Browse publications by year: 2023

  1. Baqraf YKA, Keikhosrokiani P, Al-Rawashdeh M
    Digit Health, 2023;9:20552076231212296.
    PMID: 38025112 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231212296
    BACKGROUND: Due to the large volume of online health information, while quality remains dubious, understanding the usage of artificial intelligence to evaluate health information and surpass human-level performance is crucial. However, the existing studies still need a comprehensive review highlighting the vital machine, and Deep learning techniques for the automatic health information evaluation process.

    OBJECTIVE: Therefore, this study outlines the most recent developments and the current state of the art regarding evaluating the quality of online health information on web pages and specifies the direction of future research.

    METHODS: In this article, a systematic literature is conducted according to the PRISMA statement in eight online databases PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, ACM, Springer Link, Wiley Online Library, Emerald Insight, and Web of Science to identify all empirical studies that use machine and deep learning models for evaluating the online health information quality. Furthermore, the selected techniques are compared based on their characteristics, such as health quality criteria, quality measurement tools, algorithm type, and achieved performance.

    RESULTS: The included papers evaluate health information on web pages using over 100 quality criteria. The results show no universal quality dimensions used by health professionals and machine or deep learning practitioners while evaluating health information quality. In addition, the metrics used to assess the model performance are not the same as those used to evaluate human performance.

    CONCLUSIONS: This systemic review offers a novel perspective in approaching the health information quality in web pages that can be used by machine and deep learning practitioners to tackle the problem more effectively.

  2. Almoudi MM, Hussein AS, Mohd Sarmin NI, Abu Hassan MI
    Saudi Dent J, 2023 Nov;35(7):883-890.
    PMID: 38025600 DOI: 10.1016/j.sdentj.2023.07.003
    OBJECTIVES: This in-vitro study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial effects of four zinc salts namely zinc chloride, zinc sulfate, zinc citrate and zinc acetate against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Streptococcus sobrinus (S. sobrinus).

    METHODS: Antibacterial susceptibility assay, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were undertaken to evaluate the inhibitory activities of different zinc salts against the tested bacteria. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to evaluate the morphological changes of bacterial cells following exposure to zinc salts. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare the inhibitory effect of the different zinc salts.

    RESULTS: All zinc salts tested against S. mutans and S. sobrinus had a statistically and significantly smaller inhibition zone when compared to chlorhexidine, (P  0.05). Zinc chloride, zinc sulfate and zinc acetate demonstrated higher MIC and MBC values against S. mutans compared to S. sobrinus. However, zinc citrate revealed the highest MIC and MBC values of 1 mg/mL and > 8 mg/mL for S. sobrinus and > 8 mg/mL for S. mutans, respectively.

    CONCLUSION: Different zinc salts have displayed inhibitory growth effects against the common oral bacteria at very low concentrations except for zinc citrate which showed no inhibitory effect against these bacteria in vitro.

  3. Kaur K, Varghese E, Eswara U, Goh Pei En J
    Saudi Dent J, 2023 Nov;35(7):869-875.
    PMID: 38025601 DOI: 10.1016/j.sdentj.2023.08.002
    BACKGROUND: Reports are found on long-term radiographic follow-up of teeth treated with regenerative endodontic techniques, but scarce literature is observed regarding the tissue formed in the root canal. A four-year radiographic follow-up with histologic findings in an immature mandibular premolar with dens evaginatus that underwent a regenerative endodontic procedure (REP) is presented here. After four years following REP, the tooth was extracted for orthodontic purposes thereby presenting an opportunity to report the histologic findings.

    SUMMARY: The radiographic changes included a slight root lengthening and thickening and apex closure. Histologic evaluation revealed a fibrous connective tissue with an inflammatory infiltrate in the canal space. In the apical region, cementum-like irregular mineralization developed toward the center, giving the appearance of a closed apex. Root thickening, increase in length, and radiographic closure of the apex occurred due to cemental hyperplasia.

    CONCLUSION: After 4 years following REP in an immature mandibular premolar with apical periodontitis, granulation tissue had formed in the root canal, indicating repair and not regeneration.

