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Fulltext Pre-processing methods for vehicle lane detection

Muhammad Naim Mazani, Shuzlina Abdul-Rahman, Sofianita Mutalib

ESTEEM Academic Journal, 2020;16(1):74-85.
MyJurnal

This study presents pre-processing methods for detecting lane detection using camera and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor technologies. Standard image processing methods are not suitable for complicated roads with various sign on the ground. Thus, determining the right techniques for pre-processing such data would be a challenge. The objectives of this study are to pre-process the scanned images and apply the image recognition algorithm for lane detection. The study employed Canny Edge Detection and Hough Transform algorithms on several sets of images. A different region of interest was experimented to find the optimal one. The experimental results showed that the proposed algorithms could be practical in terms of effectively detecting road lines and generate lane detection.
Fulltext IoT-based smart wheelchair system for physically impaired person

Muhammad Afiq Mohd Aizam, Nor Shahanim Mohamad Hadis, Samihah Abdullah

ESTEEM Academic Journal, 2020;16(1):59-73.
MyJurnal

Disabled persons usually require an assistant to help them in their daily routines especially for their mobility. The limitation of being physically impaired affects the quality of life in executing their daily routine especially the ones with a wheelchair. Pushing a wheelchair has its own side effects for the user especially the person with hands and arms impairments. This paper aims to develop a smart wheelchair system integrated with home automation. With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT), a smart wheelchair can be operated using voice command through the Google assistant Software Development Kit (SDK). The smart wheelchair system and the home automation of this study were powered by Raspberry Pi 3 B+ and NodeMCU, respectively. Voice input commands were processed by the Google assistant Artificial Intelligence Yourself (AIY) to steer the movement of wheelchair. Users were able to speak to Google to discover any information from the website. For the safety of the user, a streaming camera was added on the wheelchair. An improvement to the wheelchair system that was added on the wheelchair is its combination with the home automation to help the impaired person to control their home appliances through Blynk application.
Observations on three voice tones (low, medium and high) of voice command show that the minimum voice intensity for this smart wheelchair system is 68.2 dB. Besides, the user is also required to produce a clear voice command to increase the system accuracy.
Fulltext COVID-19 healthcare management in Sabah

Fredie Robinson, Roddy Teo, Muhammad Izuddin Rabbani Mohd Zali

Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences, 2020;14(3):1-4.
MyJurnal

The first case of COVID-19 in Malaysia was detected on 24 January 2020.1 As of 10 September 2020, when this editorial article is written, the total cases have increased to 9,628 cases, with active cases of 333 are being isolated and undergoing treatment, while 9,167 cases achieved recovery.2 The number of deaths in Malaysia due to COVID-19 is 128 people. Within the past few months, there has been increased in the number of clusters of infection in some states including Sabah. The number of cases in Sabah is currently at 592 cases.
Fulltext Knee tuberculosis: a challenge in diagnosis and treatment

Muhammad Wafiuddin, Ahmad Faizal Roslan, Ahmad Hafiz Zulkifly

Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021;15(1):37-43.
MyJurnal

Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient disease dated back from ancient Greece time. Once rare in developed countries, now it has re-emerged due to immigration and secondary immunodeficiency. A 27-year-old lady had left knee pain for the past 4 years, went for knee diagnostic arthroscopy procedure, and diagnosed as pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) of the left knee. Despite regular analgesics and physiotherapy, patient symptoms worsen. Two years after the initial treatment, the patient went for a further workout and diagnosed as knee tuberculosis, commenced on anti-TB treatment, the patient still left complicated with a stiff knee and fixed flexion deformity. Identification of knee tuberculosis during the initial phase is crucial as late diagnosis and treatment will leave the patient with debilitating complications.
Does foreign direct investment asymmetrically affect the mitigation of environmental degradation in Malaysia?

