19672 research outputs found
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Miscible-blend polysulfone/polyimide membrane for hydrogen purification from palm oil mill effluent fermentation
No full textThe biogas produced from the anaerobic fermentation of palm oil mill effluent (POME) contains equal amount of H2 and CO2, in which the biohydrogen (bioH2) is a prospective source of renewable energy. Therefore, the determination of an efficient H2 purification technique has been a major concern. Membrane separation technology is highly recommended due to its excellent purification performance with high permeation of H2 and H2/CO2 selectivity. Polymer blending is a favourable approach due to its simplicity to refine membrane inner structural properties by combining different polymers with complementary features. In this study, the synthesized polysulfone-polyimide (PSf/PI) membrane is an alternative polymeric membrane practicable for H2/CO2 separation due to its outstanding permeation properties, enhanced membrane properties as well as improved tolerance to plasticizing gases. The effect of evaporation time on PSf/PI membranes was further investigated and was thoroughly characterized by FTIR, TGA, DSC and SEM. The miscibility of the PSf/PI blending was proven by DSC with the detection of only single glass transition temperature value. The highest permeability of both H2 and CO2 gas were presented by PSf/PI-60 membrane with 348 GPU and 86 GPU, respectively, H2/CO2 selectivity of 4.4 and H2 purification efficiency of 80%. Hence, PSf/PI membrane is a high potential candidate with inherent properties for H2/CO2 separation from POME fermentation
Broadband high responsivity large-area plasmonic-enhanced multilayer MoS2 on p-type silicon photodetector using Au nanostructures
No full textHigh responsivity, large-area plasmonic-enhanced nanostructure photodetector based on multilayer (ML) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) deposited on p-type Silicon (Si) substrates is reported. A large area ML-MoS2 is deposited onto the Si photodetector (PD) using a modified membrane filtration method. This large area ML-MoS2 and Au NSs on the p-Si form a cavity-like structure that dramatically enhances the incident light path. The increase of incident light path due to light trapping effect enhances the electron-hole pair generation tremendously. The plasmonic-enhanced ML MoS2 on Si PD has achieved a stable and repeatable photoresponse up to 37 A W-1, whereas the detectivity is around 1012 Jones at the broad wavelengths (405-780 nm) with a modulation frequency of 1 kHz. The enhancement of photoresponsivity is 8, 5.3 and 11 times with 5 V bias at an incident wavelength of 405 nm, 650 nm and 780 nm respectively as compared to the bare p-Si PD. The experimental results also show that the plasmonic-enhanced ML-MoS2 on Si PD exhibited fast photoresponse (rise time of ∼1 μs and fall time of ∼18 μs), which is much higher compared to typical transition metal dichalcogenide PD or single layer MoS2 based PD. These excellent performances show that the plasmonic-enhanced MoS2 structure is highly potential to apply in Si photovoltaics, visible range photodetection, and visible bio/chemical sensing application. © 2019 IOP Publishing Ltd
One-Pot CuO-Catalyzed Green Synthesis of N(N′)-Arylbenzamidines as Potential Enzyme Inhibitors
No full textTen N(N′)-arylbenzamidines were synthesized in 60–77% yield by one-pot microwave-assisted reaction of the corresponding N-arylbenzamides with aniline or ammonia in the presence of copper(II) oxide powder. The synthesized compounds were evaluated in vitro for inhibitory activity against several enzymes, namely acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, lipoxygenase, α-glucosidase, urease, and reverse transcriptase. Some compounds showed very good acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. N′-(1,3-Benzothiazol-2-yl)- and N′-(1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)benzamidines were the most active α-glucosidase inhibitors with IC50 values of 134.2 and 244.57 µM, respectively. N′-(1,3-Benzothiazol-2-yl)benzamidine also inhibited urease. Most of the obtained compounds showed inhibitory activity against reverse transcriptase (anti-HIV activity), presumably due to intermolecular hydrogen bonding, good solubility, and hydrophilicity. © 2019, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd
Social responsibility and engagement in higher education: Case of the ASEAN
No full textThis article discusses the role of ASEAN universities in social responsibility and sustainable development. Selected country case studies are presented to describe the changing role of universities situated in a region with great diversity and potential for further economic growth, as we explore the opportunities and challenges in promoting higher education institutions (HEIs) for greater sustainable development of communities. While there is a wide variety of initiatives—including engaging diverse communities in health, education and environmental sustainability projects— social responsibility and sustainability development is still far from being fully integrated into the core activities of the HEIs. This paper will examine the broader capacity of the universities’ engagement in social responsibility, as interpreted within Boyer's framework on the scholarship of engagement. We argue that when HEIs develop an integral socially-responsible collaboration with the broader community, opportunities are created for unique epistemic advances for stakeholders involved. © 2018 Elsevier Lt