  4. Mukhtar Gunam Resul MF, Rehman A, Saleem F, Usman M, López Fernández AM, Eze VC, et al.
    RSC Adv, 2023 Nov 07;13(47):32940-32971.
    PMID: 38025849 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra04870e
    Epoxides derived from waste biomass are a promising avenue for the production of bio-based polymers, including polyamides, polyesters, polyurethanes, and polycarbonates. This review article explores recent efforts to develop both catalytic and non-catalytic processes for the epoxidation of terpene, employing a variety of oxidizing agents and techniques for process intensification. Experimental investigations into the epoxidation of limonene have shown that these methods can be extended to other terpenes. To optimize the epoxidation of bio-based terpene, there is a need to develop continuous processes that address limitations in mass and heat transfer. This review discusses flow chemistry and innovative reactor designs as part of a multi-scale approach aimed at industrial transformation. These methods facilitate continuous processing, improve mixing, and either eliminate or reduce the need for solvents by enhancing heat transfer capabilities. Overall, the objective of this review is to contribute to the development of commercially viable processes for producing bio-based epoxides from waste biomass.
  5. Yahya SH, Al-Lolage FA, Mahat MM, Ramli MZ, Syamsul M, Falina S, et al.
    RSC Adv, 2023 Nov 07;13(47):32918-32926.
    PMID: 38025850 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra05592b
    The increasing levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere may dissolve into the ocean and affect the marine ecosystem. It is crucial to determine the level of dissolved CO2 in the ocean to enable suitable mitigation actions to be carried out. The conventional electrode materials are expensive and susceptible to chloride ion attack. Therefore, there is a need to find suitable alternative materials. This novel study investigates the electrochemical behaviour of dissolved CO2 on roughened molybdenum (Mo) microdisk electrodes, which were mechanically polished using silicon carbide paper. Pits and dents can be seen on the electrode surface as observed using scanning electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction spectra confirm the absence of abrasive materials and the presence of defects on the electrode surface. The electrochemical surface for the roughened electrodes is higher than that for the smoothened electrodes. Our findings show that the roughened electrodes exhibit a significantly higher electrocatalytic activity than the smoothened electrodes for the reduction of dissolved CO2. Our results reveal a linear relationship between the current and square root of scan rate. Furthermore, we demonstrate that saturating the electrolyte solution with CO2 using a bubbling time of just 20 minutes at a flow rate of 5 L min-1 for a 50 mL solution is sufficient. This study provides new insights into the electrochemical behaviour of dissolved CO2 on roughened Mo microdisk electrodes and highlights their potential as a promising material for CO2 reduction and other electrochemical applications. Ultimately, our work contributes to the ongoing efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change and move towards a sustainable future.
  6. Ali I, Ahmad M, Ridha S, Iferobia CC, Lashari N
    RSC Adv, 2023 Nov 07;13(47):32904-32917.
    PMID: 38025871 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra06008j
    In the context of deep well drilling, the addition of functionalized additives into mud systems becomes imperative due to the adverse impact of elevated borehole temperatures and salts on conventional additives, causing them to compromise their intrinsic functionalities. Numerous biomaterials have undergone modifications and have been evaluated in drilling muds. However, the addition of dually modified tapioca starch in bentonite-free mud systems remains a notable gap within the existing literature. This study aims to examine the performance of dually modified carboxymethyl irradiated tapioca starch (CMITS) under high temperature and salt-containing conditions employing central composite design approach; the study evaluates the modified starch's impact on mud rheology, thermal stability, and salt resistance. The findings indicated that higher DS (0.66) and CMITS concentrations (8 ppb) improved plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP) and gel strength (GS), while increased salt and temperature decreased it, demonstrating the complex interplay of these factors on mud rheology. The developed empirical models suggested that DS 0.66 starch addition enhanced rheology, especially at elevated temperatures, demonstrating improved borehole cleaning potential, supported by quadratic model performance indicators in line with American Petroleum Institute (API) ranges. The optimized samples showed a non-Newtonian behavior, and Power-law model fitting yields promising results for improved cuttings transportation with starch additives.
  7. Suhaimi SNAA, Zaki IAH, Noordin ZM, Hussin NSM, Ming LC, Zulkifly HH
    Clin Exp Vaccine Res, 2023 Oct;12(4):265-290.
    PMID: 38025914 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2023.12.4.265
    Rare but serious thrombotic incidents in relation to thrombocytopenia, termed vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), have been observed since the vaccine rollout, particularly among replication-defective adenoviral vector-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccine recipients. Herein, we comprehensively reviewed and summarized reported studies of VITT following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination to determine its prevalence, clinical characteristics, as well as its management. A literature search up to October 1, 2021 using PubMed and SCOPUS identified a combined total of 720 articles. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guideline, after screening the titles and abstracts based on the eligibility criteria, the remaining 47 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and 29 studies were included. Findings revealed that VITT cases are strongly related to viral vector-based vaccines, which are the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (95%) and the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (4%), with much rarer reports involving messenger RNA-based vaccines such as the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (0.2%) and the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (0.2%). The most severe manifestation of VITT is cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with 317 cases (70.4%) and the earliest primary symptom in the majority of cases is headache. Intravenous immunoglobulin and non-heparin anticoagulant are the main therapeutic options for managing immune responses and thrombosis, respectively. As there is emerging knowledge on and refinement of the published guidelines regarding VITT, this review may assist the medical communities in early VITT recognition, understanding the clinical presentations, diagnostic criteria as well as its management, offering a window of opportunity to VITT patients. Further larger sample size trials could further elucidate the link and safety profile.
  8. Minhat HS, Sahiran MN
    PMID: 38026573 DOI: 10.51866/oa.312
    INTRODUCTION: Reporting workplace violence (WPV) is a crucial preventive measure. Given the great impact of WPV on mental health and well-being, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of WPV reporting among healthcare workers (HCWs).

