19672 research outputs found
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Physical and electrical properties of molybdenum thin films grown by DC magnetron sputtering for photovoltaic application
No full textDC magnetron sputtering was utilized to grow thin layers of molybdenum (Mo) on top of soda lime glass substrates. Deposition power was varied for suitable characteristics of films grown at various DC powers, i.e. 100 W, 150 W and 200 W. Thin Mo film of approximately 580 nm thickness was successfully grown at DC power of 100 W at room temperature. Structural, morphological, electrical and optical properties of Mo thin films were analyzed. XRD patterns revealed Mo films to be monocrystalline in nature and only one peak was observed corresponding to the (1 1 0)cub reflection plane at 2θ = 40.5°. Exceptionally dense microstructure was found for surface morphology observation by AFM and FESEM. Increasing deposition power resulted in coarser surface of the grown films. The minimum average surface roughness was found to be around 0.995 nm. Scotch tape adhesion test was performed to validate adhesion. Grown Mo films were found metallic in nature with electrical resistivity of 2.64 × 10−5 Ω-cm. Furthermore, it was found that by increasing deposition power, the electrical resistivity could further be reduced. © 201
Diffuse reflectance spectroscopic analysis of barium sulfate as a reflection standard within 173–2500 nm: From pure to sintered form
No full textThe use of barium sulfate (BaSO4) as a low-cost reflectance standard has been documented for some time. In its pure salt form, the optical characteristics do have advantages compared to laboratory-grade sintered polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). However, its practical use has little advantage against the stability of PTFE. In this paper, a process of producing pelletized BaSO4, and characterization of its optical reflectance properties is reported. In its sintered form, data-driven analysis shows that BaSO4 is a commendable low-cost, high-reflection and a high-consistency material. The current sintered forms, though crude, registers a relatively stable texture to withstand minor mechanical stress, while having up to an average 92% reflectivity across the UV-VIS-NIR range (173–2500 nm) compared to a PTFE reflection standard. © The Author(s) 2019
Sci‐Hub: The new and ultimate disruptor? View from the front
No full textThe Harbinger project was a 3-year-long international study of the changing attitudes and behaviours of early career researchers (ECRs). One of the aims of the project was to discover if ECRs were adopting disrupting platforms that, legitimately or illegitimately, promote openness and sharing. It has been alleged that such an adoption appeals to them as Millennials. More than 100 ECRs from seven countries were questioned annually, and questions about Sc-Hub were raised as part of discussions about discovery and access. Interview data were supplemented by desk research and Google Trends statistics. It was found that Sci-Hub use was increasing and that a quarter of the ECRs now use it, with French ECRs being the biggest users. However, Sci-Hub is making little headway with ECRs from the UK, USA, Malaysia, and China, although in China's case, this can be explained by it being banned and the country having its own equivalent, www.91lib.com. Sci-Hub is used as much for convenience as necessity; use is not connected to the strength of library provision and and it has been suggested that it represents a bigger threat to publishers than ResearchGate, whose star might be waning. © 2018 The Author(s). Learned Publishing © 2018 ALPSP
Passively Q-switched erbium-doped fiber laser utilizing tungsten oxide as a saturable absorber
No full textWe demonstrated a passively Q-switched fiber laser utilizing tungsten oxide (WO3) thin film as a saturable absorber (SA). The WO3-SA was sandwiched as a polymer composite film between fiber ferrules in an erbium-doped fiber cavity. WO3 exhibits high nonlinear optical response characterized by an appropriate modulation depth of 10% and a saturation intensity of 100 MW/cm2. The fiber cavity starts to generate a stable pulse train whereby as the pump power increases from 45 to 165 mw, the repetition rate increases from 16.75 to 56.3 kHz, while the pulse width decreases from 13.8 to 4.3 µs. The Q-switched laser generated maximum pulse energy of 6.6 nJ obtained at 165 mW, which was the maximum pump power available by the used laser diode. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first demonstration of a Q-switched fiber laser based on the WO3-SA, which could contribute as a new potential SA material in the field of pulsed fiber lasers. © 2019 Optical Society of America
Pan-Asian adapted ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of patients with metastatic oesophageal cancer: a JSMO–ESMO initiative endorsed by CSCO, KSMO, MOS, SSO and TOS
No full textThe most recent version of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of oesophageal cancer was published in 2016, and covered the management and treatment of local/ locoregional disease, limited disease, locally advanced disease and the management of advanced/metastatic disease. At the ESMO Asia Meeting in November 2017 it was decided by both ESMO and the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (JSMO) to convene a special guidelines meeting immediately after the JSMO Annual Meeting in 2018. The aim was to adapt the ESMO 2016 guidelines to take into account the ethnic differences associated with the treatment of metastatic oesophageal cancer in Asian patients. These guidelines represent the consensus opinions reached by experts in the treatment of patients with metastatic oesophageal cancer representing the oncological societies of Japan (JSMO), China (CSCO), Korea (KSMO), Malaysia (MOS), Singapore (SSO) and Taiwan (TOS). The voting was based on scientific evidence, and was independent of both the current treatment practices and the drug availability and reimbursement situations in the individual participating Asian countries. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology
Rt-qPCR profiling of pathogenesis related genes in Musa acuminata cv. ‘berangan’ seedlings challenged with Fusarium oxysporum F. SP. cubense tropical race 4
