Browse publications by year: 2023

  1. Basir A, Muhamad N, Sulong AB, Amin MBM, Jamadon NH, Radzuan NAM
    Materials (Basel), 2023 Sep 24;16(19).
    PMID: 37834512 DOI: 10.3390/ma16196375
    The micro-scale joining of two different materials using two-component micro-powder injection molding (2C-µPIM) is an intriguing technique. The formation of defects in bi-materials at different processing stages makes this technique challenging. This study presents the fabrication of defect-free bi-material micro-parts containing hydroxyapatite (HA) and 3 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia (3YSZ) via 2C-µPIM. Critical powder volume concentrations (CPVCs) of 61.7 vol% and 47.1 vol% were obtained for the HA and 3YSZ powders, respectively. Based on the CPVCs, the optimal loadings for the HA and 3YSZ powders were selected as 60 vol% and 45 vol%, respectively. The HA and 3YSZ feedstocks were prepared by separately mixing the optimal powder contents with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and palm stearin binders. The feedstocks displayed pseudoplastic behavior, and the lowest ranges of viscosity for the HA and 3YSZ at a temperature of 180 °C were 157.1-1392.5 Pa·s and 726.2-985.5 Pa·s, respectively. The feedstocks were injected to produce green HA/3YSZ micro-sized components. It was found that a solvent debinding temperature of 70 °C removed 60.6% of the palm stearin binder from the sample. In the thermal debinding stage, the open channels that formed in the bi-material sample's solvent debound at 70 °C and contributed to the removal of 93 to 95% of the binder system. When the debound bi-materials were sintered at 1300 °C, the highest relative density of 96.3% was obtained. The sintering operation revealed a linear shrinkage between 13 and 17% in the sintered HA/3YSZ micro-parts.
  2. Islam MA, Alam SS, Kundu S, Ahmed S, Sultana S, Patar A, et al.
    J Clin Med, 2023 Sep 30;12(19).
    PMID: 37834955 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12196311
    The assurance of safety and effectiveness is a significant focal point in all therapeutic approaches. Although mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been identified as a potential novel therapeutic strategy for multiple sclerosis (MS), existing evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of this strategy remains inconclusive. Thus, the primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) was to comprehensively assess the effectiveness and safety of MSC therapy in individuals diagnosed with MS. A comprehensive search was conducted using appropriate keywords in the PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases to determine the eligible studies. The change in the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score from baseline to follow-up was used to assess MSC efficacy. The effectiveness of the therapy was assessed using a random-effects model, which calculated the combined prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for MS patients who experienced improvement, stability, or worsening of their condition. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020209671). The findings indicate that 40.4% (95% CI: 30.6-50.2) of MS patients exhibited improvements following MSC therapy, 32.8% (95% CI: 25.5-40.1) remained stable, and 18.1% (95% CI: 12.0-24.2) experienced a worsening of their condition. Although no major complications were observed, headaches 57.6 [37.9-77.3] and fever 53.1 [20.7-85.4] were commonly reported as minor adverse events. All of the results reported in this meta-analysis are consistent and credible according to the sensitivity analyses. Regardless of different individual studies, our meta-analysis provides a comprehensive overview showing the potential of MSC therapy as a possible effective treatment strategy for patients with MS.
  3. Naomi R, Teoh SH, Embong H, Balan SS, Othman F, Mamat-Hamidi K, et al.
    Foods, 2023 Sep 26;12(19).
    PMID: 37835227 DOI: 10.3390/foods12193575
    Maternal obesity, characterized by an elevated body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy, is known to have adverse effects on the offspring. However, a recent study suggests that Elateriospermum tapos (E. tapos) yogurt may hold potential in mitigating excessive weight retention post-pregnancy. Thus, this study aims to employ network pharmacology to explore the pharmacological effects of the bioactive compounds present in E. tapos yogurt against maternal obesity. Initially, a screening process is conducted to identify the bioactive compounds in E. tapos yogurt, followed by the prediction of potential gene targets for these compounds using Swiss Target Prediction and the SuperPred databases. Maternal obesity-associated genes are sourced from the OMIM, DisGeNet, and GeneCards databases. The interaction between the identified compounds and maternal obesity genes is established via protein-protein interaction analysis, gene ontology examination, and KEGG pathway analysis. To validate the results, molecular docking studies are conducted using AutoDock Tools software. The findings reveal that out of the 64 compounds analyzed, three meet the screening criteria, resulting in a total of 380 potential gene targets. Among these targets, 240 are shared with maternal obesity-related genes. Further analysis demonstrates the favorable affinity of these active compounds with key targets, linking them to biological processes involving protein phosphorylation, inflammation, as well as the pathways related to lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis, and the other signaling pathways. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the potential pharmacological effects of the bioactive compounds found in E. tapos yogurt against maternal obesity. These findings open avenues for further exploration and potential therapeutic interventions targeting maternal obesity.
  4. Zou X, Wei Y, Zhu J, Sun J, Shao X
    Foods, 2023 Sep 28;12(19).
    PMID: 37835272 DOI: 10.3390/foods12193619
    This study aims to evaluate the antifungal effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by a marine biocontrol yeast, Scheffersomyces spartinae W9. The results showed that the VOCs from the yeast inhibited the growth of Botrytis cinerea mycelium and spore germination by 77.8% and 58.3%, respectively. Additionally, it reduced the disease incidence and lesion diameter of gray mold on the strawberry fruit surface by 20.7% and 67.4%, respectively. Electronic micrographs showed that VOCs caused damage to the morphology and ultrastructure of the hyphae. Based on headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS), S. spartinae W9 emitted 18 main VOCs, and the pure substance of VOCs, such as 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 2-phenylethanol, and isoamyl acetate, showed antifungal effects against B. cinerea mycelium growth. Among them, 2-phenylethanol exhibited the strongest antifungal activity. It has been concluded that VOCs are the key antifungal mechanism of S. spartinae W9, and a promising strategy for controlling gray mold on strawberry fruit.
  5. Huqh MZU, Abdullah JY, Al-Rawas M, Husein A, Ahmad WMAW, Jamayet NB, et al.
    Diagnostics (Basel), 2023 Sep 22;13(19).
    PMID: 37835768 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13193025
    INTRODUCTION: Cleft lip and palate (CLP) are the most common congenital craniofacial deformities that can cause a variety of dental abnormalities in children. The purpose of this study was to predict the maxillary arch growth and to develop a neural network logistic regression model for both UCLP and non-UCLP individuals.

