Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 266 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Development of assessment methods for photovoltaic module enhancing techniques using the lifespan parameter
    M Sultan S, Tso CP, Sopian K, K Ajeel R, Sobayel K, Ibrahim A, et al.
    Heliyon, 2023 Nov;9(11):e21294.
    PMID: 37885726 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21294
    The photovoltaic module (PV) enhancer is a technology used for improving the PV performance. Recently, much research has been conducted to propose new concepts of PV enhancer such as coolers and reflectors. The PV enhancer performance is assessed by the common existing methods available in the literature, which solely depends on total exergy or energy, volume, area, weight and the manufacturing cost. These assessment methods are useful but cannot assess the PV enhancer's performance when considering the lifespan parameter. Hence, this study is intended to solve the current problem by linking the lifespan parameter into the existing methods by proposing three enhanced assessment methods: yield times lifespan per cost per area, yield times lifespan per cost per volume and yield times lifespan per cost per weight. The PV enhancer with the highest values of these factors will have the optimum performance. The influential parameters and limitations of the enhanced assessment methods are investigated. It is shown that the proposed methods can assess and classify the performance of the PV enhancer with different models when the lifespan is considered in the analysis. These assessment approaches can be applied by manufacturers and designers of PV enhancers.
  2. Fulltext Influence of urban forests on residential property values: A systematic review of remote sensing-based studies
    Ewane EB, Bajaj S, Velasquez-Camacho L, Srinivasan S, Maeng J, Singla A, et al.
    Heliyon, 2023 Oct;9(10):e20408.
    PMID: 37842597 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20408
    Urban forests provide direct and indirect benefits to human well-being that are increasingly captured in residential property values. Remote Sensing (RS) can be used to measure a wide range of forest and vegetation parameters that allows for a more detailed and better understanding of their specific influences on housing prices. Herein, through a systematic literature review approach, we reviewed 89 papers (from 2010 to 2022) from 21 different countries that used RS data to quantify vegetation indices, forest and tree parameters of urban forests and estimated their influence on residential property values. The main aim of this study was to understand and provide insights into how urban forests influence residential property values based on RS studies. Although more studies were conducted in developed (n = 55, 61.7%) than developing countries (n = 34, 38.3%), the results indicated for the most part that increasing tree canopy cover on property and neighborhood level, forest size, type, greenness, and proximity to urban forests increased housing prices. RS studies benefited from spatially explicit repetitive data that offer superior efficiency to quantify vegetation, forest, and tree parameters of urban forests over large areas and longer periods compared to studies that used field inventory data. Through this work, we identify and underscore that urban forest benefits outweigh management costs and have a mostly positive influence on housing prices. Thus, we encourage further discussions about prioritizing reforestation and conservation of urban forests during the urban planning of cities and suburbs, which could support UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and urban policy reforms.
  3. Fulltext Unravelling trends, patterns and intellectual structure of research on bankruptcy in SMEs: A bibliometric assessment and visualisation
    Rashid U, Abdullah M, Khatib SFA, Khan FM, Akhter J
    Heliyon, 2024 Jan 30;10(2):e24254.
    PMID: 38293348 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24254
    Despite the burgeoning interest among academics in investigating the factors contributing to the high business failure rate among SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), the systematic synthesis of the literature on bankruptcy in SMEs is restricted. This article aims to significantly advance the understanding of the causes and repercussions of bankruptcy in SMEs and the preventative actions that may be taken to avoid it. This review assesses 282 articles from 175 outlets employing quantitative and statistics-based bibliometric tools. This bibliometric assessment helped delineate the citation and publication trends and the top contributors to the domain. The underlying thematic clusters of research on bankruptcy in SMEs were also identified, deciphered and elaborated, along with charting the future research vistas through the lens of theory, context, and methods framework. The authors believe this bibliometric variant of systematic literature review makes a significant contribution to bankruptcy and SME research by highlighting the development of the literature and some of the most active research fronts in the domain by offering insights that were not clasped thoroughly or assessed by prior literature assessments.
  4. Fulltext Development of double-layer metamaterial with high effective medium ratio values for S- and C-band applications
    Sifat R, Faruque MRI, Ramachandran T, Abdullah M, Islam MT, Al-Mugren KS
    Heliyon, 2024 Jan 15;10(1):e23851.
    PMID: 38192815 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23851