    METHOD: A total of 557 public hospital HCWs in Melaka were recruited via probability sampling. A questionnaire guided by the theory of planned behaviour was developed, pre-tested and distributed. Malaysians with a minimum employment period of 12 months who experienced WPV within the same period in the selected public hospitals were eligible for inclusion. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between the independent variables and WPV reporting.

    RESULTS: Psychological violence was the most common WPV (80.3%), with only 177 (31.8%) respondents reporting such. The respondents who had high subjective norm (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=2.160, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.32-3.53) and perceived behavioural control scores (AOR=3.976, 95% CI=2.41-6.55); were clinical (AOR=2.679, 95% CI=1.43-5.02) and non-clinical (AOR=4.271, 95% CI=2.23-8.18) support staff; experienced physical WPV (AOR=13.157, 95% CI=3.83-45.24) and both physical and psychological WPV (AOR=2.029, 95% CI= 1.13-3.65); and perceived that WPV was intentional (AOR=11.111, 95% CI=6.50-19.00) were more likely to report WPV.

    CONCLUSION: HCWs who experience physical WPV have the highest likelihood to report, followed by those who perceive WPV as intentional. The prevalence of reported WPV among public hospital HCWs is low, potentially underestimating its true occurrence owing to underreporting. Ensuring readily available reporting mechanisms for WPV, especially the psychological type, is crucial for HCWs.

  9. Heidarzadeh A, Hedayati B, Sirous S, Huntington MK, Alvandi M, Arabi A, et al.
    PMID: 38026574 DOI: 10.51866/rv.254
    INTRODUCTION: The family physician programme (FPP) was implemented nearly two decades ago as a major health reform. Since the health system and FPP function in a rapidly changing social and economic environment, successful expansion of the programme requires a detailed analysis of its multiple major challenges, including the crucial aspect of its funding system. This systematic review aimed to assess the challenges in the FPP relative to its financing.

    METHOD: All published articles related to the FPP in Iran were included in this study. In particular, original qualitative studies published in English or Persian from 2011 to 2021 were included. In January 2022, international credible scholarly databases and Persian databases were searched. All selected articles were carefully studied, and the data were extracted using the sample, phenomenon of interest, design, evaluation and research type technique. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses were used in preparing the study report.

    RESULTS: Among 491 articles retrieved from the search strategy, 50 met the inclusion criteria after their titles and abstracts were screened. Twenty-nine studies were excluded after their full texts were reviewed. A total of 11 eligible empirical studies were finally included. Based on the results, six broad categories (budget and funding, insurance system, tariffs, payments, accountability and injustice) were identified as financial challenges.

    CONCLUSION: This study identified the challenges associated with financing among family physicians, and the results could provide guidance for policy-making in the expansion of the FPP.

  10. Tabrizi JS, As'habi A, Nazari M, Ebrahimi Tavani M, Haghi M, Gharibi F
    PMID: 38026575 DOI: 10.51866/rv.274
    INTRODUCTION: Evidence on the impacts of accreditation on primary health care (PHC) services is inconsistent. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impacts of accreditation on the performance of PHC centres.

    METHOD: This study systematically reviewed articles published from 2000 to 2019 in the Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Springer, PubMed and ProQuest. The following keywords were used: ((primary care OR primary health care) AND (accreditation) AND (impact OR effect OR output OR outcome OR influence OR result OR consequences)). The database search yielded a total of41256 articles, among which 30 articles were finally included in the review.

