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  1. Biomass-based palm shell activated carbon and palm shell carbon molecular sieve as gas separation adsorbents
    Sethupathi S, Bashir MJ, Akbar ZA, Mohamed AR
    Waste Manag Res, 2015 Apr;33(4):303-12.
    PMID: 25804669 DOI: 10.1177/0734242X15576026
    Lignocellulosic biomass has been widely recognised as a potential low-cost source for the production of high added value materials and proved to be a good precursor for the production of activated carbons. One of such valuable biomasses used for the production of activated carbons is palm shell. Palm shell (endocarp) is an abundant by-product produced from the palm oil industries throughout tropical countries. Palm shell activated carbon and palm shell carbon molecular sieve has been widely applied in various environmental pollution control technologies, mainly owing to its high adsorption performance, well-developed porosity and low cost, leading to potential applications in gas-phase separation using adsorption processes. This mini-review represents a comprehensive overview of the palm shell activated carbon and palm shell carbon molecular sieve preparation method, physicochemical properties and feasibility of palm shell activated carbon and palm shell carbon molecular sieve in gas separation processes. Some of the limitations are outlined and suggestions for future improvements are pointed out.
    Matched MeSH terms: Waste Management/methods*
  2. Ozonation of ofloxacin in water: by-products, degradation pathway and ecotoxicity assessment
    Tay KS, Madehi N
    Sci Total Environ, 2015 Jul 1;520:23-31.
    PMID: 25791053 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.03.033
    Application of ozonation in water treatment involves complex oxidation pathways that could lead to the formation of various by-products, some of which may be harmful to living organisms. In this work, ozonation by-products of ofloxacin (OFX), a frequently detected pharmaceutical pollutant in the environment, were identified and their ecotoxicity was estimated using the Ecological Structure Activity Relationships (ECOSAR) computer program. In order to examine the role of ozone (O3) and hydroxyl radicals (∙OH) in the degradation of ofloxacin, ozonation was performed at pH2, 7 and 12. In this study, 12 new structures have been proposed for the ozonation by-products detected during the ozonation of ofloxacin. According to the identified ozonation by-products, O3 and ∙OH were found to react with ofloxacin during ozonation. The reaction between ofloxacin and O3 proceeded via hydroxylation and breakdown of heterocyclic ring with unsaturated double-bond. The reaction between ofloxacin and ·OH generated various by-products derived from the breakdown of heterocyclic ring. Ecotoxicity assessment indicated that ozonation of OFX could yield by-products of greater toxicity compared with parent compounds.
    Matched MeSH terms: Water Purification/methods*
  3. Fulltext Transcervical diverticulectomy for Killian-Jamieson diverticulum
    Siow SL, Mahendran HA, Hardin M
    Asian J Surg, 2017 Jul;40(4):324-328.
    PMID: 25779884 DOI: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2015.01.007
    Surgery for Killian-Jamieson diverticulum of the esophagus is scarcely reported in the literature owing to the rarity of this entity. This is a case report of such a diverticulum and a description of the transcervical diverticulectomy that we performed on a 49-year-old lady. The patient was investigated for symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease and was diagnosed with a left-sided Killian-Jamieson diverticulum.
    Matched MeSH terms: Laparoscopy/methods*
  4. A novel approach for collecting samples from fruit bats for isolation of infectious agents
    Chua KB
    Microbes Infect., 2003 May;5(6):487-90.
    PMID: 12758277
    During the outbreak of Nipah virus encephalitis involving pigs and humans in peninsular Malaysia in 1998/1999, a conventional approach was initially undertaken to collect specimens from fruit bats by mist-netting and shooting, as an integral part of wildlife surveillance of the natural reservoir host of Nipah virus. This study describes a novel method of collecting fruit bats' urine samples using plastic sheets for isolation of Nipah virus. This novel approach resulted in the isolation of several other known and unidentified infectious agents besides Nipah virus.
    Matched MeSH terms: Specimen Handling/methods*
  5. Fragmented forest in tropical landscape--the case of the state of Selangor, Malaysia
    Abdullah SA
    J Environ Sci (China), 2003 Mar;15(2):267-70.