    This study introduces a compact double negative metamaterial (DNM) composed of three split rings connected slab resonator (TSRCSR) based double-layer design with a high 13.9 EMR (effective medium ratio) value. A double-layer patch is introduced to achieve the novel double negative properties, including negative behaviours of effective medium parameters, including refractive index, permittivity, and permeability with a high effective medium ratio for the miniaturised size of the introduced unconventional material that is highly suitable for microwave S and C band covering applications. The popular low-loss Rogers RT5880 (thickness 1.575 mm) substrate and copper resonator materials are utilized to develop the metamaterial unit cell that offers triple resonance between frequencies from 1 to 8 GHz. Therefore, the proposed metamaterial exhibits resonance peaks at 2.75, 5.2, and 6.3 GHz, suitable for radar, communication satellite, and long-distance telecommunication applications, respectively. The commercially available simulator known as Computer Simulation Technology (CST) is adopted to develop and simulate the 8 × 8 mm2 metamaterial design. The simulation results of the introduced TSRCSR design structure were verified by adopting the Ansys High-Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS). Furthermore, it was then proved with the help of equivalent circuit model findings gained from the Advanced Design Structure (ADS) software. On the other hand, the analytical results were further validated by measuring the TSRCSR design utilizing a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA). These analyses become one of the novelties of this work, where the compact TSRCSR metamaterial successfully gained small discrepancies in transmission coefficient values when compared to both analytical and measurement results. The proposed metamaterial is highly suggested for communication devices for its extensive effective characteristics and compactness.
  5. Influence of oxyhydrogen gas retrofit into two-stroke engine on emissions and exhaust gas temperature variations
    Kamarudin R, Ang YZ, Topare NS, Ismail MN, Mustafa KF, Gunnasegaran P, et al.
    Heliyon, 2024 Mar 15;10(5):e26597.
    PMID: 38434285 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26597
    The generation of power and fuel sustainability that contributes to a cleaner output of exhaust gases is one of the most important objectives the world seeks. In this paper, oxyhydrogen gas is used to retrofit into a two-stroke engine. The water was electrolysed and generated a mixture of oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2) or known as oxyhydrogen (HHO) gas via an electrolytic dry cell generator. The HHO was retrofitted experimentally to investigate the engine emissions and exhaust gas temperature from a 1.5 kW gasoline engine. The engine was tested with different power ratings (84-720 W) to investigate the performance and emissions of the engine using gasoline followed by the addition of HHO. The emissions of CO and NOx were measured with different amounts of HHO added. The exhaust temperature was calculated as one of the variables to be considered in relation to pollution. The air-fuel ratios are varied from 12 to 20% in the experiment. The most appropriate air-fuel ratio needed to start the generator with the most environmentally friendly gas emission was analysed. The results showed that the addition of HHO to the engine is successful in reducing fuel consumption up to 8.9%. A higher percentage of HHO added also has improved the emissions and reduced exhaust gas temperature. In this study, the highest quantity of HHO added at 0.15% of the volume fraction reduced CO gas emission by up to 9.41%, NOx gas up to 4.31%, and exhaust gas temperature by up to 2.02%. Generally, adding oxyhydrogen gas has significantly reduced the emissions, and exhaust temperature and provided an eco-friendly environment.
  6. Fulltext SRR inspired inversion symmetry-shaped left-handed metamaterial with a high effective medium ratio for ASR and WLAN applications
    Sifat R, Faruque MRI, Ramachandran T, Abdullah M, Islam MT, Al-Mugren KS
    Heliyon, 2024 Feb 29;10(4):e26232.
    PMID: 38390122 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26232
    This study developed a metamaterial-inspired split-ring resonator (SRR) based inversion symmetry-shaped structure for airport surveillance radar and local area wireless network applications. The proposed device exhibited suitability for S- and C-band applications, featuring distinct resonance peaks at 2.8 and 4.9 GHz, respectively. The two-layer double negative metamaterial unit cell comprises a copper-based resonator, patch, and a low-loss substrate material known as Rogers RT5800 with a thickness of 1.575 mm. The 8 × 8 mm2 structure unit cell was identified with an effective medium ratio (EMR) of 13.4 at the resonance peak of 2.8 GHz. With the alteration of the metamaterial unit cell structure, the electric field, surface current distribution, magnetic field, and design evolution were observed, analysed, and investigated in this study. Meanwhile, the retrieved data from the reflection and transmission coefficients from CST Microwave Studio were validated using the Ansys High-Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) software. A Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) further measured the numerical results. Based on the findings, the proposed novel double negative metamaterial device is suitable for radar communication and satellite applications, especially airport surveillance radar (ASR) and wireless local area network (WLAN), due to its high EMR at the desired resonance frequency.
  7. Increased regulatory T cells in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients
    Idris SZ, Hassan N, Lee LJ, Md Noor S, Osman R, Abdul-Jalil M, et al.
    Hematology, 2016 May;21(4):206-12.
    PMID: 26907959 DOI: 10.1080/10245332.2015.1101965
    INTRODUCTION: Regulation in adaptive immune response balances a fine line that prevents instigation of self-damage or fall into unresponsiveness permitting abnormal cell growth. Mechanisms that keep this balance in check include regulatory T cells (Tregs). Tregs consist of a small but heterogeneous population, which may be identified by the phenotype, CD3+CD4+CD25+CD127-. The role of Tregs in pathogenesis of cancers is thus far supported by evidence of increased Tregs in various cancers and may contribute to poorer prognosis. Tregs may also be important in acute leukaemias.

