19672 research outputs found
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Performance measurement of facilities management services in Ghana’s public hospitals
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to explore and measure the performance of Facilities Management (FM) services in Ghana’s public hospitals. Given that poor FM practices can significantly hinder the delivery of hospitals’ core services, measuring FM performance is a key step towards ensuring optimal service delivery, and an essential tool for effective implementation of FM strategy. The research employs an exploratory sequential mixed methods approach encompassing interviews in multiple cases at the exploratory stage and questionnaire surveys to confirm performance scales through the use of Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that the quality of FM service delivery, finance, learning and growth, as well as internal business operations indicators, exhibit significant influence on the performance of FM. The research also found that internal business strategic measures should be improved. The developed structural model could assist healthcare managers in determining critical performance dimensions, and also serve as a motivational tool for acknowledging FM’s role in healthcare delivery. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
Leaching of insecticides used in blueberry production and their toxicity to red worm
No full textSoil columns were collected from a blueberry field, and insecticide solutions were allowed to leach through these columns. Insecticides from four different chemical classes were applied at two different rates: the concentration at which the insecticides wash off blueberries under rainfall conditions and the labeled field rate at which they are sprayed. The soil columns were divided into thirds; top, middle and bottom. Soil bioassays using Eisenia foetida Savigny, as an indicator species, were set up to determine the toxicity of the insecticides at a top, middle and bottom layer of the soil column. The mass of E. foetida was also measured after the bioassay experiment was completed. The concentrations at which insecticides wash-off of blueberries from rainfall were not lethal to E. foetida. In order to support mortality data, insecticide residues were quantified in the soil layers for each insecticide. Under field rate leaching conditions, carbaryl showed the high levels of toxicity in the top and middle layers of soil suggesting that it has the highest risk to organisms from leaching. This study will help blueberry growers make informed decisions about insecticide use, which can help minimize contamination of the environment. © 2019 Elsevier Lt
Effects of pressure and substrate temperature on the growth of Al-doped ZnO films by pulsed laser deposition
No full textAl-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films were deposited on p-Si (100) by pulsed laser deposition from a composite ceramic target (ZnO:Al2O3) by using 355 nm laser at different O2 background pressure and substrate temperature. Upon ablation at laser fluence of 2 Jcm-2, plasma plume consists of Zn neutrals and ions, Al neutrals and O neutral are formed. As the O2 background pressure increases from 3 Pa to 26 Pa, the energy of the plasma species are moderated. The results show that the ions density and velocity reduced significantly above 13 Pa. The velocity of the ions reduced from 14 kms-1 to 11 kms-1 at 13 Pa, while the ions energy reduced from 63 eV to 42 eV respectively. Below 13 Pa, crystalline and homogeneous AZO nanostructured films were formed. Above 13 Pa, the process results in low crystallinity films with higher porosity. The resistivity of the films also increases from 0.1 ohmcm to 24 ohmcm as the pressure increased. At fixed O2 background pressure of 3 Pa, the adatom mobility of atoms on the substrates is altered by substrate heating. The resistivity of the films decreased to 10-3 ohmcm when the substrates are heated to 100 °C-300 °C during deposition. The films with highest carrier density of 1020 cm-3 and carrier mobility of 13 cmV-1 s-1 are achieved at 200 °C. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd
Alkali-catalyzed supercritical water gasification of sewage sludge: effect of liquid residue reuse as homogenous catalyst