    RESULTS: Accreditation showed the most positive impacts on the quality, effectiveness, human resource management and strategic management of PHC services. Accreditation also positively affected safety, responsiveness, accessibility, customer satisfaction, documentation, leadership, efficiency and continuity of care. Few negative impacts were noted, including the possibility of accreditation being used as a bureaucratic tool, high cost of acquiring accreditation, difficulties in understanding the accreditation process, high staff turnover rate in accredited PHC centres and weak sustainability of some accreditation programmes.

    CONCLUSION: Given its numerous positive impacts, accreditation could be used to effectively improve the performance of PHC centres.

  11. Ab Rahman Z, Isa B, Shahibi MS, Mansor MI
    PMID: 38026576 DOI: 10.51866/oa.448
    INTRODUCTION: A healthy lifestyle is pivotal for improving mental health. As the concept of a healthy lifestyle is comprehensive, there is a need to prioritise components related to mental health in planning proper mental health interventions. In this regard, physical activity, diet, sleep quality, substance abuse and social support have been identified to enhance mental health. It is necessary to develop a valid scale for assessing healthy lifestyles related to mental health. Thus, this study aimed to adapt and validate an existing scale to evaluate healthy lifestyles related to mental health.

    METHOD: This study included 177 (men: n=73, women: n=104) participants from University Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam, Selangor. The data were presented using descriptive statistics and subjected to an exploratory factor analysis.

    RESULTS: The 22 scale items evaluated were valid and reliable in assessing the five components of healthy lifestyles related to mental health. The total variance explained for measuring the construct was 68.610%. The Cronbachs alpha value for the five components ranged from 0.784 to 0.903.

    CONCLUSION: The adapted scale is acceptable and reliable in evaluating healthy lifestyles related to mental health within the target population. Thus, it can be used to assess significant components of healthy lifestyles to promote mental health. Accordingly, relevant authorities can formulate the best strategies to enhance mental health.

  12. Farhani S, Hayaatul Najaa M, Hu SE
    PMID: 38026578 DOI: 10.51866/tyk.298
    In this clinical challenge, we describe the case of a previously healthy 8-year-old girl who presented to a primary care clinic with fever, reduced oral intake and malaise on day 3 of her illness. Clinical examination revealed that she was tachypnoeic and tachycardic. An erythematous rash was found across the bridge of her nose and cheeks, and several painless ulcers were noted in the oral cavity. Blood investigation showed thrombocytopenia, while urinalysis revealed microscopic haematuria and proteinuria. Useful initial diagnostic imaging studies were discussed, including bedside ultrasound in the ambulatory care setting. It is imperative that primary care providers be vigilant when encountering cases like this.
  13. Shaikh A, Ahmad F, Teoh SL, Kumar J, Yahaya MF
    Front Cell Neurosci, 2023;17:1292858.
    PMID: 38026688 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1292858
    Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the pathologic deposition of amyloid and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, leading to neuronal damage and defective synapses. These changes manifest as abnormalities in cognition and behavior. The functional deficits are also attributed to abnormalities in multiple neurotransmitter systems contributing to neuronal dysfunction. One such important system is the dopaminergic system. It plays a crucial role in modulating movement, cognition, and behavior while connecting various brain areas and influencing other neurotransmitter systems, making it relevant in neurodegenerative disorders like AD and Parkinson's disease (PD). Considering its significance, the dopaminergic system has emerged as a promising target for alleviating movement and cognitive deficits in PD and AD, respectively. Extensive research has been conducted on dopaminergic neurons, receptors, and dopamine levels as critical factors in cognition and memory in AD. However, the exact nature of movement abnormalities and other features of extrapyramidal symptoms are not fully understood yet in AD. Recently, a previously overlooked element of the dopaminergic system, the dopamine transporter, has shown significant promise as a more effective target for enhancing cognition while addressing dopaminergic system dysfunction in AD.
  14. Alkhudir D, Al-Herz A, Saleh K, Alawadhi A, Al-Kandari W, Hasan E, et al.
    Open Access Rheumatol, 2023;15:223-230.
    PMID: 38026718 DOI: 10.2147/OARRR.S418814
    BACKGROUND: An association between serum uric acid (UA) and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients has not been well studied. We describe RA patients with high and normal UA and study its association with RA activity.

