with Acrylic Acid and Methylene bisacrylamide, and to analyze the effects of various ingredients on the physical and chemical characteristics of the IPNs.
METHODS: Novel Tapentadol Hydrochloride-loaded Natrosol-Pectin based IPNs were formulated by using the free radical polymerization technique. Co-polymerization of Acrylic Acid (AA) with Natrosol and Pectin was performed by using Methylene bisacrylamide (MBA). Ammonium persulfate (APS) was used as the initiator of crosslinking process. The impact of ingredients i.e. Natrosol, Pectin, MBA, and Acrylic Acid on the gel fraction, porosity, swelling (%), drug loading, and drug release was investigated. FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM and EDX studies were conducted to confirm the grafting of polymers and to evaluate the thermal stability and surface morphology of the developed IPNs.
RESULTS: Swelling studies exhibited an increase in swelling percentage from 84.27 to 91.17% upon increasing polymer (Natrosol and Pectin) contents. An increase in MBA contents resulted in a decrease in swelling from 85 to 67.63%. Moreover, the swelling was also observed to increase with higher AA contents. Significant drug release was noted at higher pH instead of gastric pH value. Oral toxicological studies revealed the nontoxic and biocompatible nature of Natrosol-Pectin IPNs.
INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The developed IPNs were found to be an excellent system for the controlled delivery of Tapentadol Hydrochloride.
Fulltext The Efficacy of Herbs as Complementary and Alternative Therapy in Recovery and Clinical Outcome Among People with COVID-19: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression

Komariah M, Amirah S, Maulana S, Abdurrahman MF, Ibrahim K, Platini H, et al.

Ther Clin Risk Manag, 2023;19:611-627.
PMID: 37484695 DOI: 10.2147/TCRM.S405507

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic continues, and this condition has caused many cases in various countries around the world, resulting in more than 6 million deaths worldwide. Herbal medicines can act as immunomodulators, anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, antimicrobials, and others depending on the type and content of the herbs used. Previous studies have shown that several types of herbs, such as Echinacea purpurea, Curcumin or Turmeric, Nigella sativa, and Zingiber officinale, have proven their effectiveness as herbal plants for COVID-19.
METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive literature search through five databases, namely, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Wiley, and ProQuest to assess the efficacy of phytopharmaceuticals until July 12, 2022. We used the Cochrane RoB 2.0 for the quality assessment of the study.
RESULTS: Phytopharmaceuticals significantly improved patients' recovery rate (OR = 3.54; p < 0.00001) and reduced deaths (OR = 0.24; p < 0.0001) compared to the control group. Phytopharmaceuticals also performed as a protective factor for COVID-19 clinical symptoms, such as dyspnea (OR = 0.42; p < 0.05) and myalgia (OR = 0.31; p = 0.02) compared to the control group. However, there is no statistically significant effect on cough (OR = 0.76; p = 0.61) and fever (OR = 0.60; p < 0.20). The results were not affected by patients' covariates [hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular diseases (meta-regression p > 0.05)].
CONCLUSION: Herbal medicine has the potential as an adjuvant therapy in the management of COVID-19.
Fulltext An Analysis of the Clinical and Radiological Prognostic Factors Affecting the Outcomes of Lumbar Intradiscal Biacuplasty

Md MY, Md CG, Md CW, MSc YC, MSc HJ, Md IH, et al.

Int J Med Sci, 2023;20(8):1115-1122.
PMID: 37484806 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.85777

Purpose: Intradiscal biacuplasty (IDB) has been proven to be effective for treating lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD). However, there has not been a reported prognostic factor for IDB. The present study meticulously evaluates the general and radiographic features that may serve as markers for predicting the therapeutic outcome of IDB. Methods: A prospective case series study was conducted, following time-series analysis moving averages models, with forty-one patients suffering from chronic discogenic lower back pain for more than six months. These patients subsequently received lumbar cool radiofrequency IDB and were enrolled in the study. Thirty-seven patients completed follow-up questionnaires at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The surgical outcomes were reported using visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and the consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). Furthermore, a univariate analysis was performed to identify prognostic factors associated with pain relief from age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and pre-operative lumbar magnetic resonance imaging reading. Results: Significant reductions were found in estimated VAS and ODI at the post-operative period at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months (P < 0.001). The NSAID dosage was significantly decreased at 3-month and 1-year follow-up (P < 0.05). No procedure-related complications were detected. The prognosis of IDB was not related to disc height, Pfirrmann grading or Modic endplate change. However, disc extrusions were associated with promising outcomes (VAS improvement ≥ 50%) on pain relief (P < 0.05). Conclusion: IDB is a good alternative choice for treating lumbar DDD. Patients with a painful extrusion lumbar disc may gain some benefits after receiving IDB following a period of failed conservative treatment. These findings may also add some references for physicians in the decision making when treating lumbar DDD.

MeSH terms: Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery; Prognosis; Radiography; Treatment Outcome
Fulltext Desmoplastic Fibroma of the Phalanx of the Hand: A Rare Case Report

Singh BP, Abdul Halim S, Yahaya S, Mat Zin NA, Tuan Sharif SE, Wan Ismail WF

Case Rep Oncol, 2023;16(1):478-483.
PMID: 37485013 DOI: 10.1159/000529895

Desmoplastic fibroma is a rare primary benign bone tumour that typically affects the long bones, mandible, and pelvis. It has a similar local aggressiveness to soft tissue fibromatosis. It rarely involves the small bones of the hand. We describe an extremely rare case of desmoplastic fibroma of the proximal phalanx of the hand in a patient who presented with an aggressively enlarging but painless mass on the left ring finger. Radiological features suggested malignancy; however, an initial biopsy revealed fibrotic tissue. Trans-metacarpal amputation of the ring and little fingers and soft tissue reconstruction were performed using a local ulnar-based flap of the little finger. The final histopathological evaluation revealed desmoplastic fibroma. Aggressively growing masses in the hand should be treated according to a sarcoma management protocol, and desmoplastic fibroma should be included in the differential diagnosis.
Fulltext The Incidence of Gastrocnemius Tightness Among Clinic Staff in a District Hospital's Clinic in the State of Kedah, Malaysia

Ramalingam K, Perumal D, Balan H, Leong JF, Thiruselvam T

Cureus, 2023 Jun;15(6):e40714.
PMID: 37485103 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.40714

Aim Musculus Gastrocnemius Tightness (MGT) has been linked with common foot and ankle pathologies. These symptoms sometimes are not severe enough for the patient to seek treatment. This study aims to determine the incidence rate of MGT among our clinical personnel and if there is any association between foot and ankle symptoms with MGT. Materials and methods This observational cross-sectional study involves clinical personnel from our Specialist Clinics at Hospital Kulim, Malaysia. We interviewed and assessed 85 volunteers of which, we measured the passive ankle dorsiflexion of the volunteers (the Silfverskiöld) test, to diagnose MGT. We then used the Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOxFQ) is used to determine the functional outcome of our volunteers. Results Out of a total of 85 volunteers assessed, 12 (14%) volunteers were found to have gastrocnemius tightness. Among this cohort, 11 were symptomatic. Out of the 73 who did not have MGT, there were three symptomatic volunteers. There was a significant association between volunteers with foot and ankle symptoms with gastrocnemius tightness, compared to those without. There was a significant difference in the relationship between the MOxFQ scores in all components (walking, pain, and social) when comparing those with and those without MGT. Conclusion We conclude that there is a significant association between foot and ankle symptoms and MGT in our clinic sample population. However, these symptoms were not severe enough for these symptomatic volunteers to seek treatment. We should consider screening symptomatic staff and implementing stretching protocols.

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