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Impact of UV radiation on Mxene-mediated tubulin dissociation and mitochondrial apoptosis in breast cancer cells.
No full textBreast cancer is a global health concern that requires personalized therapies to prevent relapses, as conventional treatments may develop resistance over time. Photothermal therapy using spectral radiation or intense light emission is a broad-spectrum treatment that induces hyperthermia-mediated cancer cell death. MXene, a two-dimensional material, has been reported to have potential biological applications in photothermal therapy for cancer treatment. In this study, we investigated the apoptotic activity of MXene and UV-irradiated MXene in MCF-7 breast cancer cells by treating them with varying concentrations of MXene. The cytotoxicity of MXene and UV was evaluated by analyzing cellular morphology, nuclei condensation, caspase activation, and apoptotic cell death. We also assessed the effect of the combined treatment on the expression and cellular distribution of Tubulin, a key component of microtubules required for cell division. At low concentrations of MXene (up to 100 µg/ml), the level of cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells was low. However, the combined treatment of MXene and UV resulted in a synergistic increase in cytotoxicity, causing rounded cellular morphology, condensed nuclei, caspase activation, and apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, the treatment reduced Tubulin protein expression and cellular distribution, indicating a potent inducer of cell death with potential application for cancer treatment. The study demonstrates that the combined treatment of MXene and UVB irradiation is a promising strategy for inducing apoptotic cell death in breast cancer cells, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic intervention for breast cancer
The effect of oil pulling in comparison with chlorhexidine and other mouthwash interventions in promoting oral health: A systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textObjectives
A meta-analytic review was performed to critically synthesize the evidence of oil pulling on improving the parameters of gingival health, plaque control and bacteria counts against chlorhexidine and other mouthwash or oral hygiene practices.
Methods
Databases including Medline, Embase and bibliographies were searched from inception to 1 April 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 7 days or longer duration of oil pulling with edible oils in comparison to chlorhexidine or other mouthwashes or oral hygiene practice concerning the parameters of plaque index scores (PI), gingival index scores (GI), modified gingival index scores (MGI) and bacteria counts were included. Cochrane's Risk of Bias (ROB) tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework were employed to determine the quality of evidence. Two authors independently conducted study selection and data extraction. Meta-analyses of the effect of oil pulling on the parameters were conducted using an inverse-variance random-effects model.
Results
Twenty-five trials involving 1184 participants were included. Twenty-one trials comparing oil pulling (n = 535) to chlorhexidine (n = 286) and non-chlorhexidine intervention (n = 205) were pooled for meta-analysis. More than half of the trials (n = 17) involved participants with no reported oral health issues. The duration of intervention ranged from 7 to 45 days, with half of the trials using sesame oil. When compared to non-chlorhexidine mouthwash interventions, oil pulling clinically and significantly improved MGI scores (Standardized mean difference, SMD = −1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −1.31, −0.97). Chlorhexidine was more effective in reducing the PI scores compared to oil pulling, with an SMD of 0.33 (95% CI: 0.17, 0.49). The overall quality of the body of evidence was very low.
Conclusions
There was a probable benefit of oil pulling in improving gingival health. Chlorhexidine remained superior in reducing the amount of plaque, compared to oil pulling. However, there was very low certainty in the evidence albeit the clinically beneficial effect of oil pulling intervention
Safety profile of subacute oral administration of ethanolic extract of Gracilaria manilaensis Yamamoto & Trono
No full textGracilaria manilaensis is a red seaweed found in some regions of Peninsula Malaysia. In vitro studies have demonstrated that G. manilaensis has neuritogenic, neuroprotective, anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, suggesting that it could be developed into health supplement. However, the effects of oral consumption of G. manilaensis have not yet been evaluated in vivo. The present study evaluated the safety of sub-acute oral consumption of G. manilaensis ethanolic extract. 10, 50, 100, 250, and 500 mg kg-1 G. manilaensis ethanolic extracts and distilled water (control) were administered to adult female Sprague-Dawley rats (n=3 per group) by oral gavage for 28 days. Our results showed that the G. manilaensis ethanolic extract did not induce abnormal behaviour, body weight changes, or affect the mortality rate between treatment and control groups. There were no abnormal haematological and biochemical findings, except that 500 mg kg-1 G. manilaensis ethanolic extract may affect renal function, as urea levels and urea/creatinine ratio were lower when compared to other treatment groups. Gross necropsy did not reveal any abnormalities in the vital organs in all groups. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the percentage relative weight of organs between treatment and control groups. In conclusion, the findings showed that daily oral consumption of G. manilaensis ethanolic extracts at 250 mg kg-1 or lower for 28 days was safe. The findings from this study provide a basis for future studies to investigate the in vivo health promoting effects of G. manilaensis
The interaction between remittance, FDI, renewable energy, and environmental quality: a panel data analysis for the top remittance-receiving countries
