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Performing arts and the royal Courts of Southeast Asia. volume 1: pusaka as documented heritage
No full textThis publication brings together current scholarship that focuses on the significance of performing arts heritage of royal courts in Southeast Asia. Royal courts have long been sites for the creation, exchange, maintenance, and development of myriad forms of performing arts and other distinctive cultural expressions. The first volume, Pusaka as Documented Heritage, consists of historical case studies, contexts and developments of royal court traditions, particularly in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
Tourism in Times of Crisis and Post-Crisis: A Model to Understand Tourists' Post-Pandemic Travel Intentions
Full text linkThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on tourists' travel plans. Whilst the relationship between perceived risk and tourists' decisions and behaviours concerning COVID-19 is already an established research area in tourism studies, the dynamics of post-pandemic travel intentions and how they are influenced by travel motivation, destination safety and the notion of revenge tourism received very little attention. Therefore, this study proposes a model linking revenge tourism, destination safety, and travel motivations, leading to post-pandemic travel intentions. Furthermore, this research note lays a foundation for future research that can guide towards understanding tourists' travel intentions in times of crisis, similar to the COVID-19 pandemic
Synthesis, spectral characterisation, biocidal investigation, in-silico and molecular docking studies of 4-[(2-chloro-4-methylphenyl)carbamoyl]butanoic acid derived triorganotin(IV) compounds
No full textThree triorganotin(IV) compounds, R3Sn(L), with R = CH3 (1), n-C4H9 (2) and C6H5 (3), and LH = 4-[(2-chloro-4-methylphenyl)carbamoyl]butanoic acid, were prepared and confirmed by various techniques. A five-coordinate, distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry was elucidated for tin(IV) centres both in solution and solid states. An intercalation mode was confirmed for the compound SS-DNA interaction by UV-visible, viscometric techniques and molecular docking. MD simulation revealed stable binding of LH with SS-DNA. Anti-bacterial investigation revealed 2 to be generally the most potent, especially against Sa and Ab, i.e. having the lowest MIC values (≤0.25 μg/mL) compared to the standard anti-biotics vancomycin-HCl (MIC = 1 μg/mL) and colistin-sulphate (MIC = 0.25 μg/mL). Similarly, the anti-fungal profile shows 2 exhibits 100% inhibition against Ca and Cn fungal strains and has MIC values (≤0.25 μg/mL) comparatively lower than standard drug fluconazole (0.125 and 8 μg/mL for Ca and Cn, respectively). Compound 2 has the greatest activity with CC50 ≤ 25 μg/mL and HC50 > 32 μg/mL performed against HEC239 and RBC cell lines. The anti-cancer potential was assessed against the MG-U87 cell line, using cisplatin as the standard (133 µM), indicates 2 displays the greatest activity (IC50: 5.521 µM) at a 5 µM dose. The greatest anti-leishmanial potential was observed for 2 (87.75 at 1000 μg/mL) in comparison to amphotericin B (90.67). The biological assay correlates with the observed maximum of 89% scavenging activity exhibited by 2. The Swiss-ADME data publicised the screened compounds generally follow the rule of 5 of drug-likeness and have good bioavailability potential
Carbon nanotube–graphene-based nanofluids: a comprehensive review on the role of thermal conductivity and its solar energy applications
No full textNowadays, nanofluids are considered as excellent working fluids with good thermophysical properties for augmenting the heat transfer in solar systems. Consisting of single-phase nanopowder, metal oxide-based nanofluids exhibit either a good thermal network or good physicochemical properties. Allotropes of carbon (e.g., carbon nanotubes; CNTs and graphene) have their own set of distinct structural and thermal properties to enhance the thermophysical properties of base fluids (e.g., water, ethylene glycol, etc.). For working fluids, researchers tried to optimize the preparation methodology in which a two-step method has been preferred due to the synergistic involvement of solid (i.e., particulate) and liquid (i.e., base fluid) phase. Also, several research groups have discussed the thermal behavior of different nanofluids with the help of correlations. A