Faheem M, Hussain S, ArsalanTanveer, Safdar N, Anwer MA

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2022 Jan;29(5):7393-7405.
PMID: 34476703 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16231-0

In this modern era, the global warming issue has been on the front burner of almost all countries including Malaysia. This study utilizing time series data spanning from 1970 to 2018. To this end, a linear and nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model was conducted to reveal the foreign direct investment-growth-environment nexus. The conclusion validates the existence of the pollution haven hypothesis in Malaysia. Specifically, the empirical results of the linear autoregressive distributed lag model indicate that foreign direct investment and real gross domestic product have a significant positive impact on CO2 emission while carbon damage cost and the interaction term of foreign direct investment and carbon damage cost have a negative impact in the long run and short run. To find the asymmetric behavior of the foreign direct investment our study employed a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model. The findings confirmed the asymmetry association of foreign direct investment with CO2 emission. Interestingly, our results of the interaction term in both models are significant with a negative sign that shows the mediating effect of carbon damage cost that converts the positive effect of foreign direct investment on CO2 emission to negative. Thus, it is vital to reinforce the use of significant regulation as the Malaysian economy opens up to attract more foreign direct investment.
Fulltext Food variety of lesser whistling duck in Malaysian lakes

Onwuka, Martins Chukwuemeka, Rajpar, Muhammad Nawaz, Mohamed Zakaria

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2020;28(4):1329-1343.
MyJurnal

Food distribution and diversity is a significant factor that determines the habitat and site selection of avian species. Its effects on the health, reproduction, survival rate, diversity indices, population structure and home range of avian species. In wetland ecosystem, bird home range and population structure is influenced by richness and diversity of food resources and availability of suitable foraging sites. The aim of the study was to ascertain the food variety of Lesser Whistling Duck – Dendrocygna javanica in Paya Indah Wetland Reserve (PIWR). A scan method was employed from strategic places or blinds using a spotting scope and binocular to determine the food selection and density by Distance sampling point count method. Food items were categorised into the aquatic plants (AP), aquatic invertebrates (AIV), aquatic vertebrates (AV), terrestrial plants (TP), terrestrial vertebrates (TV) and terrestrial invertebrates (TIV). Distance analysis indicated that PIWR harboured 3.88 ± 0.00 birds per ha (n = 188 individuals). In addition, the results revealed that higher bird relative abundance of Lesser Whistling Duck concentrated in the shallow of Belibis lake that was rich in submerged and emergent vegetation (Eleocharis dulcis, Philydrum lanuginosum, Utricularia vulgaris, and Potamogeton perfoliatus). Kruskal–Wallis H test showed that food items were significantly different. Lesser Whistling Duck showed strong correlationship with AIV (r2 = 1.00, P < 0.05) and negative relationship with water TP (r2 = –0.061, P< 0.05). The regression model highlighted that Lesser Whistling Duck significantly preferred aquatic invertebrates, r2 = –0.686±0.68; P
Fulltext THE POTENTIAL OF SOLID ELECTROLYTE FROM FISH WASTE FOR BATTERY APPLICATION

Muhammad Ashraff Aiman Roslan, Nik Aziz Nik Ali

UMT Journal of Undergraduate Research, 2020;2(1):9-14.
MyJurnal

This experiment was conducted to study the potential of solid electrolyte from the fish waste of Clarias gariepinus for battery application. The battery was one of the important components that supplies electrical energy to users throughout the world, and it strongly contributed to technology development in the economic sector, transportation, residential as well as agriculture. The presence of ammonia in organic fish waste could produce renewable energy and helped to reduce the use of lithium-ion batteries in modern industries. Two different parameters were being observed in this study, which was the quantity of fish and the number of the cell layer. The process of collecting the fish waste was carried out in the hatchery at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu using two methods, which were filtering and soaking. The result showed that the highest value of energy output was 0.430V from waste filtering of 50 fish and 0.207V from soaking in waste of 50 fish. Meanwhile, the lowest energy output was from the tank that contained ten fish with an energy output of 0.177V for filtering and 0.101V for soaking. Besides, for a different number of the cell layer, the highest value of energy output was 0.414V at 25 layers, and the lowest voltage was 0.175V at five layers. Thus, from the study was observed that the produced voltage was dependent on the quantity of fish and the number of the cell layer, when the quantity of fish and number of cell layer increases, the output energy was also increased.
Risk & rescuing issue: outdoor adventure accidents in protected areas of Gunung Ledang, Johor National Park, Malaysia