    OBJECTIVE: A review of the literature on Tregs in acute leukaemias was conducted and Tregs were determined in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemias (ALLs).

    RESULTS: Studies on Tregs in B-cell ALL are few and controversial. We observed a significantly increased percentage of Tregs (mean±SD, 9.72 ± 3.79% vs. 7.05 ± 1.74%; P = 0.047) in the bone marrow/peripheral blood of ALL (n = 17) compared to peripheral blood of normal controls (n = 35). A positive trend between Tregs and age (R = 0.474, P = 0.055, n = 17) implicates this factor of poor prognosis in B-cell ALL.

    DISCUSSION: Tregs in cancer are particularly significant in immunotherapy. The manipulation of the immune system to treat cancer has for a long time ignored regulatory mechanisms inducible or in place. In lymphoma studies, tumour-specific mechanisms that are unlike conventional methods in the induction of Tregs have been hypothesized. In addition, tumour-infiltrating Tregs may present different profiles from peripheral blood pictures. Tregs will continue to be dissected to reveal its mysteries and their impact on clinical significance.

  8. ADAMTSL5 and CDH11: putative epigenetic markers for therapeutic resistance in acute lymphoblastic leukemia
    Abdullah M, Choo CW, Alias H, Abdul Rahman EJ, Mohd Ibrahim H, Jamal R, et al.
    Hematology, 2017 Aug;22(7):386-391.
    PMID: 28292214 DOI: 10.1080/10245332.2017.1299417
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: DNA hypermethylation has been linked to poor treatment outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Genes differentially methylated in the chemoresponsive pre-B-ALL compared to chemoresistant pre-B-ALL cases provide potential prognostic markers.

    METHODS: DNA methylation profiles of five B-ALL childhood patients who achieved morphological complete remission (chemoresponsive) and five B-ALL patients who did not (chemoresistant) after induction treatments as well as four normal controls were compared on 27 000 CpG sites microarray chips. Subsequently, methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) on selected hypermethylated genes was conducted on an additional 37 chemoresponsive and 9 chemoresistant B-ALL samples and 2 normal controls.

    RESULTS: Both methods were found to be highly correlated. Unsupervised principal component analysis showed that the chemotherapy-responsive and -resistant B-ALL patients could be segregated from one another. Selection of segregated genes at high stringency identified two potential genes (CDH11 and ADAMTSL5). MSP analysis on the larger cohort of samples (42 chemoresponsive, 14 chemoresistant B-ALL samples and 6 normal controls) revealed significantly higher rates of hypermethylation in chemoresistant samples for ADAMTSL5 (93 vs. 38%; p = 0.0001) and CDH11 (79% vs. 40%, p 

  9. Fulltext Ferritin level: A predictor of severity and mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients
    Alroomi M, Rajan R, Omar AA, Alsaber A, Pan J, Fatemi M, et al.
    Immun Inflamm Dis, 2021 Dec;9(4):1648-1655.
    PMID: 34438471 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.517
    INTRODUCTION: This study aims to investigate in-hоsрitаl mоrtаlity in severe асute resрirаtоry syndrоme соrоnаvirus 2 раtients strаtified by serum ferritin levels.