    PMID: 12765270
    This paper presents the pattern and changes of fragmented forest in relation with changes of total forest cover in the state of Selangor in three decades. In this study, inventoried forest cover maps of Selangor in 1971/1972, 1981/1982 and 1991/1992 produced by the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia were digitized to examine the changes in area and number of fragmented forest. Results showed that in 1971/1972, 16 fragmented forests were identified in Selangor. All fragmented forests were identified as dipterocarp forest. A decade later the number of fragmented forests increased by approximately 44% (23). Of the 23 fragmented forests, two were peat swamp forests whereas the remaining were dipterocarp forests. In 1991/1992 the number of fragmented forests (12) was reduced by 47.8%. Two of the fragmented forests were identified as peat swamp forest, seven dipterocarp forest and the other three was mixed of dipterocarp forests and plantation forests. Fragmentation of both dipterocarp and peat swamp forests occurred profoundly during the period between 1971/1972 and 1981/1982, which consequently increased the number of fragmented forests compared with before the period of 1971/1972 where fragmentation happened only at dipterocarp forests. However, many fragmented forests vanished between the 1981/1982 and 1991/1992 periods.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Monitoring/methods
  6. Potential non-phytopathogenic filamentous fungi for bioconversion of domestic wastewater sludge
    Molla AH, Fakhru'l-Razi A, Hanafi MM, Abd-Aziz S, Alam MZ
    J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng, 2002 Sep;37(8):1495-507.
    PMID: 12369641
    Ten filamentous fungi adapted to domestic wastewater sludge (DWS) were further studied to evaluate their potential in terms of adaptation to higher sludge supplemented growing media and phytopathogenicity (induction of diseases to plants) to three germinating crop (Corn: Zea mays, Mung bean: Phaseolus aureus and Mustard: Brassica napus) seeds. The performances of the fungi in seed germination were evaluated based on percent germination index (GI) and infected/spotted seeds on direct fungal biomass (FBM) and fungal metabolite (FM). Significantly the highest biomass production was achieved with RW-P1 512 and Penicillium corylophilum (WW-P1003) at the highest (25%) sludge supplemented growing media that implied its excellent potentiality of adaptation and multiplication to domestic wastewater sludge. Significantly encouraging results of percent GI and spotted/infected seedlings were observed in FM than FBM by all fungi except the strain Aspergillus niger. A. niger gave the poorest percent of GI (24.30, 26.98 and 00.00%) and the highest percent of infected/spotted seeds (70, 100, and 100%) using FBM for corn, mung bean and mustard, respectively. On the other hand, comparatively the highest percent of GI (107.99, 106.25 and 117.67%) and the lowest percent of spotted/infected seedlings (3.3, 3.3 and 3.3%) were achieved with the isolate RW-P1 512 using FM. In FBM, the superior results of percent GI (86.61, 95.92 and 83.87%) and spotted/infected seedlings (3.3, 63.3 and 43.3%) were obtained by A. versicolor. Several crop seeds were responded differently for different fungal treatments. Hundred percent infected/spotted seeds in FM were recorded only for mustard with Trichoderma family that implied its strong sensitiveness to its metabolites.
    Matched MeSH terms: Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods*
  7. Roles of the private sector in tobacco cessation programmes
    Zain Z
    Addiction, 2002 Aug;97(8):960-1, discussion 961-2.
    PMID: 12144596
    Matched MeSH terms: Tobacco Use Cessation/methods*
  8. South China Sea
    Morton B, Blackmore G
    Mar Pollut Bull, 2001 Dec;42(12):1236-63.
    PMID: 11827109
    The South China Sea is poorly understood in terms of its marine biota, ecology and the human impacts upon it. What is known is most often contained in reports and workshop and conference documents that are not available to the wider scientific community. The South China Sea has an area of some 3.3 million km2 and depths range from the shallowest coastal fringe to 5377 m in the Manila Trench. It is also studded with numerous islets, atolls and reefs many of which are just awash at low tide. It is largely confined within the Tropic of Cancer and, therefore, experiences a monsoonal climate being influenced by the Southwest Monsoon in summer and the Northeast Monsoon in winter. The South China Sea is a marginal sea and, therefore, largely surrounded by land. Countries that have a major influence on and claims to the sea include China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, although Thailand, Indonesia and Taiwan have some too. The coastal fringes of the South China Sea are home to about 270 million people that have had some of the fastest developing and most vibrant economies on the globe. Consequently, anthropogenic impacts, such as over-exploitation of resources and pollution, are anticipated to be huge although, in reality, relatively little is known about them. The Indo-West Pacific biogeographic province, at the centre of which the South China Sea lies, is probably the world's most diverse shallow-water marine area. Of three major nearshore habitat types, i.e., coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses, 45 mangrove species out of a global total of 51, most of the currently recognised 70 coral genera and 20 of 50 known seagrass species have been recorded from the South China Sea. The island groups of the South China Sea are all disputed and sovereignty is claimed over them by a number of countries. Conflicts have in recent decades arisen over them because of perceived national rights. It is perhaps because of this that so little research has been undertaken on the South China Sea. What data are available, however, and if Hong Kong is used, as it is herein, as an indicator of what the perturbations of other regional cities upon the South China Sea are like, then it is impacted grossly and an ecological disaster has probably already, but unknowingly, happened.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fisheries/methods
  9. The usefulness of limited placental sampling in stillbirths
    Hayati AR, Khong TY, Zainul R
    Malays J Pathol, 1998 Dec;20(2):99-102.