combination of MgO and CNTs has also been studied thoroughly to distinguish the effect of temperature and concentration of solid phase on the thermal conductivity of nanofluid. Further, CNT/graphene-based nanofluids serve a critical role in improving the thermal performance of solar collectors, solar stills, solar ponds, and solar cookers. It can also be utilized to reduce the surface temperature of solar cells in photo voltaic thermal (PV/T) systems which in turn increases the electrical efficiency of these systems. The present work illustrates a detailed review on the CNT/graphene-based nanofluids and their structural features for different solar energy applications
Extending the theory of planned behaviour to foreign students’ perceptions of traditional Chinese medical tourism
Full text linkMedical tourism is becoming an increasingly important component of the international tourism industry, and Chinese medical tourists make up a big percentage of this growing tourism market segment. Most previous studies on Chinese medical tourism have focused on Chinese outbound medical tourism, but there has little research undertaken as yet, on foreign tourists’ perception towards traditional Chinese medical tourism. Specifically, most of the previous studies utilized the measurement scale of destination image in medical tourism research, resulting in a limited representation of the nature of medical tourism. This study aims to examine the relationship between attitude, subjective norm (SN), perceived behavioural control (PBC), familiarity, perceived ease of visa application (PEVA) and intention toward traditional Chinese medical tourism. A quantitative approach was used, adopting a survey methodology involving 344 foreigners which was followed by subsequent empirical testing of the postulated hypotheses. The results suggested that attitude, PBC, familiarity and PEVA positively influence intention. PEVA positively influences attitude, PBC and intention respectively. Results also demonstrated that familiarity influenced attitude and PBC, and SN positively influenced familiarity. This study expands the existing knowledge on how PEVA and familiarity influenced visitation in medical tourism literature which can benefit key stakeholders in the tourism industry
Determination of radon concentration in bottled drinking water of Dhaka City
No full textAmong all natural radiation sources, exposure to radon (222Rn) is considered as the most hazardous to human health. Recognizing the significance of water in preserving a healthy life style, assessing the 222Rn activity in drinking water is crucial. The 222Rn activity concentration was measured in 20 different branded bottled drinking waters purchased from Dhaka city using both alpha and gamma-ray spectrometry systems. Activity concentrations of 222Rn in bottled water obtained via RAD7 detector varied from 0.1 ± 0.02 Bq/L to 0.42 ± 0.01 Bq/L with an average value of 0.26 ± 0.02, while the value varied from 0.12 ± 0.01 Bq/L to 0.52 ± 0.31 Bq/L with an average value of 0.29 ± 0.09 by HPGe detector. The obtained results show lower concentrations when compared with other studies around the world as well as the US-EPA reference level of 11.1 Bq l−1 or 300 pCi l−1. The total annual effective dose calculated for different age groups and internal organ doses were found below the action level recommended by WHO (0.1 mSv y−1) and ICRP (3–10 mSv y−1), due to 222Rn, 3H and 40K in drinking water. Based on the obtained radon concentration and concomitant dose values, this study suggested negligible health hazards due to the consumption of bottled drinking water in Bangladesh. The results of this study could serve as a reference data for future studies in the area and beyond
Microbial populations, sensory, and volatile compounds profiling of local cooked rice
No full textObjectives
This study is designed to investigate the microbial populations, sensory, and volatile compounds profiling of locally cooked rice stored at room temperature (30 °C) on days 0, 1, 2, and 3 (D0, D1, D2, and D3) for the determination of specific spoilage organisms (SSOs).
Materials and Methods
Microbiological, physicochemical, sensory evaluation, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analyses were conducted for samples of cooked rice stored at room temperature on days 0, 1, 2, and 3. SSO of cooked rice was then identified by linking present organisms with the changes occurring throughout the storage period.
