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Fulltext Electron plasma diagnostics in ELTRAP by electron cyclotron resonance heating method

Khan F, Ikram M, Rashdan M, Elsayed F, Ahmad P, Khandaker MU

PLoS One, 2024;19(4):e0296845.
PMID: 38635742 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296845

Electron cyclotron resonance heating method of Particle-in-Cell code was used to analyze heating phenomena, axial kinetic energy, and self-consistent electric field of confined electron plasma in ELTRAP device by hydrogen and helium background gases. The electromagnetic simulations were performed at a constant power of 3.8 V for different RF drives (0.5 GHz- 8 GHz), as well as for 1 GHz constant frequency at these varying amplitudes (1 V-3.8 V). The impacts of axial and radial temperatures were found maximum at 1.8 V and 5 GHz as compared to other amplitudes and frequencies for both background gases. These effects are higher at varying radio frequencies due to more ionization and secondary electrons production and maximum recorded radial temperature for hydrogen background gas was 170.41 eV. The axial kinetic energy impacts were found more effective in the outer radial part (between 0.03 and 0.04 meters) of the ELTRAP device due to applied VRF through C8 electrode. The self-consistent electric field was found higher for helium background gas at 5 GHz RF than other amplitudes and radio frequencies. The excitation and ionization rates were found to be higher along the radial direction (r-axis) than the axial direction (z-axis) in helium background gas as compared to hydrogen background gas. The current studies are advantageous for nuclear physics applications, beam physics, microelectronics, coherent radiation devices and also in magnetrons.
Factors associated with mosquito control among construction workers: A systematic review

Dapari R, Mohd Fadzil MF, Hanzir MY, Mohamed Jais JS, Safarudin NF, Albar A

PLoS One, 2024;19(5):e0303330.
PMID: 38718075 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303330

INTRODUCTION: Workers in the construction industry frequently work in construction sites with numerous areas that can potentially accumulate water, such as tanks, wet cement surfaces, or water puddles. These water collection sites become ideal breeding grounds for mosquito infestation, which leads to a higher prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases, especially malaria and dengue among construction workers. Despite that numerous factors have been identified in controlling vector-borne diseases, the specific factors that influence mosquito control at construction sites have yet to be explored.
AIMS: This systematic review aims to determine the factors associated with mosquito control among construction workers.
METHODS: Primarily, articles related to factors associated with mosquito control among construction workers were collected from two different online databases (ScienceDirect and EBSCOhost). Two independent reviewers were assigned to screen the titles and abstracts of the collected data, stored in Microsoft Excel, against the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Afterwards, the quality of the included articles was critically assessed using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Of the 171 articles identified, 4 were included in the final review.
RESULTS: Based on the thorough evaluation, mosquito-related knowledge, practical mosquito prevention measures, and Larval Source Management (LSM) were identified as vital factors associated with mosquito control among construction workers. The significant association between mosquito-related knowledge and control practices indicates higher knowledge linked to effective practices, particularly among female workers and those who were recently infected with malaria. Concurrently, there were notable challenges regarding sustainable preventive measures and larval control methods in construction settings.
CONCLUSION: Implementing effective mosquito control, including knowledge and practice on mosquito control together with vector control, is highly required to suppress the expanding mosquito population. It is recommended that employers provide continuous mosquito control education and training to their employees and reward them with incentives, while employees should comply with the guidelines set by their employers to ensure successful mosquito control and reduce the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in the construction industry.
Virulence and proteomic responses of Metarhizium anisopliae against Aedes albopictus larvae

Peng TL, Syazwan SA, Hamdan RH, Najwa NS, Ramli MF, Harshiny N, et al.

Pestic Biochem Physiol, 2024 Aug;203:105982.
PMID: 39084787 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2024.105982