Hallyu and Strategic Interpretation of Malaysian Modernity among Young Malay Women
No full textThe growing popularity of South Korean popular culture, known as Hallyu (Korean Wave), among young Malay women since the early 2000s has become the latest focus of debate and discussion with respect to its impact on the development of modernity in Malaysia. In this context, there has been little qualitative inquiry into how Hallyu influences the development of modernity among its female supporters. Through in-depth interviews with 10 young female Hallyu fans in Malaysia, this study examines how increased transcultural competence through Hallyu shapes the construction and manifestation of modern femininity among Malay women. Findings show that young Malay women use strategies of negotiation in their interpretation of Malaysian modernity and transcultural influences, which allow them to not only strengthen their identity as Muslim women but also actively engage in the development of modern femininity. From these findings, the study suggests that Hallyu, as a mediated cultural force, may alter the implications of cultural globalization in Malaysia. © 2019, Research Institute of Asian Women. All rights reserved
Potential complexes of NaCF3SO3-tetraethylene dimethyl glycol ether (tetraglyme)-based electrolytes for sodium rechargeable battery application
No full textThe increasing energy demand on available global lithium resources has created concerns on development of new and advanced sustainable energy sources. Sodium-based batteries have emerged as promising substitutions to Li-based batteries. We describe here sodium trifluoromethanesulfonate (NaCF 3 SO 3 ) electrolyte system based on tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (tetraglyme). The ionic conductivity of the electrolytes showed a maximum value of 1.6 mS cm −1 for 40 mol% of NaCF 3 SO 3 at room temperature and increased up to of 9.5 mS cm −1 at 373 K. The system showed the anodic stability of the electrolytes up to ca. 5.2 V (Na + /Na) and facile deposition of sodium began at relatively low overpotential, around − 0.01 V vs. Na + /Na, which showed a good reversibility of the electrolytes. Preliminary tests of the electrolyte in half sodium-ion cells employing Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 as cathode electrodes were performed and the cells delivered capacity of 74 mAh g −1 at C/10. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature
A qualitative examination of barriers and solutions to renal transplantation in Malaysia: Key-informants’ perspective
No full textIntroduction End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is increasing globally, and renal transplantation (RT) is the preferred renal replacement therapy to treat ESRD. Internationally, there are only a few countries with RT rates above 50 per million population (pmp), while most of the countries have RT rates between 30-40 pmp. The low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) makes up the majority for the RT rates below 20 pmp in which Malaysia belongs to despite its increasing ESRD rates. There is a need to explore the barriers to access RT with targeted solutions to improve the RT rates and service in LMIC. Thus, a qualitative study was undertaken in Malaysia to address this issue. Method A qualitative methodological approach was performed between March-May 2018. Semistructured interviews were used to explore current RT policy and service availability. Keyinformants were identified from a detailed stakeholder analysis of RT system in Malaysia. Interviews were digitally audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded with ATLAS.ti software and underwent thematic analysis thoroughly. Results Eight key-informants participated in the study. Barriers and related solutions were classified using the socio-ecological model (SEM). As reported, the barriers and solutions of RT in Malaysia are the results of a complex interplay of personal, cultural, and environmental factors. Key barriers are linked to public's attitude and perception towards RT and the unaccommodating practices in the healthcare fraternity for RT. Key-informants provided a systematic solution that shed light on how RT could be improved at each SEM level via effective communication, education and inter-agency collaboration. Conclusion The SEM provided a framework to foster a better understanding of current practice, barriers, and solutions to RT in Malaysia. This study is the first to explore the barriers and related solutions to RT comprehensively as a whole. Implications of these findings could prompt a policy change for a better RT service delivery model not just for Malaysia but also for other LMIC. Further stakeholder engagement and evaluation of the systems are required to provide insight into best practices that will help to improve the RT rates and service in Malaysia. © 2019 Gan Kim Soon et al
Complete mitochondrial genome of Dacus conopsoides (Insecta: Tephritidae) with tRNA gene duplication and molecular phylogeny of Dacini tribe