No full textConventional supercritical water gasification (SCWG) of sewage sludge produces liquid residues with organic pollutants, heavy metals and others. In order to reduce liquid residues released into the environment, this study investigated the reuse of liquid residues as feed water in subsequent SCWG. We also evaluated the effect of wastewater reuse on syngas production and fate of heavy metal. The experiment was performed in a 500-ml-capacity Hastelloy reactor at 400 °C and above 25 Mpa for 60 min with a 4:1 ratio of 10% dry wt. of solid (mixture of sludge and empty fruit bunch) and 90% wt. of liquid feed. The use of recycled liquid increased the concentration of K and Na in the solution from 26 mg/L and 91 mg/L to 49 mg/L and 290 mg/L, respectively. Subsequently, syngas production increased from 9.4 to 14.1 mol/kg organic matter. In addition, H2 production increased by 30%. The increase in syngas generation could be attributed to the alkaline salts which act as homogenous catalysts and to the organic matter in the liquid residue. In addition, the total mass of As, Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the liquid residues reduced from 57.36 to 47.34 µg. Thus, experimental results imply that the recycling of liquid residues in SCWG will not only improve the syngas production efficiency of the system, but also enable the accumulation of heavy metals in the solid residue to prevent pollution risk. © 2020, Islamic Azad University (IAU)
DNA aneuploidy and tissue architecture in oral potentially malignant disorders with epithelial dysplasia assessed by a 10 locus FISH panel
No full textSubjectivity in oral dysplasia grading has prompted evaluation of molecular-based tests to predict malignant transformation. Aneuploidy detected by DNA image-based cytometry (ICM) is currently the best predictor but fails to detect certain high risk lesions. A novel multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) panel was used to explore possible explanations by detecting aneuploidy at the single cell level. FISH was compared to reference standard DNA ICM in 19 oral lesions with epithelial dysplasia and used to characterize the cellular architecture. Copy number variation at 3q28, 7p11.2, 8q24.3, 11q13.3 and 20q13.12 and matched chromosome specific loci were assessed by dual-color FISH to assess numerical and spatial patterns of copy number increase and gene amplification. FISH revealed wide variation in copy number at different loci. Only low level copy number gain was present and often in only a small proportion of cells, although usually with all or all but one locus (9/12). Four cases showed gene amplification, one at two loci. Some probes revealed an internal presumed clonal structure within lesions not apparent in routine histological examination. Both methods produced similar diagnostic results with concordance in detection of aneuploidy by both methods in 17 out of 19 samples (89%). We have shown that oral dysplastic lesions may contain very few aneuploid cells at a cellular level, high copy number gain is rare and changes appear to arise from large chromosomal fragment duplications. Single stem lines are relatively homogeneous for loci with copy number gain but there is a subclonal structure revealed by gene amplification in some lesions. © 2020 Spandidos Publications. All rights reserved
Brazing of porous copper foam/copper with amorphous Cu-9.7Sn-5.7Ni-7.0P (wt%) filler metal: interfacial microstructure and diffusion behavior
No full textIn this work, brazing of porous copper foam (PCF) to copper (Cu) using amorphous Cu-9.7Sn-5.7Ni-7.0P (in weight, wt%) filler metal has been performed. PCF with different pore densities of 15 pore per inch (PPI), 25 PPI, and 50 PPI were sandwiched in between amorphous Cu-9.7Sn-5.7Ni-7.0P filler/Cu based plate. A brazed joint of Cu/Cu using amorphous Cu-9.7Sn-5.7Ni-7.0P filler was prepared for comparison purposes. The interfacial microstructures and mechanical properties of the brazed joint were investigated to study the joint ability after the brazing process. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) confirmed the interfacial microstructure by the formation of the diffusion layer (shown in light shaded area) and filler layer (gray island-shaped) for both Cu/Cu and Cu/PCF/Cu brazed joint. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns identified the brittle phases of Cu3P and Ni3P, Cu and Cu6Sn5 phases at the diffusion layer. In the shear test, the strength value decreases with increase in the pore densities of PCF. The decreasing shear strength observed with an increase in the number of PPI in PCF is due to the formation of more cavities in Cu/PCF as the number of PPI in Cu/PCF increases. © 2019, International Institute of Welding
Investigating Asian regional income convergence using Fourier Unit Root test with Break
