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Synthesis of polyaniline-montmorillonite nanocomposites using H2O2 as the oxidant
No full textPolyaniline montmorillonite nanocomposite was prepared using H2O2 as the oxidant. The catalytic environment of montmorillonite favours polymerization. Intercalation and composite formation was proven from various techniques such as XRD, FTIR, DRS and thermal analysis. XRD patterns give the dimension of the intercalated PANI, from the shift of 2θ values, which is in the nano range. FTIR showed that PANI composite formation occured without affecting the basic clay layer structure. Thus the successful development of an alternative cheap route for polyaniline–montmorillonite nanocomposite was well established
Formation of high aspect ratio TiO2 nanotube arrays by anodization of Ti foil in organic solution
No full textTitanium oxide (TiO2) nanotubes were successfully formed by anodization of pure titanium foil in a standard two-electrode bath consisting of ethylene glycol solution containing 5 wt% NH4F. The pH of the solution was ∼ 7 and the anodization voltage was 60 V. It was observed that such anodization condition results in ordered arrays of TiO2 nanotubes with smooth surface and a very high aspect ratio. It was observed that a minimum of 1 wt % water addition was required to form well ordered TiO2 nanotubes with length of approximately 18.5 μm. As-anodized sample, the self-organized TiO2 nanotubes have amorphous structure and annealing at 500oC of the nanotubes promote formation of anatase and rutile phase. Photocatalytic activity of well ordered TiO2 nanotubes with two different lengths was evaluated by measuring the degradation of methyl orange (MO). The elaboration of this observation is described in detail in this paper
Piezoelectric micropump with nanoliter per minute flow for drug delivery systems
No full textPiezoelectric Actuated Valveless Micropump (PAVM) has been designed and successfully fabricated using MEMS fabrication processes. The micropump uses a PZT: Pb(ZrTi)Ox ceramic plate to actuate a silicon membrane which bends when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator. The resultant reciprocating movement of the pump membrane is then converted into pumping effect. By integrating dynamic passive valves into the device, the pump would then operate continuously with volumetric pumping rate determined by the frequency of the driving voltage. Simulation work to determine the micropump fluidic characteristics was performed using CoventorWare MemFSI™ module. The pump was fabricated on a double side polished silicon wafer via simple two-mask micromachining process. The fabricated micropump, having an outer dimension of 14 mm × 14 mm × 2 mm, was then tested with DI (deionized) water as the test liquid. A driving voltage of 16 Vpp was applied to the PZT actuator. Pump rate of 4.98 nL per min was obtained at 0.673 kHz. The fabricated micropump envisages a promising pumping method to be implemented into drug delivery systems
Periprostatic lidocaine infiltration versus transrectal lidocaine gel for local anaesthesia in transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy
No full textManagement of pain plays an important role during prostate biopsy. Various types of management of pain plays an important role during prostate biopsy. Various types of anaesthetic methods have been used. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy and complication rate between periprostatic lidocaine infiltration and transrectal lidocaine gel in transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy. All prostate biopsy patients were included except those with lidocaine, allergy, haemorrhagic diathesis, anticoagulation therapy, the inability to rate a visual analogue scale and inability to obtain consent. They were randomized into two groups. Group 1 received 20ml 2% transrectal lidocaine gel. Group 2 received 5ml 1% lidocaine infiltration for each periprostatic nerve block with 23-gauge spinal needle. After three minutes, prostate biopsy was performed with an 18 gauge 7-inch spring-loaded biopsy gun. Six biopsies were taken for each lobe. Pain during probe insertion, biopsy and immediately after the procedure was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale. Any complication immediately after procedure, one day or after one week, was recorded. Mean pain score was lower after periprostatic lidocaine infiltration compared to transrectal lidocaine gel (3.1 + 1.9 versus 4.9 + 2.4, p = 0.027). There was no statistically significant difference in the complication rate. Transrectal ultrasound prostate biopsy using periprostatic lidocaine infiltration provides better anaesthesia as compared to the transrectal lidocaine gel application with no significant difference in complication. Thus, the use of periprostatic lidocaine infiltration in TRUS guided prostate biopsy is recommended
Clinical submission of supernumerary head of adducter brevis muscle
No full textAdductor brevis is an important member of the adductor family occupying the medial compartment of the thigh executing the function of adduction and medial rotation. Deviations from normal anatomy are unusual and rarely reported. A survey of anatomical archives revealed occasional mention of additional bellies of adductor brevis muscle. The present study reports a double belly of adductor brevis muscle (AB) found during a cadaveric dissection class for medical students. The left sided AB displayed two bellies disposed in the same plane. This case report attempts to present the clinical applications of supernumerary bellies of this important adductor muscle of the thigh. It is feasible to categorize these muscular variations upon specialized radiological procedures such as CT and MRI scans only if the radiologist possesses satisfactory understanding of variant anatomy of this region. It is thereafter inferred that upon recognition these muscles present a fair chance of being of utilitised in reconstructions. A biomechanical overview of the present anomaly is also attempte
Keperluan sokongan emosional dalam kalangan anak dewasa yang menjaga warga tua
No full textPeningkatan bilangan warga tua di Malaysia (60 tahun ke atas) akan mencapai jumlah 2.2 juta orang atau 9.5% menjelang 2020. Statistik juga menunjukkan bahawa kadar kelahiran semakin menurun beberapa dekad kebelakangan ini. Statistik ini menggambarkan satu dimensi baru berkaitan penjagaan warga tua dalam kalangan anak dewasa. Anak-anak dewasa pula, selain menghadapi bebanan untuk menyara keluarga sendiri, terpaksa menyara orang tua mereka yang kos kesihatan semakin hari semakin meningkat. Artikel ini meninjau aspek sokongan emosi dan timbal balik dalam hubungan anak dewasa (penjaga) dengan warga tua dengan menggunakan pendekatan teori pertukaran sosial.Kaedah survei digunakan dari bulan November 2008 hingga Januari 2009 untuk mengumpul data daripada 640 orang anak dewasa daripada etnik Melayu, Cina dan India. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan 65% anak dewasa bandar dan 59.7% anak dewasa luar bandar yang menjaga warga tua ialah anak dewasa perempuan yang majoritinya telah berkahwin dan mempunyai anak antara satu ke tiga orang.Majoriti responden luar bandar (92.8%) dan 43.1% responden bandar tinggal bersama warga tua yang dijaga mereka dan kerelaan untuk menjadi penjaga kepada warga tua merupakan pilihan mereka sendiri. Pasangan penjaga merupakan pemberi bantuan fizikal dan emosi utama dalam proses penjagaan warga tua
Emosi dan punca anak wanita Hiv/Aids berada di rumah perlindungan.