    METHODS: This study utilizes a novel method incorporating many approaches, such as the bootstrap method, a multi-layer feed-forward neural network, and ordinal logistic regression. A dataset was created based on the following factors: socio-demographic characteristics such as age and gender, as well as cleft type and category of malocclusion associated with the cleft. Training data were used to create a model, whereas testing data were used to validate it. The study is separated into two phases: phase one involves the use of a multilayer neural network and phase two involves the use of an ordinal logistic regression model to analyze the underlying association between cleft and the factors chosen.

    RESULTS: The findings of the hybrid technique using ordinal logistic regression are discussed, where category acts as both a dependent variable and as the study's output. The ordinal logistic regression was used to classify the dependent variables into three categories. The suggested technique performs exceptionally well, as evidenced by a Predicted Mean Square Error (PMSE) of 2.03%.

    CONCLUSION: The outcome of the study suggests that there is a strong association between gender, age, and cleft. The difference in width and length of the maxillary arch in UCLP is mainly related to the severity of the cleft and facial growth pattern.

  6. Liu H, Ding Z, Fan Y, Luo Y, Yang Y
    Polymers (Basel), 2023 Sep 26;15(19).
    PMID: 37835940 DOI: 10.3390/polym15193892
    The bonding properties of BFRP composites have been demonstrated in previous studies, satisfying the strength and durability criteria. In this paper, a further in-depth study is carried out to bond Basalt Fibre Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) to Aluminum Alloy 5052 using two bonding agents, Aralite® 2012 and Aralite® 2015, respectively. The salt sprays under 80 °C, 3.5% NaCl environment; 80 °C, 5% NaCl environment; and pure water environment are also considered for comparison. Experimental results show that joints created with Araldite® 2012 adhesives show higher average breaking strength (10.66 MPa at 720 h) and better ductility in a 5% NaCl environment. While the Araldite® 2015 adhesive joint exhibits a combination of tear failure and interface failure, along with thin-layer cohesion failure. In the SEM images of the two adhesive joints' failure, fiber pullout due to tension and damage at the interface between fiber and resin is apparent. To validate the experimental outcomes, water absorption testing, DSC, TGA-DTG, and FTIR experiments were conducted on dog-bone-shaped adhesive specimens to elucidate the results.
  7. Tan YY, Wong LS, Nyam KL, Wittayanarakul K, Zawawi NA, Rajendran K, et al.
    Molecules, 2023 Sep 22;28(19).
    PMID: 37836592 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28196749
    Zinc oxide nanoparticles have high levels of biocompatibility, a low impact on environmental contamination, and suitable to be used as an ingredient for environmentally friendly skincare products. In this study, biogenically synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles using Dendrobium anosum are used as a reducing and capping agent for topical anti-acne nanogels, and the antimicrobial effect of the nanogel is assessed on Cutibacterium acne and Staphylococcus aureus. Dendrobium anosmum leaf extract was examined for the presence of secondary metabolites and its total amount of phenolic and flavonoid content was determined. Both the biogenically and chemogenic-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles were compared using UV-Visible spectrophotometer, FE-SEM, XRD, and FTIR. To produce the topical nanogel, the biogenic and chemogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles were mixed with a carbomer and hydroxypropyl-methyl cellulose (HPMC) polymer. The mixtures were then tested for physical and chemical characteristics. To assess their anti-acne effectiveness, the mixtures were tested against C. acne and S. aureus. The biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles have particle sizes of 20 nm and a high-phase purity. In comparison to chemogenic nanoparticles, the hydrogels with biogenically synthesized nanoparticles was more effective against Gram-positive bacteria. Through this study, the hybrid nanogels was proven to be effective against the microbes that cause acne and to be potentially used as a green product against skin infections.
    MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Plant Extracts/pharmacology; Plant Extracts/chemistry; Staphylococcus aureus; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Dendrobium*
  8. Uwamahoro R, Sundaraj K, Feroz FS
    Sensors (Basel), 2023 Sep 29;23(19).
    PMID: 37836995 DOI: 10.3390/s23198165
    Neuromuscular electrical stimulation plays a pivotal role in rehabilitating muscle function among individuals with neurological impairment. However, there remains uncertainty regarding whether the muscle's response to electrical excitation is affected by forearm posture, joint angle, or a combination of both factors. This study aimed to investigate the effects of forearm postures and elbow joint angles on the muscle torque and MMG signals. Measurements of the torque around the elbow and MMG of the biceps brachii (BB) muscle were conducted in 36 healthy subjects (age, 22.24 ± 2.94 years; height, 172 ± 0.5 cm; and weight, 67.01 ± 7.22 kg) using an in-house elbow flexion testbed and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of the BB muscle. The BB muscle was stimulated while the forearm was positioned in the neutral, pronation, or supination positions. The elbow was flexed at angles of 10°, 30°, 60°, and 90°. The study analyzed the impact of the forearm posture(s) and elbow joint angle(s) on the root-mean-square value of the torque (TQRMS). Subsequently, various MMG parameters, such as the root-mean-square value (MMGRMS), the mean power frequency (MMGMPF), and the median frequency (MMGMDF), were analyzed along the longitudinal, lateral, and transverse axes of the BB muscle fibers. The test-retest interclass correlation coefficient (ICC21) for the torque and MMG ranged from 0.522 to 0.828. Repeated-measure ANOVAs showed that the forearm posture and elbow flexion angle significantly influenced the TQRMS (p < 0.05). Similarly, the MMGRMS, MMGMPF, and MMGMDF showed significant differences among all the postures and angles (p < 0.05). However, the combined main effect of the forearm posture and elbow joint angle was insignificant along the longitudinal axis (p > 0.05). The study also found that the MMGRMS and TQRMS increased with increases in the joint angle from 10° to 60° and decreased at greater angles. However, during this investigation, the MMGMPF and MMGMDF exhibited a consistent decrease in response to increases in the joint angle for the lateral and transverse axes of the BB muscle. These findings suggest that the muscle contraction evoked by NMES may be influenced by the interplay between actin and myosin filaments, which are responsible for muscle contraction and are, in turn, influenced by the muscle length. Because restoring the function of limbs is a common goal in rehabilitation services, the use of MMG in the development of methods that may enable the real-time tracking of exact muscle dimensional changes and activation levels is imperative.