19672 research outputs found
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In vitro fertilisation: Women’s questions and concerns in a Malaysian online forum
No full textStudies have shown that infertility may be caused by male factors, female factors, a mixture of both male and female factors, or due to unexplained reasons. Nevertheless, in some societies, infertility is frequently seen as solely a woman’s problem and women with infertility problems are often forced to suffer blame and humiliation in silence. For example, in Malaysia, a barren married woman is looked down upon, has a lower status, and may be divorced from her husband. Infertility becomes a taboo topic and therefore, not much is known about Malaysian women with infertility problems. However, with the anonymity afforded by computer-mediated communication (CMC), these women are now turning to the online medium for help. This study uses the web content analysis method to investigate the inquiries made by Malaysian women over in vitro fertilization (IVF), a type of infertility treatment, in a local online forum. The findings revealed that the questions asked by women in the forum were primarily concerned with seeking information about IVF. Other types of questions asked include opinion-seeking and questions requesting experience-sharing. These women were also found to use various solidarity strategies to support and encourage one another in persevering with their treatment
Phase separation dynamics and morphologies prediction of PEO-b-PMMA copolymer by atomistic and mesoscopic simulations
No full textAtomistic and mesoscopic simulations are the most important tools to predict the morphologies of block copolymers. In this study, inter-bead interactions and essential parameters for meso-structure polymeric models were optimized for poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PEO-b-PMMA; O-b-M) binary systems. A coarse-grained model in a mesoscopic dynamic was used to represent polymeric chain. Gaussian chain is calculated from polymer chain length concerning its characteristic properties. Free energy density was considered by setting suitable time steps and inter-bead interactions for meso-structure simulations. The interaction energies of 1:1, 2:1 and 4:1 molar ratio of O to M segments were 3.67, 4.66, and 5.92, respectively. These values are obtained from Flory-Huggins parameters in atomistic simulations. Morphology at equilibrium was obtained in five different types: worm-like micelle, defected lamellar, lamellar, spherical micelle and bicontinuous at 400 K from M5-1M2-O5, O4-O4M6, M4-M5O5, O10-2M122-O10 and M11-1M2-O10, respectively. The obtained morphologies correlate with order parameter developed from the simulations
First-principles study on the atomistic corrosion processes of iron
No full textThe corrosion of iron presents an important scientific problem and a serious economic issue. It is also one of the most important subjects in materials science because it is basically an electrochemical process and closely related to other topics such as the electrocatalysis of the oxygen reduction reaction. So far, many studies have been conducted to address the corrosion of iron, a very complicated process that occurs when iron is exposed to oxygen and water. An important question is, at which site of the iron surface the corrosion starts and how it results in the final stage of the corrosion. In the present study, as an example of superficial defects, Fe dimers sticking out of Fe(100) surfaces are considered in order to understand the iron corrosion process from first-principles using density functional theory. We found that the Fe dimers spontaneously react with O 2 and H 2 O to form Fe 2 (OH) 4 + 4OH - . Here, it is interesting to note that the Fe dimer plays the role of a water splitting catalyst, because the space above it is always vacant and can accept oxygen molecules many times for reacting with the surrounding water molecules. Then, if the Fe 2 (OH) 4 molecules are detached from the surface, they react with O 2 to form Fe 2 O(OH) 4 without an activation barrier, and, in turn, the Fe 2 O(OH) 4 and H 2 O molecules react to form Fe 2 (OH) 6 complexes with an activation energy of 0.653 eV. If these complexes further dissociate into Fe(OH) 3 molecules, they react with each other to form Fe 2 O 3 ·2H 2 O with an activation energy of 0.377 eV. This work may provide useful information on possible iron corrosion processes by water in the air
Determinants of Board Composition and Corporate Governance in Chinese Enterprises Since Reforms Began: A Comparison of Controlling Shareholders
No full textThis study focuses on the determinants of board size and board independence during an economic transition in China. It contributes to the body of Chinese corporate governance studies by applying the most comprehensive analytical framework to the periods before and after the split-share structure reform. Both static and dynamic estimation methods have been used. Overall, the study found that Chinese board size and independence are jointly determined by the scope of operation, cost and benefit of monitoring, CEO’s influence and other governance factors. Among these factors, the government was the most important player in constituting corporate boards before the split-share structure reform; after the reform, board independence became more important than other governance factors. In addition, when constituting corporate boards, private and market-oriented state enterprises are more concerned about cost than are government-controlled enterprises
Alpha-asarone attenuates depression-like behavior in nicotine-withdrawn mice: Evidence for the modulation of hippocampal pCREB levels during nicotine-withdrawal
No full textIn the present study, the effect α-asarone on nicotine withdrawal-induced depression-like behavior in mice was investigated. In this study, mice were exposed to drinking water or nicotine solution (10–200 µg/ml) as a source of drinking for forty days. During this period, daily fluid consumption, food intake and body weight were recorded. The serum cotinine level was estimated before nicotine withdrawal. Naïve mice or nicotine-withdrawn mice were treated with α-asarone (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) or bupropion (10 mg/kg, i.p.) for eight consecutive days and the forced swim test (FST) or locomotor activity test was conducted. In addition, the effect of α-asarone or bupropion on the hippocampal pCREB, CREB and BDNF levels during nicotine-withdrawal were measured. Results indicated that α-asarone (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) or bupropion (10 mg/kg, i.p.) pretreatment did not significantly alter the immobility time in the FST or spontaneous locomotor activity in naïve mice. However, the immobility time of nicotine-withdrawn mice was significantly attenuated with α-asarone (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) or bupropion (10 mg/kg, i.p.) pretreatment in the FST. Besides, α-asarone (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) or bupropion (10 mg/kg, i.p.) pretreatment significantly attenuated the hippocampal pCREB levels in nicotine-withdrawn mice. Overall, the present results indicate that α-asarone treatment attenuated the depression-like behavior through the modulation of hippocampal pCREB levels during nicotine-withdrawal in mice