The tropical climate in Malaysia provides an ideal environment for the rapid proliferation of Aedes mosquitoes, notably Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, prominent vectors of dengue fever. Alarmingly, these species are increasingly developing resistance to conventional pesticides. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae isolate HSAH5 spores, specifically on conidia (CO) and blastospores (BL), against Ae. albopictus larvae. The study centered on evaluating their pathogenic effects and the resultant changes in protein expression. Spore suspensions with varying concentrations were prepared for larvicidal bioassays, and protein expressions were analysed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Subsequently, protein annotation and network analysis were conducted to elucidate infection mechanisms and the proteomic response. Based on the lethal concentrations and time frames, CO exhibited faster larval mortality than BL at lower concentrations. Despite this, both spore types demonstrated comparable overall pathogenic effects. Results from the proteomic profiling revealed 150 proteins with varied expressions following exposure to Ae. albopictus extract, shedding light on distinct infection strategies between the spores. Gene Ontology enrichment and network analysis illustrated the diverse metabolic adaptations of M. anisopliae and interactions with mosquito larvae. This highlighted the complexity of host-pathogen dynamics and the significance of biosynthetic processes, energy storage, and cellular interaction pathways in disease progression. The BL network, consisting 80 proteins and 74 connections, demonstrates the intricate fungal mechanisms triggered by host stimuli. Conversely, the CO network, though smaller, displayed notable interconnectivity and concentrated involvement at the cell periphery, suggesting a deliberate strategy for initial host contact. This study offers valuable insights into proteome dynamics of M. anisopliae's BL and CO for managing mosquito populations and combating disease transmission, thereby significantly advancing public health and environmental conservation efforts.
Synergistic effect of Hylocereus polyrhizus (dragon fruit) peel on physicomechanical, thermal, and biodegradation properties of thermoplastic sago starch/agar composites

Taharuddin NH, Jumaidin R, Mansor MR, Hazrati KZ, Hafila KZ, Md Yusof FA

Int J Biol Macromol, 2024 Oct;277(Pt 1):133852.
PMID: 39025171 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133852

The potential of Hylocereus polyrhizus peel (HPP) as a new eco-friendly reinforcement for thermoplastic sago starch/agar composite (TPSS/agar) was investigated. The integration of HPP into TPSS/agar composite aimed to enhance its mechanical and thermal characteristics. The study employed Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), as well as mechanical, physical properties and soil burial testing to analyse the composites. The results showed a favourable miscibility between the matrix and filler, while at higher concentrations of HPP, the starch granules became more visible. The tensile and impact properties of the composites improved significantly after incorporating HPP at 20 wt%, with values of 12.73 MPa and 1.87 kJ/m2, respectively. The glass transition temperature (Tg) and initial decomposition temperature (Ton) decreased with the addition of HPP. The density of the composites reduced from 1.51 ± 0.01 to 1.26 ± 0.01 g/cm3 as the HPP amount increased. The environmental properties indicated that the composites can be composted, with weight loss accelerating from 35 to 60 % and 61 to 91 % by the addition of HPP in 2- and 4-weeks' time, respectively. The study demonstrates the potential of TPSS/agar/HPP composites as eco-friendly materials for various applications.
Stratifying patients with haematuria into high or low risk groups for bladder cancer: a novel clinical scoring system

Hee TG, Shah SA, Ann HS, Hemdan SN, Shen LC, Al-Fahmi Abdul Galib N, et al.

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(11):6327-30.
PMID: 24377526

Haematuria is a common presentation of bladder cancer and requires a full urologic evaluation. This study aimed to develop a scoring system capable of stratifying patients with haematuria into high or low risk groups for having bladder cancer to help clinicians decide which patients need more urgent assessment. This cross- sectional study included all adult patients referred for haematuria and subsequently undergoing full urological evaluation in the years 2001 to 2011. Risk factors with strong association with bladder cancer in the study population were used to design the scoring system. Accuracy was determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. A total of 325 patients with haematuria were included, out of which 70 (21.5%) were diagnosed to have bladder cancer. Significant risk factors associated with bladder cancer were male gender, a history of cigarette smoking and the presence of gross haematuria. A scoring system using 4 clinical parameters as variables was created. The scores ranged between 6 to 14, and a score of 10 and above indicated high risk for having bladder cancer. It was found to have good accuracy with an area under the ROC curve of 80.4%, while the sensitivity and specificity were 90.0% and 55.7%, respectively. The scoring system designed in this study has the potential to help clinicians stratify patients who present with haematuria into high or low risk for having bladder cancer. This will enable high-risk patients to undergo urologic assessment earlier.
The Use of Engineered Bilayered Skin (MyDermTM) in the Management of Massive Skin Defect in Grade III Gustilo-Anderson Open Fracture

Mohamed Haflah NH, Ng MH, Mohd Yunus MH, Naicker AS, Htwe O, Fahmi M, et al.