    PMID: 10879270
    144 placentas were sampled from all cases of stillbirth weighing 500 g and above seen over a period of thirteen months in the UKM Unit of the Maternity Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. Sampling was limited to 1-3 blocks per placenta for histological study. Placental abnormalities were found in 121 (85%) placentas, 78 of which had definite lesions known to contribute to foetal death while the remainder showed lesions suggestive of an underlying disease. This study supports the usefulness of limited sampling of the placenta in the face of unavailability of complete placental examination and autopsy for assessment of the cause of stillbirth.
    Matched MeSH terms: Specimen Handling/methods*
  10. Drying kinetics and stabilization of sewage sludge in lagoon in hot climate
    Idris A, Yen OB, Hamid MH, Baki AM
    Water Sci Technol, 2002;46(9):279-86.
    PMID: 12448479
    A sludge lagoon has been adopted as a simple and cost effective method for dewatering of sludge. The processes occurring in a sludge lagoon include thickening, dewatering, storage and stabilization; all happening simultaneously. The objective of this study is to determine the dewatering and drying rates at pilot-scale which occur in a lagoon having different design configurations. Two types of sludge lagoons with different initial sludge depth (0.75 m and 0.375 m) were investigated to measure the drying behavior and drying efficiency. The first design is a sludge lagoon with a clay bottom where the dewatering mechanisms are decanting supernatant and evaporation. The second design is a sludge lagoon installed with a sand and underdrains system, where the dewatering mechanisms are filtration or draining and evaporation. Sludge drying kinetic models with high fitness were plotted to describe the sludge drying behavior. Drying of sludge in a sludge lagoon with a clay bottom can best be described by an exponential function. Whereas, drying of sludge in a sludge lagoon with sand and underdrains system followed a logarithmic function. A lagoon designed with sand and underdrains system and having shallower sludge depth was the most efficient. The reduction in volatile solids was lower than 4% during the study period. The drying process proceeded with an increase in dryness and decline in pH value.
    Matched MeSH terms: Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods*
  11. Fluorescence technique for the characterization of natural organic matter in river water
    Ahmad UK, Ulang Z, Yusop Z, Fong TL
    Water Sci Technol, 2002;46(9):117-25.
    PMID: 12448460
    The complex nature of natural organic matter (NOM), and the impact of this matter on drinking water quality have necessitated the characterization studies of NOM. A fluorescence technique for the characterization of NOM in Malaysian river water is reported. Water samples from several river sampling sites were collected and concentrated using a low-pressure reverse osmosis (LPROM). Solid phase extraction (SPE) using C18 extraction cartridges were used to fractionate the water samples into humic and non-humic fractions. To differentiate and classify various types of humic substances, fluorescence was applied in emission, excitation and in synchronous-scan modes. A synchronous spectral profile was found to be able to differentiate humic and fulvic acids better than the emission or excitation spectra. Synchronous excitation spectra showed different spectral patterns for the water samples due to different origin. All water samples showed the presence of both fulvic and humic acids.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Monitoring/methods*
  12. The effect of aeration and non-aeration time on simultaneous organic, nitrogen and phosphorus removal using an intermittent aeration membrane bioreactor
    Ujang Z, Salim MR, Khor SL
    Water Sci Technol, 2002;46(9):193-200.