No full textTo date there is only a single report on the complete mitochondrial genome of the Dacus fruit flies. We report here the whole mitogenome of Dacus conopsoides with first report of tRNA gene duplication in tephritid fruit flies determined using next-generation sequencing and discuss the molecular phylogeny of Dacini tribe. It had a total length of 15,852 bp, comprising 13 protein coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 23 tRNA genes, and a non-coding region (A + T-rich control region). The 65-bp trnF gene was duplicated, and the 68-bp trnE gene was partially duplicated resulting in a 31-bp pseudogene. The cloverleaf structure for trnN, trnH, and trnF lacked the TΨC-loop, while trnS lacked the D-stem. The start codons for the protein coding genes included 6 ATG, 3 ATC, 2 ATA, and 1 each of ATT and TCG. Seven PCGs had TAA stop codon, two had TAG and four had incomplete T stop codon. Molecular phylogeny based on 15 mt-genes (13 PCGs +2 rRNA genes) and 30 taxa of Tephritidae indicated D. conopsoides forming a monophyletic sister group with D. longicornis supported by high bootstrap value. The lineage containing also the monophyletic genus Zeugodacus. The Dacini and Ceratitidini tribes of the subfamily Dacinae were monophyletic but the subfamilies Dacinae and Trypetinae were paraphyletic. A broader taxa sampling of the Tephritidae is needed to better elucidate the phylogenetics and systematics of the tribes and subfamilies of tephritid fruit flies. © 201
Generic Cost-Effectiveness Models: A Proof of Concept of a Tool for Informed Decision-Making for Public Health Precision Medicine
No full textBackground/Aims: Economic evaluation is integral to informed public health decision-making in the rapidly growing field of precision and personalized medicine (PM); however, this research requires specialized expertise and significant resources. Generic models are a novel innovation to efficiently address a critical PM evidence shortage and implementation barrier by enabling use of population-specific input values. This is a generic PM economic evaluation model proof-of-concept study for a pharmacogenomic use case. Methods: An 8-step generic economic model development process was applied to the use case of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B∗15:02genotyping for prediction of carbamazepine-induced cutaneous reactions, with a user-friendly decision-making tool relying on user-provided input values. This generic model was transparently documented and validated, including cross-validation comparing cost-effectiveness results with 3 country-specific models. Results: A generic pharmacogenomic use case cost-effectiveness model with decision-making tool was successfully developed and cross-validated using input values for 6 populations which produced consistent results for HLA-B∗15:02 screening at country-specific cost-effectiveness threshold values. Differences between the generic and country-specific model results were largely due to differences in model structure and assumptions. Conclusion: This proof on concept demonstrates the feasibility of generic models to provide useful PM economic evidence, supporting their use as a pragmatic and timely approach to address a growing need. © 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel. All rights reserved
Biogeographical distribution of microbial communities along the Rajang River-South China Sea continuum
No full textThe Rajang River is the main drainage system for central Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo and passes through peat domes through which peat-rich material is being fed into the system and eventually into the southern South China Sea. Microbial communities found within peat-rich systems are important biogeochemical cyclers in terms of methane and carbon dioxide sequestration. To address the critical lack of knowledge about microbial communities in tropical (peat-draining) rivers, this study represents the first seasonal assessment targeted at establishing a foundational understanding of the microbial communities of the Rajang River–South China Sea continuum. This was carried out utilising 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing via Illumina MiSeq in size-fractionated samples (0.2 and 3.0 µm GF/C filter membranes) covering different biogeographical features and sources from headwaters to coastal waters. The microbial communities found along the Rajang River exhibited taxa common to rivers (i.e. predominance of β-Proteobacteria) while estuarine and marine regions exhibited taxa that were common to the aforementioned regions as well (i.e. predominance of α− and γ-Proteobacteria). This is in agreement with studies from other rivers which observed similar changes along salinity gradients. In terms of particulate versus free-living bacteria, nonmetric multi-dimensional scaling (NMDS) results showed similarly distributed microbial communities with varying separation between seasons. Distinct patterns were observed based on linear models as a result of the changes in salinity along with variation of other biogeochemical parameters. Alpha diversity indices indicated that microbial communities were higher in diversity upstream compared to the marine and estuarine regions, whereas anthropogenic perturbations led to increased richness but less diversity. Despite the observed changes in bacterial community composition and diversity that occur along the continuum of the Rajang River to the sea, the PICRUSt predictions showed minor variations. The results provide essential context for future studies such as further analyses on the ecosystem response to anthropogenic land-use practices and probable development of biomarkers to improve the monitoring of water quality in this region