DNA mismatch repair and CD133-marked cancer stem cells in colorectal carcinoma
No full textBackground. Except for a few studies with contradictory observations, information is lacking on the possibility of association between DNA mismatch repair (MMR) status and the presence of cancer stem cells in colorectal carcinoma (CRC), two important aspects in colorectal carcinogenesis. Methods. Eighty (40 right-sided and 40 left-sided) formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded primary CRC were immunohistochemically studied for CD133, a putative CRC stem cell marker, and MMR proteins MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2. CD133 expression was semi-quantitated for proportion of tumor immunopositivity on a scale of 0-5 and staining intensity on a scale of 0-3 with a final score (units) being the product of proportion and intensity of tumor staining. The tumor was considered immunopositive only when the tumor demonstrated moderate to strong intensity of CD133 staining (a decision made after analysis of CD133 expression in normal colon). Deficient MMR (dMMR) was interpreted as unequivocal loss of tumor nuclear staining for any MMR protein despite immunoreactivity in the internal positive controls. Results. CD133 was expressed in 36 (90.0%) left-sided and 28 (70.0%) right-sided tumors (p 0:05). Conclusion. Proficient MMR correlated with high levels of CD133-marked putative cancer stem cells in both right- and left-sided tumors, whereas significantly lower levels of CD133-marked putative cancer stem cells were associated with deficientMMRstatus in colorectal carcinomas found on the right
Esophageal squamous cell carcinomas in a Malaysian cohort show a lack of association with human papillomavirus
No full textOBJECTIVE: With an age-standardized incidence rate of 2 per 100 000, esophageal cancer is not common among Malaysians, but they are nevertheless important due to its poor prognosis. The study is to clarify whether the human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with esophageal cancer in Malaysians as there has been no report to date on this in Malaysians and other South East Asians. METHODS: Altogether 67 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas histologically diagnosed between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2014 at the Department of Pathology, University of Malaya Medical Center, Malaysia were considered for HPV analysis using two commercially available methods, polymerase chain reaction with flow-through hybridization (21 HPV GenoArray Diagnostic Kit) and multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (Anyplex II HPV28 Detection). The DNA amplifiability of the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor was checked by amplification of a 268 bp segment of the human β-globin gene (GH20/PC04) prior to HPV detection. RESULTS: HPV detection was finally carried out in 51 patients. HPV16 was detected in the moderately differentiated, stage IV lower esophageal tumor of a 32-year-old Malaysian-born Chinese woman by both methods. Except for a predilection for Indians, the clinical characteristics of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas in this Malaysian cohort were generally similar to those of other populations. CONCLUSION: It appears that HPV is rare and an unlikely oncovirus in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas of Malaysians
Surface crack growth in a solid cylinder under combined cyclic bending-torsion loading
No full textHere, we present fatigue crack growth (FCG) of a surface crack in a solid cylinder under combined cyclic torsionbending load. The effective stress intensity factors were found to be fluctuated during the crack growth. When the loading ratio of the maximum shearing stress over the maximum bending stress was being unity, for a given crack length, the crack aspect ratios between 0.5 and 1 resulted in insignificant differences on the estimated fatigue lives. The effect of the crack depth on the fatigue life was found to be insignificant when the crack position was away from the maximum bending stress location
Estate youth and complicated migration in Malaysia's oil palm plantations: the emotions of leaving and connecting back
No full textThis paper investigates the emotional relationship young Tamil Indians have with oil palm plantations they are leaving behind or have left behind. Working in a small town in Malaysia, as well as in a large estate, we show how communal and individual aspirations of migration shape young people's mobility. While young people recognize the poverty and marginalization of plantation life, they continue to be emotionally and affectually connected to plantations through socio-cultural and spiritual practices. Post-migration we show how youth maintain estate connections, and argue that the pull back towards plantations is contrary to state-sponsored ideologies of modernization. Not all young people feel the same pull; many try to distance themselves from their estate roots through consumption and other social practices. Responding to calls for researchers emotions to be present in youth research, the paper also briefly reflects how adult emotions shape our understanding of young people's emotions of migration
Electronic and thermoelectric properties of the layered BaFAg Ch ( Ch = S, Se and Te): First-principles study
No full textBy using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method, the electronic properties of the layered BaAgChF (Ch = S, Se, Te) were investigated. Both the standard GGA and the TB-mBJ potential were used to model the exchange-correlation potential. To evaluate the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) effect, both the scalar relativistic and full relativistic calculations were performed. The SOC effect is found to be not negligible in the title compounds. The FP-LAPW band structure and the semi-classical Boltzmann transport theory were used to study the charge-carrier concentration and temperature dependences of the thermoelectric parameters, including Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and figure of merit. Our results show that the values of the thermoelectric parameters of the p-type compounds are larger than that of the n-type ones. The optimal p-type doping concentrations and temperatures that yield the maximum values of the figure of merit of the title compounds were calculated. These are important parameters to guide experimental works