Int J Low Extrem Wounds, 2017 Sep;16(3):212-216.
PMID: 28862056 DOI: 10.1177/1534734617724974

Open fracture Gustilo-Anderson grade IIIC is associated with higher risk of infection and problems with soft tissue coverage. Various methods have been used for soft tissue coverage in open fractures with large skin defect. We report a case of a patient who had grade IIIC open fracture of the tibia with posterior tibial artery injury. The patient underwent external fixation and reduction. Because of potential compartment syndrome after vascular repair, fasciotomy of the posterior compartment was performed. This wound, however, became infected and because of further debridement, gave rise to a large skin defect. A tissue engineered skin construct, MyDermTM was employed to cover this large defect. Complete wound closure was achieved 35 days postimplantation. The patient then underwent plating of the tibia for nonunion with no adverse effect to the grafted site. The tibia eventually healed 5 months postplating, and the cosmetic appearance of the newly formed skin was satisfactory.
Fulltext In silico studies, X-ray diffraction analysis and biological investigation of fluorinated pyrrolylated-chalcones in zebrafish epilepsy models

Mohd Fahmi MSA, Swain P, Ramli AH, Wan Ibrahim WN, Saleh Hodin NA, Abu Bakar N, et al.

Heliyon, 2023 Feb;9(2):e13685.
PMID: 36852036 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13685

Epilepsy is the third most common known brain disease worldwide. Several antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are available to improve seizure control. However, the associated side effects limit their practical use and highlight the ongoing search for safer and effective AEDs. Eighteen newly designed fluorine-containing pyrrolylated chalcones were extensively studied in silico, synthesized, structurally analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and biologically and toxicologically tested as potential new AEDs in zebrafish epilepsy in vivo models. The results predicted that 3-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one (compound 8) had a good drug-like profile with binding affinity to γ-aminobutyric acid receptor type-A (GABAA, -8.0 kcal/mol). This predicted active compound 8 was effective in reducing convulsive behaviour in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced larvae and hyperactive movements in zc4h2 knockout (KO) zebrafish, experimentally. Moreover, no cardiotoxic effect of compound 8 was observed in zebrafish. Overall, pyrrolylated chalcones could serve as alternative AEDs and warrant further in-depth pharmacological studies to uncover their mechanism of action.
Meta-analysis contrasting freshwater biodiversity in forests and oil palm plantations with and without riparian buffers

Rojas-Castillo OA, Kepfer Rojas S, Juen L, Montag LFA, Carvalho FG, Mendes TP, et al.

Conserv Biol, 2024 Feb;38(1):e14172.
PMID: 37650444 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14172

The expansion of oil palm plantations has led to land-use change and deforestation in the tropics, which has affected biodiversity. Although the impacts of the crop on terrestrial biodiversity have been extensively reviewed, its effects on freshwater biodiversity remain relatively unexplored. We reviewed the research assessing the impacts of forest-to-oil palm conversion on freshwater biota and the mitigating effect of riparian buffers on these impacts. We searched for studies comparing taxa richness, species abundance, and community composition of macroinvertebrates, amphibians, and fish in streams in forests (primary and disturbed) and oil palm plantations with and without riparian buffers. Then, we conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the overall effect of the land-use change on the 3 taxonomic groups. Twenty-nine studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. On average, plantations lacking buffers hosted 44% and 19% fewer stream taxa than primary and disturbed forests, respectively. Stream taxa on plantations with buffers were 24% lower than in primary forest and did not differ significantly from disturbed forest. In contrast, stream community composition differed between forests and plantations regardless of the presence of riparian buffers. These differences were attributed to agrochemical use and altered environmental conditions in the plantations, including temperature changes, worsened water conditions, microhabitat loss, and food and shelter depletion. On aggregate, abundance did not differ significantly among land uses because increases in generalist species offset the population decline of vulnerable forest specialists in the plantation. Our results reveal significant impacts of forest-to-oil palm conversion on freshwater biota, particularly taxa richness and composition (but not aggregate abundance). Although preserving riparian buffers in the plantations can mitigate the loss of various aquatic species, it cannot conserve primary forest communities. Therefore, safeguarding primary forests from the oil palm expansion is crucial, and further research is needed to address riparian buffers as a promising mitigation strategy in agricultural areas.
Three-dimensional Au-MnO2 nanostructure as an agent of synergistic cancer therapy: chemo-/photodynamic and photothermal approaches

Sugito SFA, Wibrianto A, Chang JY, Fahmi MZ, Khairunisa SQ, Sakti SCW, et al.

