CO2 reforming of CH4 over Ni/SBA-15: Influence of Ni-loading methods

A series of Ni/SBA-15 catalysts were prepared with three different methods which are impregnation (IM), ion exchange (IE) and physical mixing (PM) for CO2 reforming of CH4. The XRD, BET, FTIR and TGA analyses showed that the quantity of Ni-support interaction (Ni-O-Si) by substitution of the OH with Ni species followed the order of Ni/SBA-15(IE) > Ni/SBA-15(IM) > Ni/SBA-15(PM), while the size of Ni particles and blockage of the pores increased with the order of Ni/SBA-15(IE) Ni/SBA-15(PM), while the stability of catalysts followed the order of Ni/SBA-15(IE) > Ni/SBA-15(IM) > Ni/SBA-15(PM). The excellent performance of Ni/SBA-15(IE) was related with the higher formation of Ni-support interaction, which altered the properties of catalyst towards an excellent catalytic performance. Meanwhile, the lowest activity of Ni/SBA-15(PM) was related with the higher agglomeration of Ni particles that were decorating on the surface part of SBA-15 arose from the weaker Ni-support interaction. This study provides new perspectives on the Ni-based catalyst, particularly on the influence of Ni-loading methods on the properties and catalytic performance of Ni/SBA-15 towards CO2 reforming of CH4

Preparation, characterization and performance evaluation of supported zeolite on porous glass hollow fiber for desalination application

A-type zeolite membranes were synthesized on porous glass hollow fibers that prepared using the in-situ hydrothermal process. The porous glass hollow fibers were prepared using the phase inversion and sintering technique with the addition of yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) to improve their porosity. The glass hollow fibers were characterized using the scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), mechanical properties and water permeability. The porosities of pure glass hollow fiber were improved by the addition of YSZ particles, which lead to an increase in the pure water permeability. The water permeability shows that the glass hollow fiber prepared form spinning suspension E, which has 30 wt% zeolite particles and 20 wt% YSZ particles, has the highest permeability of 155.65 L m−2 hr−1 bar−1 compared to the previous work, which was only 4.0 L m−2 hr−1 bar−1. This glass hollow fiber was later used as the support for the incorporation of zeolite membrane for the desalination application. The performance of membranes is separating sodium chloride (NaCl) salt solution were tested using two different setups, namely pressure driven reverse osmosis (RO) and sweeping liquid assisted reverse osmosis (SLRO). The solute flux for 5,000 and 10,000 ppm NaCl salt solutions were 24.45 and 17.86 L m−2 hr−1, respectively. Both operations enabled the solute rejection up to 98%

Super yatch design study for Malaysian sea (Langkawi Island)

Malaysia as a country surrounded by water has a huge economic and geographical potential in the development of super yacht industry in South East Asia. There is lack of super yacht design study specifying to Malaysian marinas and seas. Most of the super yacht operates in Malaysia were built and bought directly from oversea, and chartered by foreign companies. It is hence the purpose of this study to survey on Malaysian sea water, particularly Langkawi Island, to introduce a design methodology in producing a preliminary design of super yacht that suits Langkawi Island, and serves as a guideline for future super yacht design for Malaysian sea in different marinas. Suitable dimensions of super yacht were derived by using dimensional relationship via statistical method. Two types of hull form designs (round bilge and V-bottom hull) were designed using Maxsurf Pro software. Resistance analysis on the two hull forms were carried out using Savitsky Pre-Planing and Compton methods via MaxsurfHullspeed software, and stability performance of the two hull forms was analyze using Hydromax software. VBottom hull form is found to have better resistance performance as compared to round bilge hull form, and both hull forms are found to be in stable conditions and comply with IMO requirements

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Background: Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. // Methods: We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung's disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. // Findings: We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung's disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middle-income countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in low-income countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. // Interpretation: Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Building energy intensity measurement for potential retrofitting of zero energy building in higher learning institution

Energy is currently world debate and being a prominent issue especially in industrial, transportation, residential and service sector. Service sector that includes all commercial and public buildings are also being the major contributor of global energy consumption. Higher Learning Institution (HLI) are among public buildings that the energy demand has become a critical issue, in which HLI need to spend a considerable high amount of money annually for electricity consumption. This energy issue somehow can be improved by implementing the retrofit to existing building which employed energy efficient technology, where it involves modifications using sustainable building criteria. This paper highlighted various options for building retrofitting which from lean steps, green technology and clean energy. M50 building in Faculty of Civil Engineering Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) was chosen as a case study and in situ energy audit of Building Energy Intensity (BEI) was conducted by identifying the types of equipment and machinery used in the building together with its period of operations and their power usage under typical operation. The outcome of the study proposed the retrofit strategies that are suitable to be implemented towards zero energy building. It is a cornerstone of reducing the energy usage with sustainability efforts together with economic stimulus packages