No full textIncome convergence among countries has become an important topic in international economics. This paper uses a new unit root test, namely the Fourier Unit Root test with Break, to examine income convergence in nine Asian countries. It has grouped the countries into three regions in Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia and has chosen three major economies in each of the three areas for empirical analysis. The empirical findings indicate that there is relatively greater income convergence in the South Asia and that there is a mixed trend of income convergence and income divergence in Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia. © 2019 CEPII (Centre d'Etudes Prospectives et d'Informations Internationales), a center for research and expertise on the world econom
Whole genome analysis of multidrug resistant Citrobacter freundii B9-C2 isolated from preterm neonate’s stool in the first week
No full textBackground: Resistance to colistin, the last line therapy for infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria represents a major public health threat. Citrobacter freundii B9-C2 which was isolated from the stool of preterm neonate on the first week of life, displayed resistance to almost all major antibiotics, including colistin. Through whole genome sequencing (WGS), we characterised the genome features that underline the antibiotic-resistance phenotype of this isolate. Methods: Genome of C. freundii B9-C2 was sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq platform. The assembled genome was annotated and deposited into GenBank under the accession number CP027849. Results: Multiple antimicrobial resistance genes including blaCMY-66 were identified. Further, the presence of 15 antibiotic efflux pump-encoding resistance genes, including crp, baeR, hns, patA, emrB, msbA, acrA, acrB, emrR, mdtC, mdtB, mdtG, kdpE, mdfA and msrB were detected and likely to account for the observed cephalosporins, carbapenems, aminoglycosides and monobactams resistance in C. freundii B9-C2. The isolate also presented unique virulence genes related to biofilm formation, motility and iron uptake. The genome was compared to publicly available genomes and it was closely related to strains with environmental origins. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of intestinal carriage of colistin-resistant C. freundii from the stool of neonate in Malaysia. Using genomic analysis, we have contributed to the understanding of the potential mechanism of resistance and the phylogenetic relationship of the isolates with draft genomes available in the public domain. © 2020 The Author(s
Phytochemicals, essential oils, and bioactivities of an underutilized wild fruit Cili (Rosa roxburghii)
No full textIn this study, the phytochemical and essential oil profiles, and bioactivities of an underutilized wild fruit Cili (Rosa roxburghii) were analyzed. Cili fruit was found to have higher antioxidant activities, ascorbic acid content (122 mg LAA/g DW), total phenolics (173 mg GAE/g DW), and total flavonoids (34.5 mg CE/g DW) than 11 selected common fruits and vegetables. Thirty phytochemical compounds were tentatively identified in the aqueous-ethanolic extract of Cili fruit using UPLC-QTOF-MS. Linoleic acid and 2, 2′-methylenebis (6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol) were tentatively identified as the predominant essential oil components using GC–MS. The aqueous-ethanolic extract of Cili fruit was further tested for its in vitro bioactivities, and found it exhibited antibacterial activity against four multi-drug resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, and showed in vitro anti-proliferative effects against three cancer cells. Overall, the Cili fruit with diverse bioactive compounds and bioactivities can be applied in the food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries for the development of functional products. © 2019 Elsevier B.V
Length‐weight relationships of eight fish from seagrass meadows in Wenchang, China
No full textThe length-weight relationships (LWRs) were studied for eight seagrass fish from Wenchang, China, using gill nets (150*1 m, mesh size 0.5 cm), including Gerres oblongus, Ambassis kopsii, Halichoeres nigrescens, Sillago aeolus, Yongeichthys criniger, Oxyurichthys tentacularis, Lethrinus haematopterus and Hypoatherina tsurugae, in November 2017, March and August 2018. Results suggest that mean LWR parameters b for these eight seagrass fish varied from 2.801 for L. haematopterus to 3.640 for A. kopsii, and r2 valued from.950 for L. haematopterus to 0.993 for H. nigrescens. This study will help us to better understand the ecological parameters these seagrass fish. © 2020 Blackwell Verlag Gmb