M Adli Mohd Sidi, Muhammad Syakir Sulaiman, Mohd Rifqi Remeli

Journal of Hospitality and Networks, 2019;2019(1):13-17.
MyJurnal

This paper presents a study on outdoor recreational risk factors at Johor National Park of Gunung Ledang. It located at Southern of Malaysia and consists by tropical rainforest. The biodiversity richness and the wilderness of the natural resources has become attraction for local and international tourists to visit this national park to enjoying their outdoor recreational activities. But they are exposed with the risks and hazard in the wilderness tropical rainforest and the rescuing process for the victims is difficult too. This case study data collected using semi structured interviews conducted towards the National Park Managers from each study sites. The data analyzed using NVivo 11 version. As findings, the storm seems as the main outdoor recreational risk factors identified at this national park that may cause falling tree cases in this national park. Secondly, if the accident occurs at the deep forest, the rescuing assistance procedure for the victims is very difficult and takes time to reach the accident location. As conclusion, extreme recreationists were highly expose with outdoor recreational risks in outdoor nature wilderness settings and national park operator should look into this risk issue seriously in order to ensure the visitors’ safety during their visitation to the national parks. Highly recommended, for national park operator to have a look on the necessity of helipad installation at the risky areas of national park to smoothen the rescuing process for the victims in the wilderness areas.
The perceptions among international tourists toward environment impacts at Tanjung Tuan

Siti Mahera Ahmat Amin, Muhammad Arif Nasir, Fatimah Jinal

Journal of Hospitality and Networks, 2018;1(1):18-24.
MyJurnal

The challenge to tourism that is presented by sustainable approach is how to preserve and conserve many natural attractions and today in tourism industry development will have an impacts on environmental. Environment, either physical, social and economics have a positive and negative impacts. The purpose of this study was to examined the perception among international students from University Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia toward environmental impacts at Tanjung Tuan Melaka. For this purpose, qualitative method was used in order to get a perception toward environmental issues among international students from interviews activities. The results show that environmental issues at Tanjung Tuan is not serious and have a good perception among international students, just need to develop some facilities to faced many tourists.
Fulltext Challenges of anti-smoking campaign in Malaysia from the healthcare provider perspective

Mohamad Helmy, J., Normalina, A., Afzan, M.Y., Muhammad Lokman, M.I.

Medicine & Health, 2020;15(1):119-128.
MyJurnal

Kajian ini menemui faktor-faktor cabaran kempen anti-merokok dari perspektif petugas kesihatan di Kuantan. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk menerokai cabaran kempen anti-merokok daripada pandangan petugas kesihatan, kesedaran tentang kewujudan Klinik Berhenti Merokok dan cara untuk menambah baik kempen antimerokok. Kajian ini adalah penting untuk membantu pihak berkuasa Malaysia untuk membangunkan strategi yang lebih baik dalam mempromosikan kempen anti-merokok pada masa akan datang. Persampelan “purposive” digunakan dalam pengumpulan data dan wawancara separa berstruktur telah dilakukan di kalangan lima petugas kesihatan dari tiga Klinik Berhenti Merokok yang terpilih. Kajian ini mendapati petugas kesihatan berpendapat bahawa perokok yang menerima rawatan dari Pusat Kesihatan mempunya pemahaman yang rendah mengenai tatacara piawai (SOP) dalam pemberhentian merokok, komitmen yang rendah dan senang dipengaruhi oleh masyarakat. Petugas kesihatan juga berpendapat tugas pelbagai disiplin menyebabkan tumpuan yang rendah terhadap pesakit yang merokok. Di samping itu, responden merasakan bahawa kewujudan Klinik Berhenti Merokok perlu diperluaskan penghebahannya kepada komuniti. Melalui penemuan ini, beberapa strategi dicadangkan untuk menambah baik pendekatan semasa dalam pengurangan bilangan perokok di Malaysia seperti penambahbaikan penghebahan kepada orang ramai, meningkatkan penguatkuasaan undang-undang serta menyediakan insentif.
Fulltext A qualitative study: the perception on antismoking campaign among smokers in Kuantan

Muhammad Lokman, M.I., Normalina, A., Afzan, M.Y., Mohamad Helmy, J.