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Electric Stimulation; Electromyography/methods; Forearm/physiology; Humans; Posture/physiology; Muscle, Skeletal/physiology; Torque; Young Adult
  9. Rihan SDA, Anbar M, Alabsi BA
    Sensors (Basel), 2023 Sep 30;23(19).
    PMID: 37837020 DOI: 10.3390/s23198191
    The significant surge in Internet of Things (IoT) devices presents substantial challenges to network security. Hackers are afforded a larger attack surface to exploit as more devices become interconnected. Furthermore, the sheer volume of data these devices generate can overwhelm conventional security systems, compromising their detection capabilities. To address these challenges posed by the increasing number of interconnected IoT devices and the data overload they generate, this paper presents an approach based on meta-learning principles to identify attacks within IoT networks. The proposed approach constructs a meta-learner model by stacking the predictions of three Deep-Learning (DL) models: RNN, LSTM, and CNN. Subsequently, the identification by the meta-learner relies on various methods, namely Logistic Regression (LR), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). To assess the effectiveness of this approach, extensive evaluations are conducted using the IoT dataset from 2020. The XGBoost model showcased outstanding performance, achieving the highest accuracy (98.75%), precision (98.30%), F1-measure (98.53%), and AUC-ROC (98.75%). On the other hand, the SVM model exhibited the highest recall (98.90%), representing a slight improvement of 0.14% over the performance achieved by XGBoost.
  10. Hao Y, Tai VC, Tan YC
    Sensors (Basel), 2023 Oct 03;23(19).
    PMID: 37837069 DOI: 10.3390/s23198240
    This research aimed to optimize the camera calibration process by identifying the optimal distance and angle for capturing checkered board images, with a specific focus on understanding the factors that influence the reprojection error (ϵRP). The objective was to improve calibration efficiency by exploring the impacts of distance and orientation factors and the feasibility of independently manipulating these factors. The study employed Zhang's camera calibration method, along with the 2k full-factorial analysis method and the Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) method, to identify the optimal calibration parameters. Three calibration methods were devised: calibration with distance factors (D, H, V), orientation factors (R, P, Y), and the combined two influential factors from both sets of factors. The calibration study was carried out with three different stereo cameras. The results indicate that D is the most influential factor, while H and V are nearly equally influential for method A; P and R are the two most influential orientation factors for method B. Compared to Zhang's method alone, on average, methods A, B, and C reduce ϵRP by 25%, 24%, and 34%, respectively. However, method C requires about 10% more calibration images than methods A and B combined. For applications where lower value of ϵRP is required, method C is recommended. This study provides valuable insights into the factors affecting ϵRP in calibration processes. The proposed methods can be used to improve the calibration accuracy for stereo cameras for the applications in object detection and ranging. The findings expand our understanding of camera calibration, particularly the influence of distance and orientation factors, making significant contributions to camera calibration procedures.
  11. Gayatri RW, Alma LR, Ashar M, Mohd Nor NA
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2023 Nov;35(8):552-554.
    PMID: 37837292 DOI: 10.1177/10105395231204987
    MeSH terms: DMF Index; Humans; Oral Health; Oral Hygiene; Self-Examination; Mobile Applications*
  12. Pal P, Hasan SW, Abu Haija M, Sillanpää M, Banat F
    Crit Rev Biotechnol, 2023 Dec;43(7):971-981.
    PMID: 35968911 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2022.2092716
    Colloidal gas aphrons (CGAs) are highly stable, spherical, micrometer-sized bubbles encapsulated by surfactant multilayers. They have several intriguing properties, including: high stability, large interfacial area, and the ability to maintain the same charge as their parent molecules. The physical properties of CGAs make them ideal for biotechnological applications such as the recovery of a variety of: biomolecules, particularly proteins, yeast, enzymes, and microalgae. In this review, the bio-application of CGAs for the recovery of natural components is presented, as well as: experimental results, technical challenges, and critical research directions for the future. Experimental results from the literature showed that the recovery of biomolecules was mainly determined by electrostatic or hydrophobic interactions between polyphenols and proteins (lysozyme, β-casein, β-lactoglobulin, etc.), yeast, biological molecules (gallic acid and norbixin), and microalgae with CGAs. Knowledge transfer is essential for commercializing CGA-based bio-product recovery, which will be recognized as a viable technology in the future.
    MeSH terms: Biotechnology; Nucleotidyltransferases; Proteins; Saccharomyces cerevisiae*; Surface-Active Agents/chemistry; Microbubbles*
  13. Nugraha AP, Ardani IGAW, Sitalaksmi RM, Ramadhani NF, Rachmayanti D, Kumala D, et al.
    Eur J Dent, 2023 Jul;17(3):649-662.
    PMID: 36075265 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1750803
    OBJECTIVE:  This study was aimed to investigate RGCBE extract as antioxidant and anti-peri-implantitis bacteria through in vitro study and its potential as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antibone resorption, and proosteogenic through in silico study.