    METHODS: Patients were stratified based on ferritin levels (ferritin levels ≤ 1000 or >1000).

    RESULTS: Approximately 89% (118) of the patients with ferritin levels > 1000 had pneumonia, and 51% (67) had hypertension. Fever (97, 73.5%) and shortness of breath (80, 61%) were two major symptoms among the patients in this group. Logistic regression analysis indicated that ferritin level (odds ratio [OR] = 0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.21-0.62; p  1000.

    CONCLUSION: In this study, higher levels of serum ferritin were found to be an independent predictor of in-hоsрitаl mоrtаlity.

  10. Phenotyping of lymphocytes expressing regulatory and effector markers in infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast
    Leong PP, Mohammad R, Ibrahim N, Ithnin H, Abdullah M, Davis WC, et al.
    Immunol Lett, 2006 Feb 15;102(2):229-36.
    PMID: 16246429
    Dysfunction of the host immune system in cancer patients can be due to a number of reasons including suppression of tumour associated antigen reactive lymphocytes by regulatory T (Treg) cells. In this study, we used flow cytometry to determine the phenotype and relative abundance of the tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from 47 enzymatically dissociated tumour specimens from patients with infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast. The expression of both effector and regulatory markers on the TILs were determined by using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Analysis revealed CD8(+) T cells (23.4+/-2.1%) were predominant in TILs, followed by CD4(+) T cells (12.6+/-1.7%) and CD56(+) natural killer cells (6.4+/-0.7%). The CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio was 0.8+/-0.9%. Of the CD8(+) cells, there was a higher number (68.4+/-3.5%) that expressed the effector phenotype, namely, CD8(+)CD28(+) and about 46% of this subset expressed the activation marker, CD25. Thus, a lower number of infiltrating CD8(+) T cells (31.6+/-2.8%) expressed the marker for the suppressor phenotype, CD8(+)CD28(-). Of the CD4(+) T cells, 59.6+/-3.9% expressed the marker for the regulatory phenotype, CD4(+)CD25(+). About 43.6+/-3.8% CD4(+)CD25(+) subset co-expressed both the CD152 and FOXP3, the Treg-associated molecules. A positive correlation was found between the presence of CD4(+)CD25(+) subset and age (> or =50 years old) (r=0.51; p=0.045). However, no significant correlation between tumour stage and CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells was found. In addition, we also found that the CD4(+)CD25(-) subset correlated with the expression of the nuclear oestrogen receptor (ER)-alpha in the tumour cells (r=0.45; p=0.040). In conclusion, we detected the presence of cells expressing the markers for Tregs (CD4(+)CD25(+)) and suppressor (CD8(+)CD28(-)) in the tumour microenvironment. This is the first report of the relative abundance of Treg co-expressing CD152 and FOXP3 in breast carcinoma.
  11. The Association between risk factors and low back pain among commercial vehicle drivers in peninsular Malaysia: a preliminary result
    Tamrin SB, Yokoyama K, Jalaludin J, Aziz NA, Jemoin N, Nordin R, et al.
    Ind Health, 2007 Apr;45(2):268-78.
    PMID: 17485871
    To determine the risk factors associated with complain of low back pain. A cross sectional study was done from June 2004 until August 2005. Seven hundred and sixty commercial vehicle drivers from 11 bus companies in central, northern and eastern regions in Malaysia participated in this study. Modified Nordic questionnaire was used to determine the prevalence of low back pain; Maestro human vibration meter was used to measure the personal R.M.S values of lateral, anterior-posterior and vertical axes. Modified Owas was used to assess the awkward posture of the driver torso namely, bending forward movement, leaning, sitting straight and twisting. Profile of Mood States (POMS) was used to evaluate the mood states of bus drivers with complain of low back pain. A high prevalence of low back pain (60.4%) among Malaysian commercial vehicle drivers was found. Logistic regression analysis controlling for age, income, education level and non occupational activities revealed that the following factors were related to low back pain: Tension-anxiety [1.080, 95% CI 1.041-1.121], depression dejection [1.047, 95% CI 1.023-1.072], anger-hostility [1.053, 95% CI 1.027-1.081], fatigue [1.132, 95% CI 1.089-1.177] and confusion [1.114, 95% CI 1.061-1.169] of POMS, length of employment [1.001, 95% CI 1.0-1.003], steering wheel adjustment [1.521, 95% CI 1.101-2.101], perception of exposing to vibration [1.943, 95% CI 1.389-2.719]. In conclusion, combinations of risks lead to high increase of low back pain complain among Malaysian bus drivers.
  12. Fulltext Do Termitaria Indicate the Presence of Groundwater? A Case Study of Hydrogeophysical Investigation on a Land Parcel with Termite Activity
    Ahmed JB, Salisu A, Pradhan B, Alamri AM
    Insects, 2020 Oct 24;11(11).
    PMID: 33114307 DOI: 10.3390/insects11110728
    Termite nests have long been suggested to be good indicators of groundwater but only a few studies are available to demonstrate the relationship between the two. This study therefore aims at investigating the most favourable spots for locating groundwater structures on a small parcel of land with conspicuous termite activity. To achieve this, geophysical soundings using the renowned vertical electrical sounding (VES) technique was carried out on the gridded study area. A total of nine VESs with one at the foot of a termitarium were conducted. The VES results were interpreted and assessed via two different techniques: (1) physical evaluation as performed by drillers in the field and (2) integration of primary and secondary geoelectrical parameters in a geographic information system (GIS). The result of the physical evaluation indicated a clear case of subjectivity in the interpretation but was consistent with the choice of VES points 1 and 6 (termitarium location) as being the most prospective points to be considered for drilling. Similarly, the integration of the geoelectrical parameters led to the mapping of the most prospective groundwater portion of the study area with the termitarium chiefly in the center of the most suitable region. This shows that termitaria are valuable landscape features that can be employed as biomarkers in the search of groundwater.
  13. Ethnicity influences disease characteristics and symptom severity in allergic rhinitis patients in Malaysia
    Amini P, Abdullah M, Seng LS, Karunakaran T, Hani N, Bakar SA, et al.
    Int Forum Allergy Rhinol, 2016 Jun;6(6):624-30.
    PMID: 26919193 DOI: 10.1002/alr.21442
    BACKGROUND: The number of available reports regarding the influence of ethnicity on clinical features of allergic rhinitis (AR), especially disease severity in tropical climates, is limited. We aimed to compare clinical parameters and disease severity in AR patients of different ethnicities.