Dalton Trans, 2024 Jul 09;53(27):11368-11379.
PMID: 38896134 DOI: 10.1039/d4dt01123f

The design of multimodal cancer therapy was focused on reaching an efficient process and minimizing harmful effects on patients. In the present study, the Au-MnO2 nanostructures have been successfully constructed and produced as novel multipurpose photosensitive agents simultaneously for photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and chemodynamic therapy (CDT). The prepared AuNPs were conjugated with MnO2 NPs by its participation in the thermal decomposition process of KMnO4 confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy (FT-IR). The 16.5 nm Au-MnO2 nanostructure exhibited an absorbance at 438 nm, which is beneficial for application in light induction therapy due to the NIR band, as well as its properties of generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) associated with the 808 nm laser light for PDT. The photothermal transduction efficiency was calculated and compared with that of the non-irradiated nanostructure, in which it was found that the 808 nm laser induced a high efficiency of 83%, 41.5%, and 37.5% for PDT, PTT, and CDT, respectively. The results of DPBF and TMB assays showed that the efficiency of PDT and PTT was higher than that of CDT. The nanostructure also confirmed the time-dependent peroxidase properties at different H2O2, TMB, and H2TMB concentrations, promising good potency in applying nanomedicine in clinical cancer therapy.
Fulltext Microarray Profiling of Differentially Expressed Genes in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts of High-Risk Patients with Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunctions

Yazit NAA, Juliana N, Kadiman S, Hafidz KM, Mohd Fahmi Teng NI, Abdul Hamid N, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2023 Jan 13;20(2).
PMID: 36674212 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021457

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is cognitive decline after surgery. The authors hypothesized that gene-level changes could be involved in the pathogenesis of POCD. The present study evaluated the incidence of POCD and its associated differentially expressed genes. This was a prospective cohort study conducted on high-risk coronary artery bypass graft patients aged 40 to 75 years. POCD classification was based on a one standard deviation decline in the postoperative scores compared to the preoperative scores. The differentially expressed genes were identified using microarray analysis and validated using quantitative RT-PCR. Forty-six patients were recruited and completed the study. The incidence of POCD was identified using a set of neurocognitive assessments and found to be at 17% in these high-risk CABG patients. Six samples were selected for the gene expression analyses (3 non-POCD and 3 POCD samples). The findings showed five differentially expressed genes in the POCD group compared to the non-POCD group. The upregulated gene was ERFE, whereas the downregulated genes were KIR2DS2, KIR2DS3, KIR3DL2, and LIM2. According to the results, the gene expression profiles of POCD can be used to find potential proteins for POCD diagnostic and predictive biomarkers. Understanding the molecular mechanism of POCD development will further lead to early detection and intervention to reduce the severity of POCD, and hence, reduce the mortality and morbidity rate due to the condition.
Fulltext Penyata peperiksaan komprehensif (ComprESs):ke arah pengurusan peperiksaan yang efisien

Jamal Othman, Wan Nur Shaziayani Wan Mohd Rosly, Norshuhada Samsudin, Sharifah Sarimah Syed Abdullah, Noor Azizah Mazeni, Muniroh Hamat, et al.

Jurnal Inovasi Malaysia, 2020;3(2):12-25.
MyJurnal

Penyata Peperiksaan merupakan dokumen rasmi yang membolehkanpelajar menduduki peperiksaan. Maklumat slip peperiksaan yang tidak lengkap boleh menyebabkanpelajar lewat ketempatpeperiksaan atau lebih teruk lagi tidak hadir peperiksaankerana tersalah menyemak jadualdan tempatpeperiksaan. Bagi mengatasi masalah ini, metodologi SDLC (System Development Life Cycle) untuk pembangunan sistem berasaskan webtelah dijalankan.Slip Peperiksaan Komprehensif atau singkatannya ComprESS membolehkan pelajar menjana dan mencetak slip peperiksaan baharu yang mengandungi maklumat lengkapseperti tarikh,masa,tempatdan nombor meja. Pengguna sistem telah memberikan maklumbalas positif melalui pengujian sistem sertamaklumbalas dariatas talian. Melalui temubual dengan pelajar dan staf, mereka sangat yakinbahawa ComprESS telahmenyelesaikan isu maklumat peperiksaan yang tidak lengkap pada penyata peperiksaan dan seterusnya pengurusan peperiksaanlebih efisien.
Fulltext A study on private browsing in windows environment