No full textAnak kepada wanita HIV/AIDS distigma, didiskriminasi, disisihkan dan dilayan secara negatif oleh keluarga dan masyarakat. Jarang ada ahli keluarga yang mahu membela mereka.Wanita HIV selalunya terpaksa menghantar anak ke rumah perlindungan sebelum penyakit mereka meningkat ke tahap AIDS dan tak berupaya untuk menjaga anak sendiri. Rumah perlindungan difikirkan sebagai tempat yang paling sesuai apabila tidak ada ahli keluarga yang ingin menjaga anak mereka terutama yang HIV. Artikel ini mempunyai dua tujuan utama. Pertama, mengenalpasti alasan kanak-kanak HIV/AIDS berada di rumah perlindungan. Kedua, menyelami perasaan mereka setelah berada di rumah perlindungan. Perbincangan ini diasaskan kepada data yang didapati daripada temu bual mendalam dengan 12 orang kanak-kanak HIV/AIDS yang ditempatkan di dua rumah perlindungan di Kuala Lumpur, iaitu PERNIM (tujuh orang) dan Rumah Solehah (lima orang), yang dilakukan dalam tahun 2009 hingga 2010. Terdapat empat penyebab yang menyebabkan responden ditempatkan di PERNIM dan Rumah Solehah, iaitu (a) dihantar oleh ahli keluarga, (b) ditinggalkan di hospital oleh keluarga, (c) dibuang di tempat awam dan (d) ditemui oleh pekerja Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat terbiar di jalanan. Tanpa keluarga di sisi, kanak-kanak ini merasa sedih, ragu-ragu, takut,bimbang dan marah. Mereka tidak mendapat kasih sayang daripada ibu bapa dan keluarga sendiri seperti kanak-kanak lain. Namun begitu, mereka merasa gembira, bersyukur dan berterima kasih kerana masih ada orang yang sudi menjaga, merawat, mendidik, memberi makan dan memberi perlindungan kepada mereka. Di rumah perlindungan mereka dapat merasa kehidupan berkeluarga dan disayangi walaupun bukan daripada darah daging sendir
Social intervention recommendations for depressed women with insecure styles, correlated with risk factors.
No full textA list of social interventions for insecure and depressed Malay women was recommended in order to enhance their well-being and social functioning. In order to develop an intervention program for insecure and depressed women and to see if these attachment styles related to support, self-esteem, and life events, would also be correlated with depression symptomatology, a preliminary study is crucial. A thousand and two mothers completed questionnaires assessing severe life events (RLEQ), psychosocial vulnerability (VASQ), and the General Health Questionnaire-30 to assess depression. The Attachment Style Interview (ASI) was used to tap attachment styles and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) to assess depression. The 61 women interviewed were selected on the basis of high General Health Questionnaire scores from a large questionnaire survey of 1,002 mothers. Findings have shown that 60.5% of single mothers and 39.5% of married mothers have depressive symptoms. Fearful styles were the most common (43.3%) and high proportion of the women exhibited Dual/Disorganised style (29.5%). The study suggested several social interventions: increasing psychotherapy and counselling services, raising public awareness, providing professional training for clinical psychologists and increasing treatment availability
New media and democracy: the changing political landscape in Malaysia
No full textThe new media, the Internet, has been used by businesses, government bodies, organisations, individuals etc. to conduct business, services and social transactions. The development and ascendancy of the Internet as an informational medium, has altered the information environment in which political elites and interested citizens function (Woodly 2008). In Malaysia, for example, the Internet is used as an alternative to mainstream media which is viewed as being pro-establishment. As of now there are a few online newspapers, such as Malaysiakini, The Malaysian Insider and blogs, with some of the blogs being run by former journalists. The run-up to Malaysia’s March 2008 General Elections had seen the Internet becoming a key political battleground for the first time as the use of ICT comes into full bloom with the opposition parties using the medium more than the Government parties. Some characteristics of Habermas concept of public sphere was truly mirrored in the run up to the General Elections and its aftermath where the Internet, via blogs, served as a public sphere for voters. As one of the characteristics of the public sphere where all citizens are guaranteed access, with the advent of the Internet, anyone with a computer and Internet connection (including wireless) can have access to the Internet. The new media has gradually penetrated the Malaysian political scenario affecting the status quo as seen in the March 2008 General Elections. The government can no longer under estimate the power and influence of the new media