    METHODS: Malay, Chinese, and Indian AR patients (n = 138) with confirmed sensitivity to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dematophagoides farinae, and Blomia tropicalis were tested for mite-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) levels. A detailed questionnaire was used to collect data on nasal symptom score (NSS), ocular symptom score (OSS), sum of symptoms score (SSS), quality of life score (QLS), symptomatic control score (SCS), and total sum of scores (TSS) and correlate the derived data with patients' demography, mite-polysensitivity, and sIgE levels.

    RESULTS: AR-related symptoms were most severe in Malays and least in Chinese (p < 0.01). Age (r = 0.516 to 0.673, p < 0.05) and duration of AR (r = 0.635 to 0.726, p < 0.01) correlated positively with severity domains (NSS, SSS, QLS, and TSS) in Chinese. Duration of concurrent allergies was highest in Malays (p < 0.05). Polysensitivity predicted increased sIgE levels in Malays (r = 0.464 to 0.551, p < 0.01) and Indians (r = 0.541 to 0.645, p < 0.05) but affected NSS, SSS, and TSS only in Indians (r = 0.216 to 0.376, p < 0.05). sIgE levels were lowest among Chinese but correlated strongly with NSS, OSS, SSS, and TSS (r = 0408 to 0.898, p < 0.05).

    CONCLUSION: Clinical parameters in AR may be influenced by race. Symptoms were most severe among Malays but did not correlate with other variables examined. Although Indian ethnicity did not impact disease severity, duration of concurrent allergies and mite-polysensitivity was associated with more severe disease. Age, duration of disease, and sIgE levels may be useful indicators of disease severity in Chinese.