    PMID: 12448469
    A laboratory-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) was fed with synthetic wastewater to investigate the possibility of simultaneous removal of organic, nitrogen and phosphorus by intermittent aeration. The MBR consists of two compartments using a microfiltration membrane with 0.2 microm pore size and a surface area of 0.35 m2. Hydraulic retention time was set at 24 hours and solid retention time 25 days. MLSS concentration in the reactor was in the range of 2,500-3,800 mg/L. The MLSS internal recycling ratio was maintained at 100% influent flow rate. Intermittent aeration was applied in this study to provide an aerobic-anaerobic cycle. Three stages of operations were conducted to investigate the effect of aeration and non-aeration on simultaneous organic and nutrient removal. In Stage 1, time cycles of aeration and non-aeration were set at 90/150 min and 150/90 min in the first and second compartment, the removal efficiency was 97%, 94% and 70% for COD, nitrogen and phosphorus respectively. In Stage 2, time cycles of aeration and non-aeration were set at 60/120 min and 120/60 min in the first and second compartment, the removal efficiency was 97%, 96% and 71% for COD, nitrogen and phosphorus respectively. In Stage 3, time cycles of aeration and non-aeration were set at 120/120 min and 120/120 min in compartment 1 and 2, the removal efficiency was 98%, 96% and 78% for COD, nitrogen and phosphorus respectively. Results show that longer non-aeration time in the second compartment provided better performances of biological phosphorus removal.
    Matched MeSH terms: Water Purification/methods*
  13. Removal of iron and manganese by artificial destratification in a tropical climate (Upper Layang Reservoir, Malaysia)
    Ismail R, Kassim MA, Inman M, Baharim NH, Azman S
    Water Sci Technol, 2002;46(9):179-83.
    PMID: 12448467
    Environmental monitoring was carried out at Upper Layang Reservoir situated in Masai, Johor, Malaysia. The study shows that thermal stratification and natural mixing of the water column do exist in the reservoir and the level of stratification varies at different times of the year. Artificial destratification via diffused air aeration techniques was employed at the reservoir for two months. The results show that thermal stratification was eliminated after a week of continuous aeration. The concentrations of iron and to a lesser extent manganese in the water column was also reduced during the aeration period.
    Matched MeSH terms: Water Purification/methods*
  14. Model studies on granular activated carbon adsorption in fixed bed filtration
    Jusoh AB, Noor MJ, Plow SB
    Water Sci Technol, 2002;46(9):127-35.
    PMID: 12448461
    The removal of natural organic matter (NOM) using a continuous flow fixed bed granular activated carbon (GAC) column was studied and the results were then fitted with the Adams-Bohart, Bed-Depth-Service-Time and Clarks models. The GAC, KI-6070 and KI-8085 used in the study had external surface areas of 277 m2/g and 547 m2/g, respectively. Adsorption of NOM by the GAC was complex and involved more than one rate-limiting step. The critical bed depths for KI-6070 and KI-8085 were 0.24 m and 0.3 m, respectively. The Clark model was more effective in simulating the absorbent breakthrough process as compared to the Adams-Bohart model. The lower empty bed contact time (EBCT) i.e. 15 minutes gave a better fit to the Clark Model as compared to EBCT of 20 and 30 minutes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Water Purification/methods*
  15. Results of group-circumcision of Muslim boys in Malaysia with a new type of disposable clamp
    Schmitz RF, Abu Bakar MH, Omar ZH, Kamalanathan S, Schulpen TW, van der Werken C
    Trop Doct, 2001 Jul;31(3):152-4.
    PMID: 11444337
    This study evaluates the safety and results of surgery usingTaraKlamp Circumcision Device during a group circumcision. Atotal of 64 circumcisions of Muslim boys were performed by Medical Assistants supervised by Medical Doctors in a hall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A new type disposable clamp was used, which was removed 4 days after the operation. No major complications occurred and the boys experienced in general mild pain postoperatively. Mostly good cosmetic results were obtained and 90% of the parents would recommend this new clamp to others. Group circumcisions withTaraKlamp Circumcision Device (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) are safe, although proper patient selection and adequate training in using the device are mandatory.
    Matched MeSH terms: Circumcision, Male/methods
  16. Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) Green manures as a potential source of N for maize production in the tropics
    Bah AR, Rahman ZA
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2001 Nov 22;1 Suppl 2:90-5.
    PMID: 12805783
    Use of cheap, N-rich, and environmentally benign legume green manures to correct N deficiency in infertile soils is a very attractive option in the humid tropics. Understanding the influence of management and climate on their effectiveness, and quantifying their contribution to crop productivity, is therefore crucial for technology adoption and adaptation. Mineral N buildup and the contribution to N uptake in maize were studied in an Ultisol amended with fresh Gliricidia leaves. Net mineral N accumulation was compared in mulched and incorporated treatments in a field incubation study. The 15 N isotope dilution technique was used to quantify N supplied to maize by Gliricidia leaves in an alley cropping. Mineral N accumulation was slow, but was much greater after incorporation than after mulching. Also, N buildup was always higher in the topsoil (0 to 10 cm) than in the subsoil (10 to 20 cm). More NO3-N was leached than NH4-N, and the effect was greater in the incorporated treatment. Surface-applied Gliricidia leaves significantly increased N uptake by maize, and supplied >30% of the total N in the stover and >20% of that in the corn grain, even in the presence of hedgerows. Thus Gliricidia leaf mulch has immense potential to improve productivity in tropical soils.