Medicine & Health, 2020;15(1):129-140.
MyJurnal

Tabiat merokok adalah perilaku yang tidak sihat malah membahayakan bukan sahaja diri sendiri malahan masyarakat sekeliling. Walaupun terdapat banyak kempen anti-merokok telah diperkenalkan oleh kerajaan, namun keberkesanannya masih di tahap rendah. Oleh itu objektif kajian ini adalah untuk meneroka faktor utama kegagalan kempen anti-merokok di Malaysia, meneroka keberkesanan “Klinik Berhenti Merokok” dan menemui penyelesaian terbaik untuk memastikan kempen yang dijalankan berkesan pada masa akan datang. Ini adalah kajian rentas kualitatif di mana temuduga dijalankan di kalangan lima sukarela responden yang terdiri dari perokok dan bekas perokok di kawasan awam dan tiga klinik berhenti merokok yang terpilih. Data dianalisis dengan menggunakan analisis bertema. Kajian ini mendapati beberapa faktor penyumbang dari perspektif perokok dan pihak berkuasa perlu diberi keutamaan untuk penambahbaikan iaitu kurang kreativiti yang minimum dalam menguruskan promosi anti-merokok, kurang kreatitivi dah terhadap kesihatan, permintaan bahan pencetus semangat di tempat kerja, dan dalam pengurusan tekanan yang lemah. Hasil kajian mengesyorkan bahawa kempen bermula di sekolah rendah dan menengah, improvisasi tanda amaran penyakit, meluaskan kawasan promosi, memberi ganjaran semasa kempen dan perokok perlu mengambil inisiatif melibatkan diri dalam program ini. Kerajaan perlu menumpukan perhatian kepada program pencegahan merokok terlebih dahulu, daripada program intervensi berhenti merokok yang mungkin melibatkan kos kewangan yang tinggi.
Fulltext Assessment of patient satisfaction with the preoperative anaesthetic evaluation

Lee, S.Y., Cheah, S.K., Muhammad, M., Aniza, I.

Medicine & Health, 2020;15(1):156-165.
MyJurnal

Penilaian anestetik pra-operasi adalah penting semasa penjagaan perioperatif. Matlamat utama kajian ini adalah untuk menilai tahap kepuasaan pesakit dan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi kepuasaan pesakit terhadap klinik pra-anestetik. Sejumlah 304 orang pesakit yang menghadiri klinik pra-anestetik telah terlibat dalam kajian ini. Kajian kepuasaan selidik dwibahasa (Bahasa Inggeris dan Bahasa Melayu) dengan berjumlah 18 soalan menguji faktor-faktor bukan penyedia (kemudahan klinik, kesesuaian masa menunggu) dan faktor-faktor penyedia (perkhidmatan doktor, pegawai kaunter, jururawat dan kakitangan sokongan) telah dikaji. Kajian kepuasaan selidik menggunakan format skala Likert lima mata skor sangat setuju/tidak setuju telah digunakan untuk menilai tahap kepuasaan pesakit. Secara keseluruhan, peratusan kepuasaan pesakit terhadap penilaian pra-anestetik dilaporkan sebagai 98.7% dengan skor purata untuk perkhidmatan doktor (4.49 + 0.60), pegawai kaunter (4.48 + 0.61), kakitangan sokongan (4.47 + 0.62), kemudahan klinik dan kesesuaian masa menunggu (4.40 + 0.62). Semua faktor-faktor yang dikaji menunjukkan hubungan yang signifikan (p
The distribution of marine debris along the Pahang coastline, Malaysia during the Southwest and Northeast Monsoons

Azman MA, Ramli MZ, Che Othman SF, Shafiee SA

Mar Pollut Bull, 2021 Sep;170:112630.
PMID: 34146861 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112630