Kathiravan, Yamunah, Mohd Fahmi Mohamad Amran, Noor Afiza Mat Razali, Mohd Afizi Mohd Shukran, Norshahriah Abdul Wahab, Mohammad Adib Khairuddin, et al.

ZULFAQAR International Journal of Defence Science, Engineering & Technology, 2020;3(1):15-22.
MyJurnal

Privacy has always been a constant concern for many people. Internet users are often worried about the browsing information that is left on their storage media. Web browsers were later introduced with a new feature called private browsing to overcome this issue. The private browsing mode is expected to behave as normal browsing session but without storing any data such as browser cookies, history, cache and passwords on the local machine. Unfortunately, previous researchers concluded web browser often failed to provide the intended privacy protection to their user. Along the way of this reviewing process, the weakness and downside of previous web browser vendors have been identified.
Fulltext In-situ compositional analysis and provenance study of the historic terengganu stone (the inscribed stone “Batu Bersurat”) using neutron-induced prompt gamma-ray techniques (NIPGAT)

Jaafar Abdullah, Roslan Yahya, Lahasen@Norman Shah Dahing, Hearie Hassan, Engku Mohd Fahmi Engku Chik, Mohamad Rabaie Shari, et al.

Jurnal Sains Nuklear Malaysia, 2013;25(2):9-19.
MyJurnal

“Batu Bersurat Terengganu (inscribed stone)” is the oldest artifact with Jawi writing on it. The
artifact proves that the Kingdom of Terengganu exist earlier than 1326 or 1386. To date, a lot of
studies on the content of the inscription have been carried out by historians and archaeologists, but
no scientific investigation about the material composition and its provenance has been performed.
This paper focuses on the study of the origin of the Batu Bersurat Terengganu using NeutronInduced
Prompt Gamma-Ray Techniques (NIPGAT). Portable NIPGAT system has been designed
and developed based on volumetric measurement methods and it will be considered as a nondestructive
testing. The system uses low activity of californium-252 (Cf-252) neutron radioactive
sources, gamma ray spectroscopy and special computer software to carry out the investigation. The
study found that the Batu Bersurat Terengganu is made of dolerite based on the elemental
composition of the stone. Although most of the scientific data for the study of the origin are already
obtained, but further research is still ongoing to complete the scope of this study.
Fulltext Effect of methanol extract of Dicranopteris linearis against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in rats

Kamisan FH, Yahya F, Mamat SS, Kamarolzaman MF, Mohtarrudin N, Kek TL, et al.

BMC Complement Altern Med, 2014;14:123.
PMID: 24708543 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-123

Dicranopteris linearis (family Gleicheniaceae) has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities but no attempt has been made to study its hepatoprotective potential. The aim of the present study was to determine the hepatoprotective effect of methanol extracts of D. linearis (MEDL) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury in rats.
A highly efficient single chambered up-flow membrane-less microbial fuel cell for treatment of azo dye Acid Orange 7-containing wastewater

Thung WE, Ong SA, Ho LN, Wong YS, Ridwan F, Oon YL, et al.

Bioresour Technol, 2015 Dec;197:284-8.
PMID: 26342340 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.08.078

Single chambered up-flow membrane-less microbial fuel cell (UFML MFC) was developed to study the feasibility of the bioreactor for decolorization of Acid Orange 7 (AO7) and electricity generation simultaneously. The performance of UFML MFC was evaluated in terms of voltage output, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color removal efficiency by varying the concentration of AO7 in synthetic wastewater. The results shown the voltage generation and COD removal efficiency decreased as the initial AO7 concentration increased; this indicates there is electron competition between anode and azo dye. Furthermore, there was a phenomenon of further decolorization at cathode region which indicates the oxygen and azo dye are both compete as electron acceptor. Based on the UV-visible spectra analysis, the breakdown of the azo bond and naphthalene compound in AO7 were confirmed. These findings show the capability of integrated UFML MFC in azo dye wastewater treatment and simultaneous electricity generation.
Fulltext The immediate effect of facial candling on inflammatory mediators, substance P, symptoms severity, and quality of life in allergic rhinitis patients: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Ismail NFF, Neoh CF, Lim SM, Abdullah AH, Mastuki MF, Ramasamy K, et al.