    MATERIALS: AND METHODS:  Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity prediction, molecular docking simulation, and visualization of chlorogenic acid (CGA) and coumaric acid (CA) as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial were investigated in silico. Inhibition zone by diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of RGCBE extract against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), and Prevotella intermedia (Pi) were done.

    STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: the analysis of variance (ANOVA) difference test, and the post-hoc Tukey's Honest Significant Different (HSD) with a different significance value of p<0.05 RESULTS:  GCA and CA compounds are good drug molecules and it has low toxicity. Chlorogenic acid have higher binding activity than coumaric acid to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, nuclear factor (NF)-κB, receptor activation NF-κB (RANK) and its ligand (RANKL), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, runt related transcription factor (RUNX2), receptor activator nuclear Kappa beta Ligand-osteoprotegrin osteocalcin (RANKL-OPG), osteocalcin, nuclear factor associated T-cell 1 (NFATc1), tartate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), peptidoglycan, flagellin, dectin, Hsp70, and Hsp10 protein. RGCB ethanol extract has high antioxidant ability and it has MIC, MBC, and inhibit the growth of Aa, Pg, Fn, and Pi at 50% concentration with significantly different (p=0.0001 and<0.05).

    CONCLUSION:  RGCB ethanol extract has high antioxidant ability and 50% RGCB ethanol extract may act as strong anti-peri-implantitis bacteria in vitro. In addition, CGA in RGCB potential as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antibone resorption, and proosteogenic in silico.

  14. Subramaniam PK, Al-Ahmad BEM, Mustafa NS, Izhan NAM, Shukor NFIA
    Eur J Dent, 2023 Jul;17(3):895-901.
    PMID: 36220122 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1757212
    OBJECTIVES:  Dental anxiety is ultimately related to the fear of pain, more evidently seen in surgical dental procedures. This study aimed at comparing the stress parameter differences between patients undergoing minor oral surgery (MOS) with their eyes covered (closed) versus uncovered (open) at our center.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS:  Twenty-three MOS patients were draped with eyes covered, while another 23 MOS patients were draped with eyes uncovered. Stress parameters such as systolic and diastolic blood pressures (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, random blood glucose, and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)-6 questionnaire score were recorded accordingly in the different intervals; then statistically analyzed later.

    RESULTS:  Closed eyes patients had significantly lower mean DBP and MAP (73.91 ± 6.80/88.94 ± 6.88 mm Hg) as compared with open eyes patients intraoperatively. Though significant only in the postoperative phase, the closed eyes group had a relatively lower mean heart pulse rate than the open eyes group in all surgical intervals. Postoperatively, closed eyes patients had lower mean blood glucose level as compared with open eyes group. STAI mean score revealed a higher psychological stress for closed eyes patients versus open eyes patients.

    CONCLUSION:  Closed eyes patients displayed lower quantifiable physiological stress level as compared with patients undergoing MOS draped with eyes uncovered. However, in qualitative psychological context, closed eyes draped MOS patients responded poorly as compared with opened eyes draped patients under similar surgical stress.