This study investigated the accumulation of debris at four sites, namely, Gebeng, Batu Hitam, Cherok Paloh, and Air Leleh, along the Pahang coastline, Peninsular Malaysia from March 2019 to February 2020. Plastic was the dominant debris (86.1%) and followed by cloth/fabric-based debris (6.0%), processed lumber debris (3.3%), rubber (2.7%), glass (1.5%), and metal (0.4%). The land-based debris (82.0%) was the major source of the deposition of marine waste. A statistically significant relationship was found between the seasonal variation and marine debris density in tidal and seasonal current along the Pahang coastline. In general, the Northeast Monsoon season had a higher amount of debris than the Southwest Monsoon season.
Role of tourism development in environmental degradation: A step towards emission reduction

Liu Z, Lan J, Chien F, Sadiq M, Nawaz MA

J Environ Manage, 2022 Feb 01;303:114078.
PMID: 34838384 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114078

Globally, the interaction and vulnerability of tourism and climate change have recently been in focus. This study examines how carbon dioxide emissions respond to changes in the tourism development. Panel data from 2000 to 2017 for 70 countries are analyzed using spatial econometric method to investigate the spatial spillover effect of tourism development on environmental pollution. The direct, indirect, and overall impact of tourism on environmental pollution are estimated after the selection of the most appropriate GNS method. The findings reveal that tourism has a positive direct effect and a negative indirect effect; both are significant at the 1 % level. The negative indirect effect of tourism is greater than its direct positive effect, implying an overall significantly negative impact. Further, the outcome of financial development and carbon emissions have an inverted U-shaped and U-shaped relationship in direct and indirect impacts. Population density, trade openness and economic growth significantly influence on environmental pollution through spatial spill over. In addition, education expenditure and infrastructure play a significant moderating role in the relationship among tourism development and environmental pollution. The results have important policy implications as they establish an inverted-U-shaped relationship among tourism and environmental pollution and indicate that while a country's emissions initially rise with the tourism industry's growth, they begin declining after a limit.
Fulltext A novel single-feed hybrid reconfigurable microstrip patch antenna for 5G mobile communication and radio frequency energy harvesting applications at 28/38GHz

Shereen MK, Khattak MI, Zubir F, Basit A

PLoS One, 2022;17(1):e0260407.
PMID: 35041686 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260407

Reconfigurable antennas have received much attention in RF energy harvesting models owing to their selectivity for operating frequency and polarization. The characteristic of having frequency selectivity and polarization selectivity can be termed as frequency diversity and polarization diversity, respectively. This paper investigates a rectenna device with a new proposed topology in order to eliminate coupling between input and output lines and increase the rectification efficiency with the use of single feed hybrid reconfigurable antenna, switch between 28GHz and 38GHz frequency. Moreover, it is designed to charge a rechargeable battery of 1watt(W). The Reconfiguration mechanism is realized by electronically controlling different states of Switches. PIN Diode (as RLC Equivalent circuit) is used as a switch for ON/OFF states. This antenna mainly comprises rectangular shaped patches (28GHz and 38GHz) with Triango-Truncated edge at the corners. Eighteen PIN Diodes are placed symmetrically throughout the antenna presenting as, S1 & S2 for frequency reconfiguration, S3 to S6 & S7 to S10 connects Triango Truncated edge at the corners for polarization reconfiguration, and for radiation pattern reconfiguration at S11 to S14 & S15 to S18 has been used. The proposed antenna model is capable of simultaneously changing, the radiation patterns as clock and anti-clockwise directions at ±90-degree shift in E and H planes, circularly polarized (CP) states among, Linear Polarization (LP), Right Hand Circularly Polarization (RHCP), and Left Hand Circularly Polarization (LHCP). The current design describes using single antenna for energy harvesting and 5G mobile communication application. This would lead to higher output currents, leading to the ability to efficiently charge a wide variety of batteries. A fully functional prototype has been designed, fabricated and its compound reconfiguration characteristics have been validated for simulated and measured results. For validation of results, the experimental results and the simulation results from the proposed mathematical model were made into comparison, and excellent correlation between the measured and simulated results was obtained.
Fulltext The COVID-19 impact on air condition usage: a shift towards residential energy saving

