Different type of fibers which is EFB and KC were liquefied in phenol with the presence of sulphuric acid as a catalyst. The liquefied residue was characterized by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) to determine the functional groups presents in both residues, X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine the degree of crystallinity in the residue, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to analyze the thermal properties of the residue and scanning electron microscope (SEM) to investigate the structure and morphology of the residue. Phenol-to-EFB/KC ratio shows great effect on the amount of residue in the liquefaction process. Peak appearance can be observed in the FTIR analysis at 810 and 750 cm-1 which is attributed to the para and meta benzene, respectively or to be specific its associated to the p-alkyl phenol and m-alkyl phenol. In the XRD analysis, CrI of lignocellulosic materials increased after liquefaction process. Liquefaction process caused chemical penetration across the grain of the fiber, thus the fiber bundles started to separate into individual fibers shown in the SEM micrograph and the weights lost curve for both liquefied EFB and KC experienced three region decompositions.
An innovative health information system can be used to support the control of tuberculosis (TB) in Malaysia. The existing system of MyTB has helped in the national TB information management and decision-making process. However, the system can be further enhanced by producing a prototype of Geospatial Tuberculosis Information System (GeoTBiS). It is a geospatial decision support system that was initially proposed in Shah Alam, Selangor. Geospatial data has spatio-temporal characteristics that can be used to understand the basic elements of TB aetiology, while geospatial operations are employed to collect, manage and disseminate the data in a geographical information system (GIS) environment. The disease map and epidemiological risk analysis are produced using a global positioning system (GPS), satellite imagery, geostatistical analysis and web mapping services. This GeoTBiS has demonstrated the geospatial capabilities in enhancing the current system functions, and several recommendations towards a practicable application.
Field surveys of the 2011 Tohoku Tsunami reported massive failures of many seawalls and coastal barriers. The massive damages are vivid evidence that there are flaws in the design of seawalls and barriers. With this as the background, a sequence of laboratory experiments using dam-break waves was performed to simulate the interactions between the tsunami-like bore flow and vertical seawall as well as to measure the bore-induced pressures and to estimate forces exerted on the vertical seawall model. The experimental result revealed that the maximum pressure (approximately 8 kPa) exerted on the vertical seawall was measured at the lowest pressure sensor location. Experimental data were used to re-examine the relevant empirical formulae found in the literature. The obtained results could be useful for calibrating mathematical and numerical models as well as for future research concerning the design of tsunami barriers.
Despite the increasing numbers of hydrodam worldwide, only a handful of studies evaluated their impacts on biodiversity.
Compared to terrestrial animals, birds were thought to be less affected by inundation process, following impoundment. At
the Hulu Terengganu Hydroelectric Dam in Peninsular Malaysia, our study compared species assemblages and diversity
of birds within the dam area (i.e. the dam reservoir and catchment area) after recent logging and inundation in relation
to a nearby forest logged 30 years ago. Using point count and mist-netting techniques, we recorded a total of 64 species
(Shannon Index (H’) = 3.827) in the dam area and 91 species (H’=3.99) in historically-logged forests. Insectivore species
richness was significantly higher in the historically-logged forests (Mann-Whitney: Z=4.339, N=205, p<0.005). These
results indicated that richness and diversity of bird species assemblages appear to decline following recent inundation
phase. Nevertheless, the forests in the dam area still harbour charismatic species such as eagles (Family: Accipitridae)
and hornbills (Family: Bucerotidae) which suggests that this habitat is relatively important for birds.
The soils developed from the Ganges sediments in the coastal area of Bangladesh and India extend several thousand hectares and important from the view point of rice cultivation. Phosphorus, one of the important environmental and agricultural element, retention behavior of the Ganges floodplain soils is poorly reported. The objective of this study was to determine maximum phosphorus adsorption capacity (MPAC) and to develop Psat for 13 Ganges Tidal Floodplain soils of Bangladesh. The MPAC value and Psat based on Mehlich-3 extractions were determined. The conventional adsorption equations, such as the Langmuir, Freudlich and Temkin equations were used to describe the P sorption of the studied soils. The MPAC value varied from 1250 to 2000 mg/kg and correlated with EC (r = 0.59, p<0.05) and CEC (r = -0.74, P<0.01). The sorption capacity of the tested soils ranged from 511 to 545 mg/kg and the calculated energy of adsorption of the soils varied from 0.192 to 1.00 μg/mL and it was a positively correlated with clay (r=0.7, p<0.01) and CEC (r = 0.63, p<0.05) but negatively with silt (r= -0.80, p<0.01), pH (H2O) (r=-0.60, p<0.05) and with MPAC (r=-0.59, p<0.05) values. Phosphorus saturation indices of the studied sample demonstrated a far below the threshold critical limit of 25%.
[BMIM]OTf and alcohol-based DES combination with a selected organic solvent (acetone and acetonitrile) have
been proven to efficiently extracting rotenone (isoflavonoid biopesticide) compound compared to individual organic
solvents. Their efficiency builds up interest to study the solvent-solute interaction that occurs between both selected
solvent systems with rotenone. The interaction study was analyzed using FTIR, 1D-NMR and 2D- NMR (NOESY, HMBC).
Correlation portrayed by NOESY and HMBC of [BMIM]OTf - standard rotenone mixture predicted probable hydrogen
bonding between the oxygen of rotenone with acidic proton C2-H of [BMIM]OTf. While for the alcohol-based DESrotenone
mixture, the correlation shows probable interaction to occur between methyl and methoxy group rotenone
with the hydroxyl group of 1,4-butanediol. In conclusion, potential hydrogen bonding that occurs between solvent
and solute aid towards the solvent efficiency in extracting rotenone compound while emphasizing on the low cost and
green mediated solvent systems.
The flipped classroom (FC), an innovative teaching and learning pedagogy has grown in medical education since last decade. In FC modality, students learn by means of print, audio or video-based material self-reliantly, before built-in teaching sessions in the classroom to overcome passive learning. In this review, the key concepts, benefits and best practices of the FC in health professions education have been described. The review was carried out using Medline, Scopus, Ovid, and Cochrane. The keywords were “Flipped method, Teaching strategy, Role of the teacher, and Medical students”. Flipped is an effective teaching modality which enables learners to be independent. Students do take ownership of what they learn. Tutors are also satisfied with what their learners acquire. The benefits of FC are robust and likely to augment the learning abilities of the students as well as supplementing the learning course content; group events can deliver added benefits too.
In recent decades, the application of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites for strengthening structural elements has become an efficient option to meet the increased cyclic loads or repair due to corrosion or fatigue cracking. Hence, the objective of this study is to explore the existing FRP reinforcing techniques to care for fatigue damaged structural steel elements. This study covers the surface treatment techniques, adhesive curing, and support conditions under cyclic loading including fatigue performance, crack propagation, and failure modes with finite element (FE) simulation of the steel bridge girders and structural elements. FRP strengthening composites delay initial cracking, reduce the crack growth rate, extend the fatigue life, and decrease the stiffness decay with residual deflection. Prestressed carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) is the best strengthening option. End anchorage prevents debonding of the CRRP strips at the beam ends by reducing the local interfacial shear and peel stresses. Hybrid-joint, nanoadhesive, and carbon-flex can also be attractive for strengthening systems.
The popularity of low cost, lightweight, and environmentally affable masonry unit in building industry carries the need to investigate more flexible and adaptable brick component as well as to retain the requirements confirmed in building standards. In this study, potential use of local materials used as lightweight building materials in solving the economic problems of housing has been investigated. Experimental studies on peat added bricks have been carried out. It demonstrates the physicomechanical properties of bricks and investigates the influence of peat, sand, and cement solid bricks to the role of various types of constructional applications. The achieved compressive strength, spitting strength, flexural strength, unit weight, and ultrasonic pulse velocity are significantly reduced and the water absorption is increased with percentage wise replacement of peat as aggregate in the samples. The maximum 20% of (% mass) peat content meets the requirements of relevant well-known international standards. The experimental values illustrate that, the 44% volumetric replacement with peat did not exhibit any sudden brittle fracture even beyond the ultimate loads and a comparatively smooth surface is found. The application of peat as efficient brick substance shows a potential to be used for wall and a viable solution in the economic buildings design.
2,4',6-Trihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl. fruits. It was found to inhibit cell proliferation in HT-29 human colon carcinoma cell line but caused little damage to WRL-68 normal human liver and MRC-5 normal human fibroblast lung cell lines. The compound was found to sharply affect the viability of HT-29 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. HT-29 cells treated with the compound showed morphological changes under microscopic examination such as cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, DNA fragmentation, and the occurrence of apoptotic nuclei. The percentage of early apoptotic, late apoptotic, and dead or necrotic cells was determined by flow cytometry using annexin V-FTIC/PI staining. In addition, flow cytometry showed that, when the HT-29 cells were treated with 115 µM of the compound, it resulted in G0/G1 phase arrest in a time-dependent manner. Western blot revealed an upregulation of PUMA, Bak, Bcl-2, and Mcl-1 proteins suggesting that the compound induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells by regulating these proteins.
The edible fruits of Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl are widely used in traditional medicine in Indonesia. It is used to treat a variety of medical conditions such as - cancer, diabetes mellitus, allergies, liver and heart diseases, kidney failure, blood diseases, high blood pressure, stroke, various skin diseases, itching, aches, and flu. Therefore, it is of great interest to determine the biochemical and cytotoxic properties of the fruit extracts.
Cervical cancer is the most common gynecological cancer and one of the major causes of female cancer-related death worldwide particularly in developing countries. Thus far, there are a few in vivo models have been developed in investigating this type of cancer. In this study, we induced cervical cancer in Balb/c mice by exploiting the carcinogenic property of diestylstilbestrol (DES). The Balb/c pregnant mice were given subcutaneous (SC) injection of 67μg/kg body weight of DES on GD 13, and the mice gave birth approximately at gestation day 19-22. Female offspring were reared and the body weight was recorded once weekly. The female offspring were sacrificed at age of 5 months. Upon termination, blood was collected in a plain tube via cardiac puncture and the reproductive tracts were collected and weighed. The reproductive tract sections were stained using H&E for observation of pathological changes. The progression of disease state was monitored by measuring the level of serum interleukin (IL-6) using the Mouse IL-6 ELISA Assay Kit (BD OptEIA™, USA). All parameters were compared with Not-induced group. The outcome of this study demonstrated a significant difference in body weight gain, reproductive organ weight, diameter of cervix and the level of serum IL-6 in the Induced group as compared to the Not-induced group (P<0.05). Histopathological findings revealed the presence of adenosis only in the Induced group. It shows that DES could be employed as an agent to induce cervical carcinogenesis in animal model. In addition to that, new potential anti-cancer agents from various sources could be further evaluated using this technique.
Metastasis of an atrial myxoma to the brain is extremely rare. Thus far there are only 17 cases reported, including our present case. Most of the brain metastases manifest only in 3 to 6 decades, after an average time frame of one to two years after surgical removal of parental tumour. We present a case of brain metastases of atrial myxoma in a teenager of the youngest age among all reported cases, unusually as early as 15 years old. The progress of the metastatic process had been insidious for three years after heart surgery, The imaging demonstrated a rather sizeable tumour by the time when the patient is symptomatic. The location of the metastatic tumour is anyhow superficial to the cortical surface, enabling complete surgical excision of the tumour easily achievable with favourable outcome.
Ardisia crispa (Family: Myrsinaceae) is an evergreen, fruiting shrub that has been traditionally used as folklore medicine. Despite a scarcity of research publications, we have succeeded in showing suppressive effects on murine skin papillomagenesis. In extension, the present research was aimed at determining the effect of a quinone-rich fraction (QRF) isolated from the same root hexane extract on both initiation and promotion stages of carcinogenesis, at the selected dose of 30 mg/kg. Mice (groups I-IV) were initiated with a single dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA, 100 μg/100 μl) followed by repeated promotion of croton oil (1%) twice weekly for 20 weeks. In addition, group I (anti-initiation) received QRF 7 days before and after DMBA; group II (anti-promotion) received QRF 30 minutes before each croton oil application; group III (anti-initiation/ promotion) was treated with QRF as a combination of group I and II. A further two groups served as vehicle control (group V) and treated control (group VI). As carcinogen control, group IV showed the highest tumor volume (8.79±5.44) and tumor burden (3.60±1.17). Comparatively, group III revealed only 20% of tumor incidence, tumor burden (3.00±1.00) and tumor volume (2.40±1.12), which were significantly different from group IV. Group II also showed significant reduction of tumor volume (3.11), tumor burden (3.00) and tumor incidence (11.11%), along with prominent increase of latency period of tumor formation (week 12). Group I, nonetheless, demonstrated marked increment of tumor incidence by 40% with prompted latency period of tumor formation (week 7). No tumor formation was observed in groups V and VI. This study provided clear evidence of inhibitory effects of QRF during promotion period which was in agreement with our previous findings. The mechanism(s) underlying such effects have yet to be elucidated.
The drug-trafficking business has risen tremendously because of the current increased demand for illegal narcotics. The smugglers conceal the drugs in their bodies (body packers) in order to bypass the tight security at international borders. A suspected body packer will normally be sent to the hospital for imaging investigations to confirm the presence of drugs in the body. Radiologists, therefore, need to be familiar with and able to identify drug packets within the human body because they shoulder the legal responsibilities. This pictorial essay describes the characteristic imaging features of drug packets within the gastrointestinal tract.
Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) a plant of the family Malvaceae, is a valuable fiber plant native to India and Africa. Kenaf seeds contain alpha-linolenic acid, phytosterol such as β-sitosterol, vitamin E and other antioxidants with chemopreventive properties. In the present study we examined the hypothesis that kenaf seed 'supercritical fluid extract' (SFE) extract could suppress the early colon carcinogenesis in vivo by virtue of its bioactive compounds. To accomplish this goal, 60 male rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups which were (1) negative control group [not induced with azoxymethane (AOM)]; (2) positive control group (induced with AOM but received no treatment); (3) group treated with 500 mg/kg kenaf seed SFE extract; (4) group treated with 1000 mg/kg kenaf seed SFE extract; (5) group treated with 1500 mg/kg kenaf seed SFE extract. At 7 weeks of age, all rats except the negative control group received 15 mg/kg of AOM injection subcutaneously once a week for 2 weeks. Rats were euthanized at 13 weeks of the experiment. Number of ACF (mean±SD) ranged from 84.4±4.43 to 179.5±12.78 in group 2, 3, 4, 5. ACF reductions compared with the untreated group were 45.3, 51.4 and 53.1% in rats fed with 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg body weight, respectively. There were no significant differences in weight gain among groups. Our finding indicates that kenaf seed SFE extract reduced AOM-induced ACF in Sprague-Dawley male rats.
Vanillin is responsible for the flavor and smell of vanilla, a widely used flavoring agent. Previous studies showed that vanillin could enhance the repair of mutations and thus function as an anti-mutagen. However, its role in cancer, a disease that is closely related to mutation has not yet been fully elucidated.
Vanillin is the substance responsible for the flavor and smell of vanilla, a widely used flavoring agent. Previous studies reported that vanillin is a good antimutagen and anticarcinogen. However, there are also some contradicting findings showing that vanillin was a comutagen and cocarcinogen. This study investigated whether vanillin is an anticarcinogen or a cocarcinogen in rats induced with azoxymethane (AOM). Rats induced with AOM will develop aberrant crypt foci (ACF). AOM-challenged rats were treated with vanillin orally and intraperitoneally at low and high concentrations and ACF density, multiplicity, and distribution were observed. The gene expression of 14 colorectal cancer-related genes was also studied. Results showed that vanillin consumed orally had no effect on ACF. However, high concentrations (300 mg/kg body weight) of vanillin administered through intraperitoneal injection could increase ACF density and ACF multiplicity. ACF were mainly found in the distal colon rather than in the mid-section and proximal colon. The expression of colorectal cancer biomarkers, protooncogenes, recombinational repair, mismatch repair, and cell cycle arrest, and tumor suppressor gene expression were also affected by vanillin. Vanillin was not cocarcinogenic when consumed orally. However, it was cocarcinogenic when being administered intraperitoneally at high concentration. Hence, the use of vanillin in food should be safe but might have cocarcinogenic potential when it is used in high concentration for therapeutic purposes.