  15. Zubair M, Anwar F, Arshad I, Malik S, Zafar MN
    Comb Chem High Throughput Screen, 2023;26(15):2625-2643.
    PMID: 37183472 DOI: 10.2174/1386207326666230512144834
    Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a cereal grass, belongs to the genus Oryza from the family Poaceae, which encompasses twenty-five species cultured in many countries of Asia, and partly in the rest of the world. From these species, two viz. Oryza sativa (O. sativa) Asian rice and Oryza glaberrima (O. glaberrima) African rice are commonly found and the most widely consumed staple food by a large part of the human population in the world, especially in Asia due to their nutritional and nutraceutical prospects. Rice, a popular source of carbohydrates, also contains a good amount of dietary fiber, minerals (Ca, Zn, Se, P, K, Mg, Fe, and Mn), protein and vitamin B along with several other medicinally important bioactives such as tocols (α-tocopherols and α-tocotrienols) (ßsitosterol) phenolic acids, flavonoids (apiginine), and oryzanol (24-Methylenecylcoartanyl transferulate). Rice bran is a byproduct of the rice polishing industry and is valuable in terms of containing 15-20% high-value oil. Because of the natural antioxidants present in rice, several medicinal benefits and biological properties can be attributed to rice consumption. The nutrient profile of rice varies based on several factors, such as grains (white, brown, red, and black/purple), the extent of polishing, and the preparation method. Considering the importance of rice as a traditional diet rich in high-value bioactives, together with the existing gap of related information, it is worthwhile to assemble a comprehensive review that focuses on the detailed profile of valuable nutrients and high-value phytochemicals and biological activities of rice to explore its functional food and nutraceutical applications. This review attempts to provide collective information on the essential rice cereal for its nutritional and antioxidant potential.
  16. Scharff H, Soon HY, Rwabwehare Taremwa S, Zegers D, Dick B, Villas Bôas Zanon T, et al.
    Waste Manag Res, 2023 Oct 12.
    PMID: 37823371 DOI: 10.1177/0734242X231200742
    This article reports on how management approaches influence methane emissions from landfills. The project team created various landfill operational scenarios for different regions of the planet with respect to waste composition, organic waste reduction and landfill gas recovery timing. These scenarios were modelled by applying a basic gas generation model according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommendations. In general, the IPCC's recommended modelling parameters and default values were used. Based on the modelling undertaken, two options stand out as being the most effective methane mitigation measures in a wide range of conditions throughout the world: (a) early gas recovery and (b) reduction of the amount of biodegradable organic waste accepted in a landfill. It is noted that reduction of organic input to any given landfill can take many years to realize. Moreover, suitable alternative processing or disposal options for the organic waste can be unaffordable for a significant percentage of the planet's population. Although effective, organic waste reduction cannot therefore be the only landfill methane mitigation measure. Early landfill gas recovery can be very effective by applying basic technologies that can be deployed relatively quickly, and at modest cost. Policymakers and regulators from around the globe can significantly reduce adverse environmental impacts from landfill gas emissions by stimulating both the early capture and flaring and/or energy recovery of landfill gas and programmes to reduce the inflow of organic waste into landfills.
  17. Agamuthu P, Babel S
    Waste Manag Res, 2023 Dec;41(12):1699-1716.
    PMID: 37823520 DOI: 10.1177/0734242X231199938
    Solid waste management was explored in Asia's last five decades, and the issues and challenges were identified. Waste generation has increased in all nations in the previous 50 years, although more recently, a declining trend has been observed in Japan and Korea. The composition has been predominantly organic, with 45-50% being kitchen waste. Material extraction and productivity to sustain the most populous part of the globe are explained. Waste management technologies have evolved, with more nations slowly transitioning from landfills to using waste-to-energy options. However, landfilling and open dumps are still the major disposal choice in most developing countries in Asia. Thus, the issues of concern include dumpsites management, the informal sector, waste collection, open burning and food waste. Changes (increasing trends) in the recycling technologies and quantum are evident, as seen in several country reports from India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. There are several issues and challenges for recycling, which are explored in the text. Lastly, the drivers that propel the whole scenario of waste management in Asia and the evolution of these drivers over time are discussed. Several recommendations are included to achieve sustainable waste management in Asia.