Aliero MS, Pasha MF, Toosi AN, Ghani I

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2022 Dec;29(57):85727-85741.
PMID: 35001275 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17862-z

The enforcement of the Movement Control Order to curtail the spread of COVID-19 has affected home energy consumption, especially HVAC systems. Occupancy detection and estimation have been recognized as key contributors to improving building energy efficiency. Several solutions have been proposed for the past decade to improve the precision performance of occupancy detection and estimation in the building. Environmental sensing is one of the practical solutions to detect and estimate occupants in the building during uncertain behavior. However, the literature reveals that the performance of environmental sensing is relatively poor due to the poor quality of the training dataset used in the model. This study proposed a smart sensing framework that combined camera-based and environmental sensing approaches using supervised learning to gather standard and robust datasets related to indoor occupancy that can be used for cross-validation of different machine learning algorithms in formal research. The proposed solution is tested in the living room with a prototype system integrated with various sensors using a random forest regressor, although other techniques could be easily integrated within the proposed framework. The primary implication of this study is to predict the room occupation through the use of sensors providing inputs into a model to lower energy consumption. The results indicate that the proposed solution can obtain data, process, and predict occupant presence and number with 99.3% accuracy. Additionally, to demonstrate the impact of occupant number in energy saving, one room with two zones is modeled each zone with air condition with different thermostat controller. The first zone uses IoFClime and the second zone uses modified IoFClime using a design-builder. The simulation is conducted using EnergyPlus software with the random simulation of 10 occupants and local climate data under three scenarios. The Fanger model's thermal comfort analysis shows that up to 50% and 25% energy can be saved under the first and third scenarios.
Fulltext Do geopolitical risk and energy consumption contribute to environmental degradation? Evidence from E7 countries

Husnain MIU, Syed QR, Bashir A, Khan MA

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2022 Jan 30.
PMID: 35094268 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17606-z

Environmental degradation is frequently cited as one of the eminent issues in the modern era. To limit environmental degradation, prior literature discerns several macroeconomic, socio-economic, and institutional factors that affect environmental degradation. However, the relationship between geopolitical risk and environmental degradation is understudied in the previous literature. To fill this gap, the inquiry at hand aims to scrutinize the influence of geopolitical risk on environmental degradation for E7 countries while controlling the effect of renewable energy, non-renewable energy, and GDP. Further, we utilize both the ecological footprint and CO2 emissions as proxies of environmental degradation and employ second-generation panel methods for robust findings. In addition to this, the present study uses augmented mean group (AMG) estimator to provide long-run relationship among the selected variables. The findings from the AMG estimator expound that there exists environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) for E7 countries. Moreover, renewable energy ameliorates environmental quality because it plunges both ecological footprint and CO2 emissions. On the contrary, non-renewable energy consumption escalates both ecological footprint and CO2 emissions. Finally, geopolitical risk tends to decrease CO2 emissions as well as ecological footprint. Our findings deduce a few policy implications to replenish environmental quality. For instance, the share of renewables in the energy mix should be surged to ameliorate the environmental quality. Further, to control both the geopolitical risk and environmental degradation at the same time, policymakers should put forward reforms and initiatives (e.g., policies to escalate R&D, technological innovations, and tax exemptions on imports of renewables) that can help to improve environmental quality without affecting geopolitical risk. At times of low geopolitical risk, environmental degradation will surge; therefore, the rate of environmental control taxes should be increased by the policymakers.
Fulltext Retracted: Luciferase-transfected colon adenocarcinoma cell line (DLD-1) for use in Orthotopic Xenotransplantation studies

