Aggregate quality is critical to long-term pavement performance and increased maintenance costs. Choosing the right aggregates is essential to sustainable roads. For areas like Sarawak, Malaysia, knowledge of the characteristics of the locally available aggregate is an essential for optimizing their use in construction projects. The aim of this paper is to conduct a thorough investigation into physical and mechanical properties of rock aggregates from various localities in Sarawak, Malaysia, where the location information can give some inference on its suitability for pavement construction use. The research assesses key aggregate characteristics that are measured through a series of laboratory testing which typically includes Flakiness Index, Aggregate Crushing Value, Water Absorption Test, and Los Angeles Abrasion Value. The results are presented in a descriptive way, providing the characteristics of aggregates sourced from various quarries at different locations throughout Sarawak. The results are compared and evaluated against Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) Malaysia standards, thereby providing information on the suitability of aggregate properties for pavement construction. This study therefore increases the knowledge of regional aggregate sources in Sarawak.
A systematic review was conducted to critically analyze the outbreaks, efficacy, and safety of drugs used to treat various Salmonella infections. Four drugs-azithromycin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and amoxicillin-are commonly used to treat Salmonella infections, and all four drugs were included in this review. This review found that, of these, azithromycin and ceftriaxone were more effective in treating Salmonella infections based on the patient's length of stay in the hospital and the rate at which the fever was resolved. Fluoroquinolones are also effective in treating Salmonella infection but are not approved for use in children. Azithromycin was found to be the physicians' preferred choice of medication for Salmonella infection due to its less resistance development. Almost all these drugs produce varying degrees of adverse events, but they are mild to moderate. However, azithromycin was shown to be comparatively safer than the other three drugs in terms of side effects, adverse events, and relapse associated with Salmonella treatment. Developing effective and safe therapies for all strains of Salmonella remains a priority, especially given the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant variants.