No full textA country’s financing system is essential in addressing sustainable development requirements. National sources and international financial flows contribute to economic growth and environmental quality in many ways, and their impact can be critical. This paper applied panel data analysis using a comparative approach of Pooled Mean Group Auto Regressive Distribute Lags (PMG-ARDL) and Cross Sectionally ARDL (CS-ARDL) to estimate the effects of FDI, renewable energy, and remittance on environmental quality in the top remittance-receiving countries, during 2000–2021. The study emphasized the positive relationship between FDI and carbon emissions. Moreover, renewable energy and remittances revealed an inverted U-shaped relationship with carbon emissions. In the case of developing countries from the panel, remittance improves environmental quality after reaching the threshold. Moreover, for some of the developing countries included in the panel, we found that they do not achieve the desired carbon mitigation effect in their early stages of renewable energy implementation. However, renewable energy becomes a key factor for tackling environmental pollution after a certain threshold. The mixed results determined diverse policy recommendations for various stakeholders
A comprehensive review on ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, toxicology, and pharmacological activities of Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter
No full textDittrichia viscosa is a perennial herb that has been used for generations in traditional medicine to address a variety of diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, cancer, microbial disorders, inflammatory conditions, and wound healing. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of existing knowledge on D. viscosa with regards to its botanical description, ethnomedicinal uses, and pharmacological properties. Databases such as Scopus, Wiley-Online, PubMed, Springer, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect were used to select relevant articles based on their title and abstract.
The reviewed studies found a strong correlation between D. viscosa's traditional uses and its observed biological effects. Pharmacological research has shown that the essential oils and extracts from D. viscosa possess a variety of biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, analgesic, and antioxidant properties. The chemical compounds found in D. viscosa include sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes, flavonoids, and phenolic acids; some of these compounds, such as tometosin and inuviscolide, have been isolated and displayed promising cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activity.
The present review suggests that the pharmacological properties of D. viscosa align well with its ethnomedicinal uses. These findings support the traditional use of D. viscosa in treating various illnesses. Additionally, toxicological examinations of D. viscosa extracts and essential oil have demonstrated the plant's safety, which supports the need for comprehensive pharmacological studies, in vivo studies, and clinical trials to evaluate the best doses for optimal medicinal effects. This work underscores the medicinal value of D. viscosa and its potential in developing new pharmacological agents to address major health challenges like antibiotic resistance and cancers
Mutual fund performance and the validity of fund manager's outperformance claims in G7 economies: an empirical investigation
Get PDFMutual funds are prominent in the global capital market, offering diversification and professional management to individual investors. In view of their crucial role in the global financial landscape, this study aims to assess mutual funds' ability to outperform market benchmarks, evaluate fund managers' stock selection skills, and investigate market timing across G7 countries The dataset includes 50 mutual funds (25 equity-based and 25 bond-based) from each G7 nation between 2015 and 2022. Various performance metrics such as Sharpe Ratio, Treynor Ratio, Jensen’s Alpha, and market timing models are employed. Our findings generally support the efficient market hypothesis (EMH), as most G7 mutual funds fail to outperform market benchmarks. Negative Sharpe and Treynor ratios across the sample suggest insufficient risk-adjusted returns. Additionally, the lack of positive Jensen’s Alpha and weak performance under the Fama-French three-factor model indicate that most fund managers lack stock-picking skill. However, a few funds from the US and UK do exhibit positive Jensen’s Alpha, suggesting that skilled management may be present in some cases. In terms of market timing, only Italian fund managers demonstrate statistically significant positive abilities, while fund managers in other countries show limited or negative timing skills. These findings suggest that, contrary to the hopes of active management, most G7 mutual funds do not consistently outperform the market, aligning with the core prediction of EMH. Similarly, actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) show limited success in outperforming passive benchmarks. These findings emphasize the importance of carefully evaluating fund performance before making investment decisions and tempering expectations regarding the potential for abnormal returns from actively managed funds. Investors should consider focusing on low-cost passive investment strategies, particularly in light of the limited evidence for consistent outperformance in active management
Nanoparticle enchanced salt hydrate eutectic phase change material for thermal energy regulation in buildings