    METHODS: Adult RA patients from the Kuwait Registry for Rheumatic Diseases (KRRD) were studied from February 2012 through March 2022. Patients with documented UA levels were included. UA of >357 µmol/L (6mg/dL) was considered high. Statistical comparison and correlation were made using multivariate logistic regression.

    RESULTS: Overall, 1054 patients with documented UA. A total of 158 patients (15%) had high UA level with a mean of 409± 44.4µmol/L. The mean age for the high UA group and low UA group were 59.3 ± 10.7 years and 54.5 ± 12.4 years, respectively (p<0.001). 49.4% were female in high UA group, and 62.2% were female in low UA group, respectively (p<0.05). Logistic analysis showed an inverse relation between DAS28 and UA, as lower DAS28 score was associated with higher UA level (p=0.032) OR 1.39. There was a direct relation with HAQ, creatinine and UA. A higher HAQ is associated with a higher UA level (p=0.019) OR 0.78. High creatinine level is also associated with high UA level (p<0.001) OR 0.24. The use of antirheumatic drugs was similar among patients with high and normal UA.

    CONCLUSION: RA patients with a higher UA had a lower disease activity despite using similar antirheumatic drugs. The reasons behind this association need to be further studied.

  15. Poo YS, Chai SC, Goh PI, Kadar M, Razaob Razab NA
    Hong Kong J Occup Ther, 2023 Dec;36(2):84-91.
    PMID: 38027054 DOI: 10.1177/15691861231179012
    INTRODUCTION: Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring hand dexterity among individuals with or without medical conditions. In the Southeast Asia region where Malay is widely spoken, there is a need to have a Malay translation of Purdue Pegboard Test. This study aimed to translate the PPT into the Malay version (PPT-M) and to determine the content validity and test-retest reliability of this translated version.

    METHODS: This study involved: (1) four English teachers (translators) for forward and backward translation procedures; (2) 10 experts in the field of occupational therapy (expert reviewers) for content validity testing; and (3) 60 undergraduate students (participants) for test-retest reliability testing.

    RESULTS: PPT-M had excellent content validity with Item-Content Validity Index = 0.9-1.0, Scale-Content Validity Index/Average = 0.93-0.95, and a slightly lower Scale-Content Validity Index/Universal Agreement = 0.25-0.75. Test-retest reliability for 3-trial administration (n = 30; Intraclass Correlation Coefficients, ICCs = 0.76-0.85; good) was higher compared to 1-trial administration (n = 30; ICCs = 0.34-0.46; poor) for all subtests. Both trial administrations were mostly affected by systematic errors, especially practice effect as the retests gave higher scores. Random errors mostly affected Subtest 3 of 1-trial administration, evident by its Minimal Detectable Change Percent values = 30.84% that fell beyond the acceptable range.

    CONCLUSION: PPT-M has the potential to be a valuable instrument for measuring hand dexterity among Malay speaking individuals especially when the 3-trial administration is used.