    MeSH terms: Food; Indonesia; Malaysia; Refuse Disposal*; Waste Management*; Recycling; Solid Waste/analysis
  18. Siddiqui SA, Tettey E, Yunusa BM, Ngah N, Debrah SK, Yang X, et al.
    Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf, 2023 Nov;22(6):4786-4830.
    PMID: 37823805 DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.13243
    Insect consumption is a traditional practice in many countries. Currently, the urgent need for ensuring food sustainability and the high pressure from degrading environment are urging food scientists to rethink the possibility of introducing edible insects as a promising food type. However, due to the lack of the standardized legislative rules and the adequate scientific data that demonstrate the safety of edible insects, many countries still consider it a grey area to introduce edible insects into food supply chains. In this review, we comprehensively reviewed the legal situation, consumer willingness, acceptance, and the knowledge on edible insect harvesting, processing as well as their safety concerns. We found that, despite the great advantage of introducing edible insects in food supply chains, the legal situation and consumer acceptance for edible insects are still unsatisfactory and vary considerably in different countries, which mostly depend on geographical locations and cultural backgrounds involving psychological, social, religious, and anthropological factors. Besides, the safety concern of edible insect consumption is still a major issue hurdling the promotion of edible insects, which is particularly concerning for countries with no practice in consuming insects. Fortunately, the situation is improving. So far, some commercial insect products like energy bars, burgers, and snack foods have emerged in the market. Furthermore, the European Union has also recently issued a specific item for regulating new foods, which is believed to establish an authorized procedure to promote insect-based foods and should be an important step for marketizing edible insects in the near future.
    MeSH terms: Allergens; Animals; Food*; Humans; Insects; Food Safety
  19. Islam MA, Sathi NJ, Setu SP, Nahar MT, Khan MNA, Hasan M, et al.
    PLoS One, 2023;18(10):e0287407.
    PMID: 37824512 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287407
    The recent outbreak of viral zoonotic disease-monkeypox-caused by the monkeypox virus, has infected many people worldwide. This study aims to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning monkeypox among university students in Bangladesh. Data were collected using purposive snowball sampling from 887 university students through an online survey using Google Form. The participants were mostly in their twenties (M = 22.33 [SD 2.01] years), and they spent, on average, 2.59 [SD 1.91] hours/day on electronic and social media. The participants generally showed moderate knowledge (39.5%), low attitude (25.1%), and moderate practice (48.6%) toward monkeypox, with 47.6% having had a moderate KAP score. Findings further showed that personal attributes of university students, i.e., age, sex, year of schooling, residence, living status, geographical distribution, e.g., division, were statistically and significantly associated with knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding monkeypox and overall KAP score. It is also apparent that health status, susceptibility to monkeypox, and exposure to social media were the most common factors significantly associated with knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding monkeypox and overall KAP score. The current study's findings underscore the need for developing appropriate information, education, and communication (IEC) materials and their dissemination, which could play an important role in reducing the risk of monkeypox and similar other infectious diseases, particularly among students in Bangladesh.
    MeSH terms: Bangladesh/epidemiology; Humans; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Students; Universities; Monkeypox*
  20. AlDahas A, Devecchi V, Deane JA, Falla D
    PLoS One, 2023;18(10):e0292798.
    PMID: 37824590 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292798
    BACKGROUND: People with chronic neck pain (CNP) often present with impaired neck proprioception. The most widely used clinical test for assessing neck proprioception is cervical joint position sense which measures joint position error (JPE). This clinical test is typically performed using a laser pointer to examine the accuracy of returning to a neutral head position (NHP) or target head position (THP) following active neck movements. The aim of this study was to determine the measurement properties of JPE using a laser pointer when tested in people with and without CNP under a variety of different testing conditions (i.e., different movement directions, sitting versus standing, NHP versus THP).