No full textThe expression profile of pathogenesis related genes are signatures of an infection response in plant cells. Pathogenic infections can increase or reduce gene expression in a plant system in a relatively specific pattern. These expression patterns can be used as standards in pathogenicity studies and, where phenotypic expression is normally used to gauge a plants response to infection, it could additionally present a more rapid and early screening reference tool. Three genes: catalase (CAT), pathogen related protein (PR10), and phenylalanine ammonia (PAL) all implicitly implicated in the plant disease response pathway were targeted for analysis during the infection of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (FOCR4) in banana Musa acuminata cv. Berangan seedlings after a standard challenge under growth room conditions. Distinct patterns of gene expression were observed at three infection time points by real time expression analysis. There was a sequential 10-fold reduction in expression for the PR gene while, the PAL and CAT genes were both upregulated. These results present a set of reference genes that could be used for screening of a plant’s response to Fusarium before the onset of symptoms. © 2019, University of Agriculture. All rights reserved
Viscosine as a Potent and Safe Antipyretic Agent Evaluated by Yeast-Induced Pyrexia Model and Molecular Docking Studies
No full textThe antipyretic potential of viscosine, a natural product isolated from the medicinal plant Dodonaea viscosa, was investigated using yeast-induced pyrexia rat model, and its structure-activity relationship was investigated through molecular docking analyses with the target enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1). The in vivo antipyretic experiments showed a progressive dose-dependent reduction in body temperatures of the hyperthermic test animals when injected with viscosine. Comparison of docking analyses with target enzymes showed strongest bonding interactions (binding energy -17.34 kcal/mol) of viscosine with the active-site pocket of mPGES-1. These findings suggest that viscosine shows antipyretic properties by reducing the concentration of prostaglandin E2 in brain through its mPGES-1 inhibitory action and make it a potential lead compound for developing effective and safer antipyretic drugs for treating fever and related pathological conditions. Copyright © 2019 American Chemical Society
Managing Women with Sexual Dysfunction: Difficulties Experienced by Malaysian Family Physicians
No full textRecognizing barriers to managing sexual issues makes it more likely that effective ways to overcome them will be found. In Malaysia, where discussion of sexual issues is taboo, sociocultural factors may influence how physicians manage patients with these types of problems. This article focuses on the challenges encountered by 21 Malay family physicians when women experiencing sexual problems and female sexual dysfunction (FSD) attended their clinics, an uncommon occurrence in Malaysia, despite their high prevalence. This qualitative study employed a phenomenological framework and conducted face-to-face in-depth interviews. Three main barriers to managing women with sexual problems were identified that can hinder assessment and treatment: insufficient knowledge and training; unfavorable clinic environments; and personal embarrassment. Some barriers were associated with physician characteristics but many were systemic. These were further evaluated using social cognitive theory. Professional attitudes appear important as those physicians with an interest in managing women’s health seemed to make greater effort to explore issues further and work to gain trust. Physicians who appeared indifferent to the impact of FSD showed greater reluctance to find solutions. Systemic issues included unfavorable clinical settings, lack of training, and lack of local evidence. Any strategy to address FSD needs to be underpinned by appropriate policies and resources. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
Potassium fertilisation reduced late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) gene expression in Malaysian rice (MR220) under water stress condition
No full textThe application of potassium fertiliser might mitigate water stress effects in developing rice, thus influencing Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) gene expression and growth in the plant tissue. This study was conducted to examine LEA gene expression in its drought tolerance mechanisms and the growth of Malaysian Rice (MR220) when exposed to water stress and potassium fertilisation. Three treatments were developed, namely the control (CF; Continuously flooding + 80 kg K2O/ha), water stress under standard potassium fertilisation (WS; Water Stress 25 days + 80 kg K2O/ha) and water stress under high potassium fertilisation (WSK; Water Stress 25 days + 120 kg K2O/ha). The plant growth and yield components were measured for each treatment with randomly tagged plant by 3 replicates. The result showed that LEA gene expression on WSK was 36% less than on WS, thus indicating that the application of additional potassium fertilisation on MR220 rice might mitigate the water stress effect imposed on this plant. The study showed that high LEA gene expression in WS was accompanied by a reduction in plant growth and yield performance, such as plant tillers, height, number of leaves and grain yield compared to the control and WSK. © 2019 the Author(s)
Effect of amorphous silica by rice husk ash on physical properties and microstructures of recycled aluminium chip AA7075
No full textHigh strength to weight ratio of aluminium reinforced as metal matrix composites is a well known material used in automotive application. The effects of recycled aluminium chips AA7075 with amorphous silica by rice husk ash on the physical properties and microstructure were investigated. Recycled aluminium chip AA7075 was reinforced with agro waste of amorphous silica rice husk ash i. e., 2.5 %, 5 %, 7.5 %, 10 % and 12.5 %. Samples of these metal matrix composites were prepared by cold compaction method due to the lower energies consumption and operating cost compared to conventional recycling by casting. Physical testing of density, apparent porosity, water absorption and hardness tests of the metal matrix composites samples were examined in the current study. The density of metal matrix composites was increased up to 5 % of amorphous silica, and then decreased with increasing mass fraction of amorphous silica. Porosity and water absorption of metal matrix composites were significantly consistent at increasing mass fraction of amorphous silica, while the hardness of metal matrix composites was increased at increasing amorphous silica. Consequently, the microstructures of metal matrix composites were observed via optical microscope to analyze the dispersion of the reinforced composites. The microstructures of metal matrix composites were found non-homogeneous and random distribution of amorphous silica and aluminium chip AA7075 compared to 100 % recycled aluminium chip AA7075. Based on investigation to aluminium reinforced rice husk ash composites, it has good potential to improve the material behavior of metal matrix composites by appropriate composition amorphous silica to composite. © 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinhei