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Fulltext Motorcycle Conspicuity Issues and Intervention: A Systematic Review

Abdul Khalid MS, Khamis NK, Abu Mansor MR, Hamzah A

Iran J Public Health, 2021 Jan;50(1):24-34.
PMID: 34178761 DOI: 10.18502/ijph.v50i1.5069

Background: Conspicuity has been one of the key factors in motorcycle road crashes around the world. The inability and difficulty of other road users in detecting motorcycles either at day or at night have contributed to conspicuity related motorcycle crashes. This literature review attempts to understand the motorcycle conspicuity issues in road traffic. The review also analyses relevant types of conspicuity intervention in terms of its effectiveness in enhancing motorcycle conspicuity that had been discussed in past studies.
Methods: Using specific keywords and search terms, relevant articles were screened, identified and analyzed systematically using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
Results: Twenty-seven final articles were reviewed and found that almost every part of motorcycle and motorcyclist's conspicuity intervention have been covered in past studies. In terms of conspicuity aids, the majority of past studies discussed conspicuity enhancement in the frontal area, particularly on motorcycle daytime running headlight (DRH) color and configurations. Few other studies have discussed in other areas, particularly on rear running and brake light and motorcycle color. There were also numerous studies looking at motorcyclists' appearances in terms of their attire and helmet color.
Conclusion: Motorcycle and motorcyclist's appearances are highly associated with the risk of motorcycle crashes. The most important part of enhancing motorcycle conspicuity is to ensure motorcycle appearance is always in contrast with the road traffic environment.
Cerebral toxoplasmosis in Malaysia: a debilitating disease, an insight from a case study

Muslim A, Mohd Rustam FR, Mohd Khalid MS, Sahlan N

Trop Biomed, 2024 Sep 01;41(3):271-275.
PMID: 39548780 DOI: 10.47665/tb.41.3.006

Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. While the infection is typically asymptomatic in healthy individuals, it can progress to cerebral toxoplasmosis, especially in those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or weakened immune systems. In this communication, we present a case of a newly diagnosed HIV infection patient who presented with neurological symptoms. The patient was later diagnosed with probable cerebral toxoplasmosis. The case depicts the severe consequences of toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients, highlighting the urgent need to identify those at high risk of contracting the disease and the importance of prophylactic treatment. This requires the necessity for early HIV diagnosis and close monitoring of HIV-positive patients.
Fulltext Cystic teratoma mimicking recurrent pleural effusion, complicated by Mycobacterium abscessus infection

Mohd Esa NY, Mohd Radzi AA, Bakar NS, Mohd Khalid MS, Ismail AI, Abdul Rani MF

Respirol Case Rep, 2016 May;4(3):e00155.
PMID: 27516884 DOI: 10.1002/rcr2.155

Teratomas of anterior mediastinum are rare. They are often slow growing, asymptomatic, and detected incidentally on chest imaging. Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus) is an acid-fast bacillus that is classified as a pathogenic "rapid growing" non-tuberculous mycobacteria. It is an uncommon cause of human pathology, which may cause skin and soft tissue infection after skin injury following inoculation, minor trauma, and surgery. Here, we present an unusual case of benign cystic teratoma mimicking recurrent pleural effusion, which was subsequently complicated by M. abscessus infection following thoracotomy. Cystic teratoma is rare, but it needs to be considered whenever clinical and investigative work-up fails to provide a convincing diagnosis. A combined clinical, radiological, surgical, and histopathological assessment is important to arrive at the correct diagnosis. Rapidly growing mycobacteria needs to be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with non-resolving infected post-thoracotomy wound and who do not respond to broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Fulltext Improvements of Flexural Properties and Thermal Performance in Thin Geopolymer Based on Fly Ash and Ladle Furnace Slag Using Borax Decahydrates

Yong-Sing N, Yun-Ming L, Cheng-Yong H, Abdullah MMAB, Pakawanit P, Vizureanu P, et al.

Materials (Basel), 2022 Jun 13;15(12).
PMID: 35744236 DOI: 10.3390/ma15124178

This paper elucidates the influence of borax decahydrate addition on the flexural and thermal properties of 10 mm thin fly ash/ladle furnace slag (FAS) geopolymers. The borax decahydrate (2, 4, 6, and 8 wt.%) was incorporated to produce FAB geopolymers. Heat treatment was applied with temperature ranges of 300 °C, 600 °C, 900 °C, 1000 °C and 1100 °C. Unexposed FAB geopolymers experienced a drop in strength due to a looser matrix with higher porosity. However, borax decahydrate inclusion significantly enhanced the flexural performance of thin geopolymers after heating. FAB2 and FAB8 geopolymers reported higher flexural strength of 26.5 MPa and 47.8 MPa, respectively, at 1000 °C as compared to FAS geopolymers (24.1 MPa at 1100 °C). The molten B2O3 provided an adhesive medium to assemble the aluminosilicates, improving the interparticle connectivity which led to a drastic strength increment. Moreover, the borax addition reduced the glass transition temperature, forming more refractory crystalline phases at lower temperatures. This induced a significant strength increment in FAB geopolymers with a factor of 3.6 for FAB8 at 900 °C, and 4.0 factor for FAB2 at 1000 °C, respectively. Comparatively, FAS geopolymers only achieved 3.1 factor in strength increment at 1100 °C. This proved that borax decahydrate could be utilized in the high strength development of thin geopolymers.