  14. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells modulate BV2 microglia responses to lipopolysaccharide
    Ooi YY, Ramasamy R, Rahmat Z, Subramaiam H, Tan SW, Abdullah M, et al.
    Int Immunopharmacol, 2010 Dec;10(12):1532-40.
    PMID: 20850581 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2010.09.001
    The immunoregulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been demonstrated on a wide range of cells. Here, we describe the modulatory effects of mouse bone marrow-derived MSC on BV2 microglia proliferation rate, nitric oxide (NO) production and CD40 expression. Mouse bone marrow MSC were co-cultured with BV2 cells at various seeding density ratios and activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We show that MSC exert an anti-proliferative effect on microglia and are potent producers of NO when stimulated by soluble factors released by LPS-activated BV2. MSC suppressed proliferation of both untreated and LPS-treated microglia in a dose-dependent manner, significantly reducing BV2 proliferation at seeding density ratios of 1:0.2 and 1:0.1 (p
  15. Increased sensitivity of malaria detection by nested polymerase chain reaction using simple sampling and DNA extraction
    Cox-Singh J, Mahayet S, Abdullah MS, Singh B
    Int J Parasitol, 1997 Dec;27(12):1575-7.
    PMID: 9467744
    Malaria remains a disease of underdeveloped and remote regions of the world. The application of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology to malaria epidemiology has the potential for increasing our knowledge and understanding of this disease. In order to study malaria in all geographical locations it is important that specimen collection and DNA extraction for PCR be kept simple. Here we report a method for extracting DNA from dried blood spots on filter paper which is capable of detecting one Plasmodium falciparum and two Plasmodium vivax parasites/microliter of whole blood by nested PCR without compromising the simplicity of specimen collection or DNA extraction.
  16. Use of cellulose acetate/polyphenylsulfone derivatives to fabricate ultrafiltration hollow fiber membranes for the removal of arsenic from drinking water
    Kumar M, RaoT S, Isloor AM, Ibrahim GPS, Inamuddin, Ismail N, et al.
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2019 May 15;129:715-727.
    PMID: 30738161 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.02.017
    Cellulose acetate (CA) and cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) were used as additives (1 wt%, 3 wt%, and 5 wt%) to prepare polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) hollow fiber membranes. Prepared hollow fiber membranes were characterized by surface morphology using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface roughness by atomic force microscopy (AFM), the surface charge of the membrane was analyzed by zeta potential measurement, hydrophilicity by contact angle measurement and the functional groups by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Fouling resistant nature of the prepared hollow fiber membranes was evaluated by bovine serum albumin (BSA) and molecular weight cutoff was investigated using polyethylene glycol (PEG). By total organic carbon (TOC), the percentage rejection of PEG was found to be 14,489 Da. It was found that the hollow fiber membrane prepared by the addition of 5 wt% of CAP in PPSU confirmed increased arsenic removal from water as compared to hollow fiber membrane prepared by 5 wt% of CA in PPSU. The removal percentages of arsenic with CA-5 and CAP-5 hollow fiber membrane was 34% and 41% with arsenic removal permeability was 44.42 L/m2h bar and 40.11 L/m2h bar respectively. The increased pure water permeability for CA-5 and CAP-5 hollow fiber membrane was 61.47 L/m2h bar and 69.60 L/m2 h bar, respectively.
  17. Novel combination of zero-valent Cu and Ag nanoparticles @ cellulose acetate nanocomposite for the reduction of 4-nitro phenol
    Khan FU, Asimullah, Khan SB, Kamal T, Asiri AM, Khan IU, et al.
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2017 Sep;102:868-877.
    PMID: 28428128 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.04.062
    A very simple and low-cost procedure has been adopted to synthesize efficient copper (Cu), silver (Ag) and copper-silver (Cu-Ag) mixed nanoparticles on the surface of pure cellulose acetate (CA) and cellulose acetate-copper oxide nanocomposite (CA-CuO). All nanoparticles loaded onto CA and CA-CuO presented excellent catalytic ability, but Cu-Ag nanoparticles loaded onto CA-CuO (Cu0-Ag0/CA-CuO) exhibited outstanding catalytic efficiency to convert 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) into 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in the presence of NaBH4. Additionally, the Cu0-Ag0/CA-CuO can be easily recovered by removing the sheet from the reaction media, and can be recycled several times, maintaining high catalytic ability for four cycles.
  18. An efficient wastewater treatment through reduction of organic dyes using Ag nanoparticles supported on cellulose gum beads
    Khan MSJ, Sidek LM, Kamal T, Asiri AM, Khan SB, Basri H, et al.
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2024 Feb;257(Pt 1):128544.
    PMID: 38061525 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128544
    This work reports silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) supported on biopolymer carboxymethyl cellulose beads (Ag-CMC) serves as an efficient catalyst in the reduction process of p-nitrophenol (p-NP) and methyl orange (MO). For Ag-CMC synthesis, first CMC beads were prepared by crosslinking the CMC solution in aluminium nitrate solution and then the CMC beads were introduced into AgNO3 solution to adsorb Ag ions. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analysis suggests the uniform distribution of Ag nanoparticles on the CMC beads. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the metallic and fcc planes of AgNPs, respectively, in the Ag-CMC catalyst. The Ag-CMC catalyst exhibits remarkable reduction activity for the p-NP and MO dyes with the highest rate constant (kapp) of a chemical reaction is 0.519 and 0.697 min-1, respectively. Comparative reduction studies of Ag-CMC with CMC, Fe-CMC and Co-CMC disclosed that Ag-CMC containing AgNPs is an important factore in reducing the organic pollutants like p-NP and MO dyes. During the recyclability tests, the Ag-CMC also maintained high reduction activity, which suggests that CMC protects the AgNPs from leaching during dye reduction reactions.
  19. Fulltext The Role, Involvement and Function(s) of Interleukin-35 and Interleukin-37 in Disease Pathogenesis
    Bello RO, Chin VK, Abd Rachman Isnadi MF, Abd Majid R, Atmadini Abdullah M, Lee TY, et al.
    Int J Mol Sci, 2018 Apr 11;19(4).
    PMID: 29641433 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19041149
    The recently identified cytokines-interleukin (IL)-35 and interleukin (IL)-37-have been described for their anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating actions in numerous inflammatory diseases, auto-immune disorders, malignancies, infectious diseases and sepsis. Either cytokine has been reported to be reduced and in some cases elevated and consequently contributed towards disease pathogenesis. In view of the recent advances in utilizing cytokine profiles for the development of biological macromolecules, beneficial in the management of certain intractable immune-mediated disorders, these recently characterized cytokines (IL-35 and IL-37) offer potential as reasonable targets for the discovery of novel immune-modulating anti-inflammatory therapies. A detailed comprehension of their sophisticated regulatory mechanisms and patterns of expression may provide unique opportunities for clinical application as highly selective and target specific therapeutic agents. This review seeks to summarize the recent advancements in discerning the dynamics, mechanisms, immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory actions of IL-35 and IL-37 as they relate to disease pathogenesis.
  20. Fulltext Evaluation of Circulating MicroRNAs and Adipokines in Breast Cancer Survivors with Arm Lymphedema
    Yusof KM, Groen K, Rosli R, Abdullah M, Mahmud R, Avery-Kiejda KA
    Int J Mol Sci, 2022 Sep 26;23(19).
    PMID: 36232660 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911359
    Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a form of secondary lymphedema that is characterized by abnormal swelling of one or both arms due to the accumulation of lymph fluid in the interstitial tissue spaces, resulting from obstruction of the lymphatic vessels due to surgery insults, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. Due to the multifactorial nature of this condition, the pathogenesis of secondary lymphedema remains unclear and the search for molecular factors associated with the condition is ongoing. This study aimed to identify serum microRNAs and adipokines associated with BCRL. Blood was collected from 113 breast cancer survivors and processed to obtain serum for small RNA-sequencing (BCRL vs. non-BCRL, n = 7 per group). MicroRNAs that were differentially expressed (fold change >1.5, p < 0.05) between lymphedema cases and those without lymphedema were further quantified in a validation cohort through quantitative reverse transcription PCR (BCRL n = 16, non-BCRL, n = 83). Leptin and adiponectin levels were measured in a combined cohort (BCRL n = 23, non-BCRL n = 90) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Two of the most significantly upregulated microRNAs, miR-199a-3p and miR-151a-3p, were strongly correlated with the onset of lymphedema and diabetes mellitus in the BCRL group. Leptin levels were higher in the BCRL cohort compared to the non-BCRL cohort (p < 0.05). A metabolic syndrome biomarker, the adiponectin/leptin ratio, was found to be lower in the BCRL group than in the non-BCRL group (median: 0.28 vs. 0.41, p < 0.05). Extensive studies on the mechanisms of the identified microRNAs and association of leptin with arm lymphedema may provide new insights on the potential biomarkers for lymphedema that should be followed up in a prospective cohort study.
Related Terms
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links