Feasibility study on utilization of palm fibre waste into fired clay brick

Malaysia is the second largest of palm oil producer after Indonesia, which contribute to 50 % of palm oil production. With this demand, the increasing of palm oil plantation over the years has led to the large production of agricultural waste, for example palm fibre waste. This study investigates different percentages of palm fibre (0 %, 1 %, 5 % and 10 %) to be incorporated into fired clay brick. Manufactured bricks were fired at 1 °C/min heating rate up to 1050 °C. The effects of manufacture bricks on the physical and mechanical properties of manufactured brick were also determined. All brick samples were tested due to the physical and mechanical properties which include dry density, firing shrinkage, initial rate of suction (IRS), water absorption, porosity and compressive strength. Findings show that increasing palm fibre waste affected the properties of brick, which decreased their density, besides increased firing shrinkage, IRS, water absorption, porosity and compressive strength. However, all the manufactured brick still followed the requirement

Surgeon\u27s guide to anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications part two: antiplatelet agents and perioperative management of long-term anticoagulation.

An increasing number of potent antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications are being used for the long-term management of cardiac, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular conditions. Management of these medications in the perioperative and peri-injury settings can be challenging for surgeons, mandating an understanding of these agents and the risks and benefits of various management strategies. In this two part review, agents commonly encountered by surgeons in the perioperative and peri-injury settings are discussed and management strategies for patients on long-term antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy reviewed. In part one, we review warfarin and the new direct oral anticoagulants. In part two, we review antiplatelet agents and assessment of platelet function and the perioperative management of long-term anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy

Serratia marcescens necrotizing fasciitis presenting as bilateral breast necrosis

Serratia marcescens is an extremely rare cause of necrotizing fasciitis. We report the first case of necrotizing fasciitis of the chest wall due to infection with S. marcescens that initially manifested as bilateral breast necrosis. The patient had a fulminant course leading to death within 72 h of presentation. Literature pertinent to S. marcescens-mediated necrotizing fasciitis is also reviewed

Cigarette Butts Pollution and Environmental Impact -A Review

Abstract. Worldwide, cigarette butts (CBs) are among the most common type of litter. The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that in 2004 over 5.5 trillion cigarettes were produced in the world. This is equivalent to an estimated of 1.2 million tonnes of cigarette butt waste per year. These figures are expected to increase by more than 50% by 2025 according to American Cancer Society, mainly due to an increase in global population. This paper presents a review of the environmental problems associated with CBs, which have been found to be the number one littered item in Australia over the past years. It is estimated 25 to 30 billion filter cigarettes are smoked each year; of these, an estimated 7 billion become litter. The CBs accumulate due to the poor biodegradability of the cellulose acetate filter, and the toxicity constituent trapped within threatens human life, marine ecosystems as well as the environment if not disposed in an appropriate manner. With the increasing concern arising from insufficient landfill sites and the growing environmental awareness about toxic incinerator emissions, there is a critical need for an alternative method for CB waste disposal which is environmentally acceptable

Development of Indirect Immunofluorescence Technique for the Identification of MRC5 Working Seed Cell

Diploid and continuous cell lines are used to propagate viral vaccines. At Human Viral Vaccine Department of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, MRC5 diploid cell is used for the development of live attenuated measles, mumps, rubella, and three types of poliovirus vaccines.  Additionally, three continuous cell lines (i.e., RK13, HeLa, and Vero) are applied in quality control tests. Accordingly, cell cross-contamination can occur at cell culture labs, hence controlling the identity and specificity of cells is essential. Indirect immunofluorescence is a sensitive, specific, and simple test for cell identification. The present study was designed to develop the in-house indirect immunofluorescence test (IIF) as follows: homemade polyclonal anti-MRC5 serum was prepared in rabbits, and cross-reactive antibodies to RK13, HeLa, and Vero cells were eliminated. The diploid and continuous cell lines were fixed on Teflon slide using cold methanol and acetone. The reproducibility of the in-house IIF test was evaluated using the agreement Kappa test.  The purity of the three batches of MRC5 working seed cell at Human Viral Vaccine Department of Razi institute was verified using IIF and no contamination with continuous cell lines was detected

Naturally p-hydroxybenzoylated lignins in palms

The industrial production of palm oil concurrently generates a substantial amount of empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibers that could be used as a feedstock in a lignocellulose-based biorefinery. Lignin byproducts generated by this process may offer opportunities for the isolation of value-added products, such as p-hydroxybenzoate (pBz), to help offset operating costs. Analysis of the EFB lignin by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy clearly revealed the presence of bound acetate and pBz, with saponification revealing that 1.1 wt% of the EFB was pBz; with a lignin content of 22.7 %, 4.8 % of the lignin is pBz that can be obtained as a pure component for use as a chemical feedstock. Analysis of EFB lignin by NMR and derivatization followed by reductive cleavage (DFRC) showed that pBz selectively acylates the γ-hydroxyl group of S units. This selectivity suggests that pBz, analogously with acetate in kenaf, p-coumarate in grasses, and ferulate in a transgenic poplar augmented with a feruloyl-CoA monolignol transferase (FMT), is incorporated into the growing lignin chain via its γ-p-hydroxybenzoylated monolignol conjugate. Involvement of such conjugates in palm lignification is proven by the observation of novel p-hydroxybenzoylated non-resinol β–β-coupled units in the lignins. Together, the data implicate the existence of p-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA:monolignol transferases that are involved in lignification in the various willows (Salix spp.), poplars and aspen (Populus spp., family Salicaceae), and palms (family Arecaceae) that have p-hydroxybenzoylated lignins. Even without enhancing the levels by breeding or genetic engineering, current palm oil EFB ‘wastes’ should be able to generate a sizeable stream of p-hydroxybenzoic acid that offers opportunities for the development of value-added products derived from the oil palm industry

The EGS Grading Scale For Skin And Soft Tissue Infections Is Predictive Of Poor Outcomes : A Multicenter Validation Study

Introduction: Over the last five years, the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) has developed grading scales for Emergency General Surgery (EGS) diseases. In a prior validation study using diverticulitis, the grading scales were predictive of complications and length of stay. As EGS encompasses diverse diseases, the purpose of this study was to validate the grading scale concept against a different disease process with a higher associated mortality. We hypothesized that the grading scale would be predictive of complications, length of stay and mortality in skin and soft tissue infections (STI). Methods: This multi-institutional trial encompassed 12 centers. Data collected included demographic variables, disease characteristics and outcomes such as mortality, overall complications, hospital and ICU length of stay. The EGS scale for STI was used to grade each infection and two surgeons graded each case to evaluate inter-rater reliability. Results: 1170 patients were included in this study. Inter-rater reliability was moderate (kappa coefficient 0.472-0.642, with 64-76% agreement). Higher grades (IV and V) corresponded to significantly higher LRINEC scores when compared with lower EGS grades. Patients with grade IV and V STI had significantly increased odds of all complications, as well as ICU and overall length of stay. These associations remained significant in logistic regression controlling for age, gender, comorbidities, mental status and hospital-level volume. Grade V disease was significantly associated with mortality as well. Conclusion: This validation effort demonstrates that Grade IV and V STI are significantly predictive of complications, hospital length of stay and mortality. Though predictive ability does not improve linearly with STI grade, this is consistent with the clinical disease process, in which lower grades represent cellulitis and abscess and higher grades are invasive infections. This second validation study confirms the EGS grading scale as predictive, and easily used, in disparate disease processes