  16. EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP), Lambré C, Barat Baviera JM, Bolognesi C, Chesson A, Cocconcelli PS, et al.
    EFSA J, 2023 Nov;21(11):e08404.
    PMID: 38027438 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8404
    The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Intco Malaysia (EU register number RECYC309), which uses the VACUNITE (EREMA basic and Polymetrix SSP V-leaN) technology. The input consists of hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications. The flakes are pre-decontaminated in the ■■■■■ at ■■■■■ under ■■■■■ (step 2), then extruded and pelletised. The ■■■■■ pellets are then ■■■■■ and submitted to solid-state polycondensation (SSP) at ■■■■■ under ■■■■■ and ■■■■■. Having examined the challenge tests provided, the Panel concluded that the step 2 (flake reactor) and steps 4 and 5 (preheating and SSP) are critical for determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance are temperature, pressure and residence time for steps 2, 4 and 5 as well as the ■■■■■ for steps 4 and 5. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long-term storage at room temperature or below, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.
  17. Isah M, Doroody C, Rahman KS, Harif MN, Kiong TS, Zuhdi AWM
    Heliyon, 2023 Nov;9(11):e21536.
    PMID: 38027560 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21536
    The study used magnetron sputtering to investigate the growth of cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin films on surface treated n-type silicon (n-Si) substrates. The n-Si substrates were textured using potassium hydroxide (KOH) before the sputter deposition of CdTe. This was followed by cadmium chloride treatment to reduce the strain at the interface of CdTe and Si, which is caused by the incompatible lattice and thermal expansion mismatch (CTE). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the lowest FWHM and dislocation densities were obtained for CdCl2/CdTe/txt-nSi, which aligns with the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results. In the SEM images, the interface bonding between the CdTe and Si surfaces was visible in the cross-sections, and the top-view images revealed sputtered CdTe thin films conforming to the patterns of pyramidal textured Si as an engineered surface to capture more light to maximize absorption in the CdTe/Si tandem design. The Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) results showed that all the CdTe deposited on textured n-Si exhibited more Te atoms than Cd atoms, irrespective of the CdCl2 treatment. The presented results suggest that the texturization and CdCl2 treatment improved the morphology and grain boundary passivation of the sputtered CdTe. The adhesiveness of CdTe on the n-Si substrate was also significantly enhanced. Our findings further demonstrate that proper surface treatment of the Si substrate can greatly improve the quality of CdTe grown on Si by reducing the strain that occurs during the growth process. This study demonstrates a valuable method for enhancing the integration of CdTe with Si for two-junction tandem solar cell applications.
  18. Purwanti IF, Abdullah SRS, Hamzah A, Idris M, Basri H, Latif MT, et al.
    Heliyon, 2023 Nov;9(11):e21737.
    PMID: 38027659 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21737
    Phytoremediation is one of the green technologies that is friendly to nature, utilizes fewer chemicals, and exhibits good performance. In this study, phytoremediation was used to treat diesel-contaminated sand using a local aquatic plant species, Scirpus mucronatus, by analyzing the amount of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs). Optimization of diesel removal was performed according to Response Surface Methodology (RSM) using Box-Behnken Design (BBD) under pilot-scale conditions. The quadratic model showed the best fit to describe the obtained data. Actual vs. predicted values from BBD showed a total of 9.1 % error for the concentration of TPH in sand and 0 % error for the concentration of TPH in plants. Maximum TPH removal of 42.3 ± 2.1 % was obtained under optimized conditions at a diesel initial concentration of 50 mg/kg, an aeration rate of 0.48 L/min, and a retention time of 72 days. The addition of two species of rhizobacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis) at optimum conditions increased the TPH removal to 51.9 ± 2.6 %. The obtained model and optimum condition can be adopted to treat diesel-contaminated sand within the same TPH range (50-3000 mg/kg) in sand.
  19. Boyle C, Barrell C, Allen KA, She L
    Heliyon, 2023 Nov;9(11):e22328.
    PMID: 38027665 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22328
    The practice of inclusive education in schools has led to changes in policy and pedagogy, hence teacher acceptance and attitude are important components of its success. The aim of this study is to identify the differences in attitudes of primary and secondary pre-service teachers on inclusion and the potential relationship between demographic variables such as definitions of inclusion, previous experience working in a school, completion of a module on inclusive schools, and other variables. The study included 548 Australian university students studying primary (n = 348) or secondary (n = 193) professional teaching. All participants completed the Teacher Attitudes to Inclusion Scale (TAISA). Principle components analysis was performed to transform the TAISA questionnaire into smaller set of components and two-way between-groups analysis of variance was used to analyse data. Results showed that primary pre-service teachers have more positive attitudes towards inclusion than secondary pre-service teachers. Primary pre-service teachers were also more responsive to training on inclusive education. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
  20. Ahmad NI, Kar YB, Doroody C, Kiong TS, Rahman KS, Harif MN, et al.
    Heliyon, 2023 Nov;9(11):e21622.
    PMID: 38027707 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21622
    Recent advancements in CdTe solar cell technology have introduced the integration of flexible substrates, providing lightweight and adaptable energy solutions for various applications. Some of the notable applications of flexible solar photovoltaic technology include building integrated photovoltaic systems (BIPV), transportation, aerospace, satellites, etc. However, despite this advancement, certain issues regarding metal and p-CdTe remained unresolved. Besides, the fabrication of a full-working device on flexible glass is challenging and requires special consideration due to the unstable morphology and structural properties of deposited film on ultra-thin glass substrates. The existing gap in knowledge about the vast potential of flexible CdTe solar cells on UTG substrates and their possible applications blocks their full capacity utilization. Hence, this comprehensive review paper exclusively concentrates on the obstacles associated with the implementation of CdTe solar cells on UTG substrates with a potential back surface field (BSF) layer. The significance of this study lies in its meticulous identification and analysis of the substantial challenges associated with integrating flexible CdTe onto UTG substrates and leveraging Cu-doped ZnTe as a potential BSF layer to enhance the performance of flexible CdTe solar cells.
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