Medicine (Baltimore), 2017 Jul;96(30):e7511.
PMID: 28746195 DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000007511

INTRODUCTION: Asian countries have a variety of ethnic groups and culture that provide their own traditional treatment in health care. Facial candling appears to be one of the popular traditional treatments in Southeast Asian. The complementary medicine practitioners promote that the facial candling treatment would help in reducing the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and other problems related to sinus. Due to the lack of evidence available, the effectiveness of this treatment method and its mechanism, however, remains unknown. The objective of this research is therefore to study impact of facial candling on inflammatory mediators, substance P (SP), symptoms severity, and quality of life (QoL) in allergic rhinitis patients.
METHOD AND ANALYSIS: A randomized, nonblinded, controlled trial will be carried out by recruiting a total of 66 eligible allergic rhinitis patients who fulfill the inclusion criteria from a university health center. The subjects will be randomly assigned into 2 groups: intervention group receiving facial candling treatment and control group (no treatment given). Samples of blood and nasal mucus will be collected right before and after intervention. Samples collected will be analyzed. The primary outcomes are the changes in the level of SP in both blood and mucus samples between both groups. The secondary outcomes include the levels of inflammatory mediators (ie, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-3, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-13) and the severity of allergic rhinitis symptoms as measured by a visual analogous scale and QoL using the Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ).
ETHICAL AND TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocols are approved from the Ethical and Research Committee of the Universiti Teknologi MARA (REC/113/15). The trial is registered under the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12616000299404). The trial was registered on 03/07/2016 and the first patient was enrolled on 10/12/2016.
CONCLUSION: Facial candling is one of the unique treatments using candles to reduce the severity of symptoms and inflammation. This is the first ever study conducted on facial candling that will give rise to new knowledge underlying the effects of facial candling on severity of symptoms and inflammation relief mechanism mediated by substance P and inflammatory mediators.
Fulltext Sustainable Production of Arecanut Husk Ash as Potential Silica Replacement for Synthesis of Silicate-Based Glass-Ceramics Materials

Anuar MF, Fen YW, Azizan MZ, Rahmat F, Mohd Zaid MH, Khaidir REM, et al.

Materials (Basel), 2021 Feb 28;14(5).
PMID: 33670923 DOI: 10.3390/ma14051141

Arecanut husk (AH) was selected as a material for silica replacement in the synthesis process of glass-ceramics zinc silicate and also the fact that it has no traditional use and often being dumped and results in environmental issues. The process of pyrolysis was carried out at temperature 700 °C and above based on thermogravimetric analysis to produce arecanut husk ash (AHA). The average purity of the silica content in AHA ranged from 29.17% to 45.43%. Furthermore, zinc oxide was introduced to AHA and zinc silicate started to form at sintering temperature 700 °C and showed increased diffraction intensity upon higher sintering temperature of 600 °C to 1000 °C based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The grain sizes of the zinc silicate increased from 1011 nm to 3518 nm based on the morphological studies carried out by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). In addition, the optical band gap of the sample was measured to be in the range from 2.410 eV to 2.697 eV after sintering temperature. From the data, it is believed that a cleaner production of low-cost zinc silicate can be achieved by using arecanut husk and have the potential to be used as phosphors materials.
A portable electrochemical sensor for detection of the veterinary drug xylazine in beverage samples

Saisahas K, Soleh A, Promsuwan K, Phonchai A, Mohamed Sadiq NS, Teoh WK, et al.