    Matched MeSH terms: Agriculture/methods*
  17. Anoxic transformations of wastewater organic matter in sewers--process kinetics, model concept and wastewater treatment potential
    Abdul-Talib S, Hvitved-Jacobsen T, Vollertsen J, Ujang Z
    Water Sci Technol, 2002;45(3):53-60.
    PMID: 11902481
    The sewer is an integral part of the urban wastewater system: the sewer, the wastewater treatment plant and the local receiving waters. The sewer is a reactor for microbial changes of the wastewater during transport, affecting the quality of the wastewater and thereby the successive treatment processes or receiving water impacts during combined sewer overflows. This paper presents the results of studies on anoxic processes, namely denitrification, in the bulk water phase of wastewater as it occurs in sewers. Experiments conducted on 12 different wastewater samples have shown that the denitrification process in the bulk wastewater can be simplified by the reduction of nitrate to nitrogen with significant accumulation of nitrite in the water phase. Utilization of nitrate was observed not to be limited by nitrate for concentrations above 5 gNO3-N/m3. The denitrification rates, under conditions of excess substrate and electron acceptor, were found to be in the range of 0.8-2.0 g NO3-N/(m3h). A discussion on the interaction of the sewer processes and the effects on a downstream located wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is provided.
    Matched MeSH terms: Water Purification/methods*
  18. The value of transesophageal echocardiography in transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects in the oval fossa using the Amplatzer septal occluder
    Latiff HA, Samion H, Kandhavel G, Aziz BA, Alwi M
    Cardiol Young, 2001 Mar;11(2):201-4.
    PMID: 11293739
    BACKGROUND: From January, 1997, as part of an international multicentric trial, we have been closing small-to-moderate atrial septal defects within the oval fossa using the Amplatzer Septal Occluder (ASO, AGA Medical).

    METHODS: All patients with defects within the oval fossa deemed potentially suitable for transcatheter closure were investigated by transesophageal echocardiography with the aim of gaining extra information that might alter the decision to use the device to close the defect. Views were obtained in transverse and longitudinal planes, permitting measurements of the diameter of the defect, and its distance from the atrioventricular valves, coronary sinus, and pulmonary veins. Additionally, we sought to identify multiple defects, and to exclude sinus venosus defects.

    RESULTS: Of 56 patients with left-to-right shunts, 41 (73.2%) were deemed suitable for closure with the Amplatzer Septal Occluder. All underwent the procedure successfully, with no complications. This includes 5 patients with multiple small defects that were sufficiently close to the main defect to be closed with a single device. Only two of these had been detected on the transthoracic study. In the remaining 15 of 56 patients, transcatheter closure was deemed unsuitable. In 9 patients, this was due to the limitation of the size of the device available during the period of study, this representing a relative contraindication. In the remaining 6 (10.7%), transcatheter closure was not performed because multiple defects were too far apart to be closed with a single device in 3 patients, two patients were noted to have a sinus venosus defect, and another was noted to have anomalous connection of the right upper pulmonary vein to the right atrium. Excluding patients contraindicated due to the size of the defect alone, transesophageal echocardiography provided extra information in one-tenth of our patients, which altered the decision regarding management.

    CONCLUSION: Transesophageal echocardiography is indispensable in the evaluation of patients undergoing transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect.

    Matched MeSH terms: Cardiac Catheterization/methods*
  19. Allele frequency distribution for 10 STR loci in the Malay population of Malaysia
    Panneerchelvam S, Haslindawaty N, Ravichandran M, Norazmi MN, Zainuddin ZF
    J Forensic Sci, 2003 Mar;48(2):451-2.
    PMID: 12665016
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Fingerprinting/methods
  20. Fulltext Take a fresh look at IUDs. Things have changed
    Mazza D
    Aust Fam Physician, 2002 Oct;31(10):903-7.
    PMID: 12404827
    Over the past few years, the intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) has overcome many of the problems that had initially made it unpopular. Today it is probably the most cost effective reversible form of contraception available.
    Matched MeSH terms: Contraception/methods*
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