Results
Microbiological analysis revealed the presence of spore-forming bacteria, yeast, and moulds, which survived the cooking process. While total viable count exceeded the microbiological limit at 6.90 log CFU/g on D3, panellists deemed cooked rice unacceptable for consumption on D2 at a total sensory score of 11.00, which indicates that D2 was the day cooked rice spoiled. Through culture-dependent and culture-independent methods, Bacillus cereus was identified as the sole bacteria observed throughout the storage period, confirming that the bacteria were SSOs. The VOC analysis proposed several metabolites, 3-eicosene, 1-heptadecene, hexacosane, phenol, 4,4ʹ-(1-methylethylidene)bis-, n-nonadecanol-1, and cyclohexanone, as potential spoilage markers of cooked rice.
Conclusions
B. cereus is confirmed to be the SSO of cooked rice, in which spoilage occured after 48 h of storage at room temperature. The organoleptic rejection in cooked rice was shown to be linked to the production of various compounds by B. cereus which could be proposed as potential spoilage markers for cooked rice
Measurement of 222Rn in ground water and NORMs in top soil in the environs of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant site and associated health hazard
No full textThis study determines the prevailing concentrations of 222Rn in twenty groundwater samples and primordial radionuclides in twelve soil samples collected from the surrounding area of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) in Bangladesh. The mean concentration of 222Rn, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the studied samples was found to be 4.42 ± 2 Bq/L (Water), 25.2 ± 5.3, 23.9 ± 6.3 and 317.1 ± 31.4 Bq kg−1 (Soil) respectively. Associated health hazards were estimated and compared with the respective safety limits recommended by international organizations. The present results may serve as the base values of naturally occurring radioactive materials in the vicinity of the RNPP in Bangladesh
Quantifying carbon pool in ex-mining lake-converted constructed wetlands of Paya Indah Wetlands, Selangor, Malaysia
No full textEx-mining lake-converted constructed wetlands play a significant role in the carbon cycle, offering a great potential to sequester carbon and mitigate climate change and global warming. Investigating the quantity of carbon storage capacity of ex-mining lake-converted constructed wetlands provides information and justification for restoration and conservation efforts. The present study aims to quantify the carbon pool of the ex-mining lake-converted constructed wetlands and characterise the physicochemical properties of the soil and sediment. Pearson’s correlation and a one-way ANOVA were performed to compare the different sampling stations at Paya Indah Wetland, Selangor, Malaysia. An analysis of 23 years of ex-mining lake-converted constructed wetlands of Paya Indah Wetlands, Selangor, Malaysia, revealed that the estimated total carbon pool in soil and sediment accumulated to 1553.11 Mg C ha−1 (equivalent to 5700 Mg CO2 ha−1), which translates to an annual carbon sink capacity of around 67.5 Mg C ha−1 year−1. The characterisation showed that the texture of all soil samples was dominated by silt, whereas sediments exhibited texture heterogeneity. Although the pH of the soil and sediment was both acidic, the bulk density was still optimal for plant growth and did not affect root growth. FT-IR and WDXRF results supported that besides the accumulation and degradation of organic substances, which increase the soil and sediment carbon content, mineral carbonation is a mechanism by which soil and sediment can store carbon. Therefore, this study indicates that the ex-mining lake-converted constructed wetlands of Paya Indah Wetlands, Selangor, Malaysia have a significant carbon storage potential
So chef, does a PhD matter? A Malaysian perspective(s) on Bucher and Lee
No full textThis paper offers a critical reflection on the challenges culinary professionals encounter when venturing into academia. We directly respond to Bucher and Lee's (2023) article, "Dear chef, do you really want a PhD?". Bucher and Lee aptly illuminated the intricacies, challenges, hurdles, and barriers that chefs face when pursuing a doctoral education in the hospitality academy. We add to Bucher and Lee's work, providing not only a more nuanced perspective, but also a counternarrative from two different voices acknowledging; (i) the voluntary pursuit of a PhD driven by personal choice and, (ii) the compelled pursuit imposed by organisational pressures. This reflective analysis aims to deepen the understanding of the multifaceted dynamics involved in the intersection of culinary expertise and academic pursuits