    METHODS: Forty-three participants (23 asymptomatic and 20 with CNP) underwent neck proprioception testing, returning to a NHP and THP in both sitting and standing positions (six trials for each test). A laser pointer was secured on the participant's forehead and inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors were placed beneath the laser pointer and at the level of the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra. Both the absolute and the constant JPE were assessed.

    FINDINGS: For the asymptomatic participants, good reliability (ICC: 0.79) was found only for right rotation of the THP task in sitting. In standing, good reliability (ICC: 0.77) was only found in flexion for the THP task. In standing, good reliability (ICC: 0.77) was only found for right rotation of the THP for the absolute JPE and left rotation (ICC: 0.85) for the constant error of the NHP task. In those with CNP, when tested in sitting, good reliability was found for flexion (ICC: 0.8) for the absolute JPE and good reliability (ICC range: 0.8-0.84) was found for flexion, extension, and right rotation for the constant JPE. In standing, good reliability (ICC range: 0.81-0.88) was found for flexion, and rotation for the absolute JPE. The constant JPE showed good reliability (ICC: 0.85) for right rotation and excellent reliability (ICC: 0.93) for flexion. Validity was weak to strong (r range: 0.26-0.83) and moderate to very strong (r range: 0.47-0.93) for absolute and constant error respectively, when tested in sitting. In standing, the validity was weak to very strong (0.38-0.96) for the absolute JPE and moderate to very strong (r range: 0.54-0.92) for the constant JPE.

    CONCLUSION: The reliability of the measure of JPE when tested in sitting and standing in both groups showed good reliability, but not for all movements. The results of the current study also showed that the laser pointer correlated well with the Noraxon IMUs, but not for all movements. The results of the current study support the use of the JPE using a laser pointer in clinical and research settings.

    MeSH terms: Humans; Neck; Proprioception; Reproducibility of Results; Range of Motion, Articular; Chronic Pain*
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