Get PDFGlobal energy storage trends are emerging as the energy market shifts from fossil fuels to renewable energy for electrification. Meanwhile, the indoor thermal conditions of buildings and offices are inversely proportional to the quantity of energy consumed and CO2 emitted. To reduce the energy consumption in thermal conditioning of buildings, phase change materials (PCM)s are predominant owing to their energy storage capability and passive operation. Inorganic salt hydrate PCMs are recognized as high energy storage materials with less toxicity, non-flammable nature and economically viable than organic PCMs. However, inherent thermal characteristics, low energy storage potential of PCM with low temperature, and degree of supercooling associated with salt hydrate are of utmost concern, which is resolved via tailored eutectic PCM. This encourages investigation and development of new type of inorganic-inorganic eutectic phase change material (EPCM). Nanoparticles are dispersed to enhance the thermal features and thermal reliability. Subsequently, substantial research is underway to investigate the performance of unique dimensioned nanoparticles in conjunction with PCM. Herein, the main objective of this research was to develop and evaluate the potential of an inorganic salt hydrate nanocomposite EPCM, intended for passive thermal regulation of buildings towards sustainable future. To achieve this objective, four inorganic salt hydrate with low melting temperature were selected to formulate 21 different combinations of EPCM adopting the Schrader equation. Among them, binary combination of 62% of sodium sulphate decahydrate (SSD) and 38% of sodium phosphate dibasic dodecahydrate (SPDD) displayed eutectic melting temperature of 27.6°C, eutectic melting enthalpy of 216 J/g and thermal conductivity of 0.464 W/m⋅K. Subsequently, 1D multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and 2D graphene nanoplatelets (GNP); lab synthesised 2D nanomaterial MXene, 3D nano-sized tetrapods (thin-arms and thick-arms), and 3D ecofriendly coconut shell biochar were dispersed with EPCM individually to identify the suitable nanocomposite. Phase transition temperature, thermal conductivity, energy storage, degree of supercooling, chemical stability, optical absorbance & transmittance and corrosion analysis of the developed nanocomposite EPCMs are experimentally characterised. Nanocomposites EPCM improved thermal conductivity by 106.1% (0.956 W/m⋅K with 1.2 wt.% of GNP), optical absorbance by 746.15% (1.1 wt.% of MXene), reduction in degree of supercooling by 91.1% (0.9 wt.% of MWCNT). Thermal properties of superior nanocomposites EPCMs are used as input parameter via Type1270 PCM layer in TRNSYS simulation studio to analyse the variation in heating and cooling load of building integrated with PCM. On integrating 2 cm thickness of SSD/SPDD+GNP EPCM layer within the ceiling/roof of study space, cooling load for climatic condition of Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi decreases by 38.8% and 30.5%. Integration of nanocomposite EPCM with building structures assists passive thermal regulation with better thermal conditions for occupants. Furthermore, real-time experimental investigation on nanocomposite EPCM integrated constructions is needed to assess the real-time performance of building thermal comfort. Research presented in this thesis significantly contributes towards the sustainable development goal of SDG-07 (Affordable and Clean energy) in specific to target SDG-7.3 by facilitating improved energy efficiency; and SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) in specific to target 11.c by constructing sustainable and resilient building
Value co-creation research in tourism and hospitality management: a systematic literature review
No full textThe sustainable growth of the tourism industry is attributed to the involvement of tourists in the process of value
co-creation. This research aims to systematically review the existing literature on value co-creation practices in
tourism and conduct a comprehensive analysis of this research area. The paper synthesizes past studies on value
co-creation in tourism, encompassing theories, context, methods, and characteristics, to analyze the progress
made in value co-creation research over the past two decades. Furthermore, this study investigates the role of
value co-creation as an antecedent, mediator, and control variable, as well as its outcomes in the context of
tourism management. The findings of the study propose an integrated framework for tourism value co-creation.
Additionally, the study identifies key themes present in the current literature on value co-creation and highlights
overlooked areas, suggesting new research directions to advance this field. The theoretical and practical implications
of the study are also discussed
Embarking on a Journey of Reflexivity: Insights from Research Practice
No full textThe primary aim of this article is to provide an analysis of the notion of reflexivity within the context of qualitative research. This concept serves to enhance researchers' self-awareness regarding the underlying reasons for their decisions and contributes to the development of knowledge. This paper provides insights derived from the author's personal experience of composing a doctoral thesis, with respect to the reflexive practices that were duly considered. Concurrently, the objective of this article is to examine reflexivity from a pragmatic standpoint and as a means of attaining a more profound comprehension of "what you do and why you do, what you do." This paper examines the concept from both theoretical and practical perspectives for a comprehensive view. This paper points out that researchers do use reflexivity, but the key question is how much they are aware of this important practice. All in all, the concepts and reflexive practices that are discussed in this paper will serve as the impetus for one's own personal voyage of reflexivity
Time To Introduce The Malaysia Carbon Market Policy
No full textCarbon credits are one type of compensatory mechanism for offsetting the emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. When a company buys a carbon credit, usually from the government, it gains permission to generate one ton of CO2 emissions. The first auction for Malaysian Carbon Credit was held by Bursa Carbon Exchange (BCX) recently. This is a monumental step toward admitting the first Malaysian nature-based carbon project onto the BCX. This is a testament to Malaysia’s ability to develop its own carbon projects that meet international standards. Another feather in the cap, BCX is the world’s first Shariah-compliant multi-environmental product exchange that facilitates the trading of carbon credits via standardised contracts