J Pharm Biomed Anal, 2021 Feb 08;198:113958.
PMID: 33662759 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2021.113958

A portable electrochemical sensor was developed to determine xylazine in spiked beverages by adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV). The sensor was based on a graphene nanoplatelets-modified screen-printed carbon electrode (GNPs/SPCE). The electrochemical behavior of xylazine at the GNPs/SPCE was an adsorption-controlled irreversible oxidation reaction. The loading of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) on the modified SPCE, electrolyte pH, and AdSV accumulation potential and time were optimized. Under optimal conditions, the GNPs/SPCE provided high sensitivity, linear ranges of 0.4-6.0 mg L-1 (r = 0.997) and 6.0-80.0 mg L-1 (r = 0.998) with a detection limit of 0.1 mg L-1 and a quantitation limit of 0.4 mg L-1. Repeatability was good. The accuracy of the proposed sensor was investigated by spiking six beverage samples at 1.0, 5.0, and 10.0 mg L-1. The recoveries from this method ranged from 80.8 ± 0.2-108.1 ± 0.3 %, indicating the good accuracy of the developed sensor. This portable electrochemical sensor can be used to screen for xylazine in beverage samples as evidence in cases of sexual assault or robbery.
Fulltext Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO-SiO2 Composite Using Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch as a Potential Silica Source

Rahmat F, Fen YW, Anuar MF, Omar NAS, Zaid MHM, Matori KA, et al.

Molecules, 2021 Feb 18;26(4).
PMID: 33670482 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26041061

In this paper, the structural and optical properties of ZnO-SiO2-based ceramics fabricated from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) were investigated. The OPEFB waste was burned at 600, 700 and 800 °C to form palm ash and was then treated with sulfuric acid to extract silica from the ash. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses confirmed the existence of SiO2 in the sample. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed that the particles displayed an irregular shape and became finer after leaching. Then, the solid-state method was used to produce the ZnO-SiO2 composite and the samples were sintered at 600, 800, 1000, 1200 and 1400 °C. The XRD peaks of the Zn2SiO4 showed high intensity, which indicated high crystallinity of the composite. FESEM images proved that the grain boundaries were larger as the temperature increased. Upon obtaining the absorbance spectrum from ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, the energy band gaps obtained were 3.192, 3.202 and 3.214 eV at room temperature, 600 and 800 °C, respectively, and decreased to 3.127, 2.854 and 2.609 eV at 1000, 1200 and 1400 °C, respectively. OPEFB shows high potential as a silica source in producing promising optical materials.
Fulltext Healthcare workers' knowledge, preparedness, counselling practices, and perceived barriers to confront COVID-19: A cross-sectional study from a war-torn country, Yemen

Al-Ashwal FY, Kubas M, Zawiah M, Bitar AN, Mukred Saeed R, Sulaiman SAS, et al.

PLoS One, 2020;15(12):e0243962.
PMID: 33306750 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243962

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) represents a difficult challenge and could have devastating consequences for the healthcare system and healthcare workers in war-torn countries with poor healthcare facilities such as Yemen. Our study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, preparedness, counselling practices of healthcare workers regarding COVID-19, and the perceived barriers to adequately prevent and control COVID-19 in Yemen.
METHODS: Healthcare workers (HCWs) from major healthcare facilities participated in this cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire comprising of five main domains (demographics, knowledge, self-preparedness, counselling practice, perceived barriers) was distributed among HCWs after obtaining informed consent. A convenient sampling technique was used. Descriptive and inferential analyses were applied using SPSS software.
RESULTS: A total of 1000 participants were initially targeted to participate in the study with 514 (51.4%) responding, of which 55.3% were female. Physicians and nurses constituted the largest proportion of participants, with 39.5% and 33.3%, respectively. The median scores for knowledge, self-preparedness, and counselling practice were 8 (out of 9), 9 (out of 15), and 25 (out of 30), respectively. The physician group showed a statistically significant association with better knowledge compared to the nurse group only, P<0.001. Males had higher preparedness scores than females, p<0.001. Also, the intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency departments presented a statistically significant difference by which the participants from these departments were more prepared compared to the others (e.g. outpatients, paediatrics and surgery) with P < 0.0001. The lack of awareness among the general population about COVID-19 preventive measures was perceived as the most common barrier for the adequate prevention and control of COVID-19 in Yemen (89.1%).
CONCLUSION: The major highlight of this study is that HCWs have, overall, good knowledge, suboptimal preparedness, and adequate counselling practices prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Yemen, despite the high number of perceived barriers. However, urgent action and interventions are needed to improve the preparedness of HCWs to manage COVID-19. The perceived barriers also need to be fully addressed by the local healthcare authorities and international organisations working in Yemen for adequate prevention and control measures to be in place in managing COVID-19.

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