Siddique MR, Shynder S, Ashraf MA, Yusoff I, Wajid A

Chem Cent J, 2012 Jul 18;6(1):69.
PMID: 22809083 DOI: 10.1186/1752-153X-6-69

BACKGROUND: Renilla Luciferase reporter gene (rLuc) GL4.82 and GL4.13 promoter are key player in transfection, but precise knowledge of its targets in colon cancer remains limited. The aim of this study was to characterize the best transfection technique to produce a stable transfected colon DLD1 (colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line), therefore imaging based approaches were employed.
RESULTS: DLD1 cells were transfected with a Plasmid (SV40-RLuc) carrying Renilla luciferase under the control of the SV-40 promoter, by using two different transfection techniques. Cells expressing the required DNA were isolated after antibiotic (Puramycin) selection. Clones of DLD-1/SV40-RLuc were produced using two different techniques (96 well plates and Petri dish) and their florescence intensity was recorded using IVIS machine (Calliper Life Sciences, Hopkinton, USA). Both techniques were characterized with the help of serial dilution technique. Results from this study substantiated that electroporation is the best. As expected, clones varied in their specific luciferase activity along with the dilutions. With the increase in cell concentration increase in intensity of florescence was recorded.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results we are confident that this transfected cell line DLD-1/SV40-RLuc (colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line) is the best for further Orthotopic Xenotransplantation Studies and in-vivo experiments as well. Investigation shows that DLD1/SV-rLuc cells have gained little bit resistance against both drugs therefore further study is suggested to know the reasons.
Solution-processed Ga-doped ZnO nanorod arrays as electron acceptors in organic solar cells

Ginting RT, Yap CC, Yahaya M, Salleh MM

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2014 Apr 9;6(7):5308-18.
PMID: 24636005 DOI: 10.1021/am5007832

This paper reports the utilization of ZnO nanorod arrays (NRAs) doped with various concentrations of Ga (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 at %) as electron acceptors in organic solar cells. The donor, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), was spin coated onto Ga-doped ZnO NRAs that were grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates, followed by the deposition of a Ag electrode by a magnetron sputtering method. Adjusting the Ga precursor concentration allowed for the control of the structural and optical properties of ZnO NRAs. The short circuit current density increased with increasing Ga concentration from 0 to 1 at %, mainly because of improved exciton dissociation and increased charge extraction. Meanwhile, the reduced charge recombination and lower hole leakage current led to an increase in the open circuit voltage with Ga concentrations up to 1 at %. The device with the optimum Ga concentration of 1 at % exhibited power conversion efficiency nearly three times higher compared to the device without Ga doping. This finding suggests that the incorporation of Ga can be a simple and effective approach to improve the photovoltaic performance of organic solar cells.
Fulltext Negative correlation between age of subjects and length of the appendix in Bangladeshi males

Bakar SM, Shamim M, Alam GM, Sarwar M

Arch Med Sci, 2013 Feb 21;9(1):55-67.
PMID: 23515519 DOI: 10.5114/aoms.2013.33349

INTRODUCTION: The anatomy of the vermiform appendix shows variations in its macroscopic dimensions some of which have potential to influence the clinical aspects of the appendix. Anatomical studies on the appendix using people in Bangladesh as a sample are limited and fall short of producing any standardized anthropometric data. This study is predominantly a cross-sectional observational study which also uses some statistical analysis to understand the relationships amongst variables.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-six adult male postmortem appendices and adnexa were examined for macroscopic features. Possible interrelationships among the variables were assessed through statistical analysis. The age of the samples ranged from 18 to 67 years. The most common position of the appendix was retrocolic (53.57%) followed by pelvic (30.35%), postileal (12.5%), and subcaecal (3.5%).
RESULTS: In most cases (62.5%) the mesoappendix did not reach the tip of the appendix. The appendicular length varied from 6.00 cm to 16.30 cm with mean (± SD) and median value of 10.21 ±2.50 cm and 10.00 cm respectively. The base of the appendix was 1.90 to 3.80 cm away from the ileocaecal junction. The other macroscopic measurements of the appendix were taken at the base, at the midzone and at the tip of the appendix and the mean of the three measurements was considered as the overall value. Thus, the overall external diameter varied between 0.32 cm and 0.83 cm. Assessment of possible correlations amongst different variables revealed a significant negative correlation between the age of the subjects and the length of the appendix.
CONCLUSIONS: The data of the present study may provide a baseline along with some previous data in the standardization of the anthropometric information regarding the vermiform appendix of Bangladeshi males.

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