Assessment of solar energy potential in Johor, Malaysia

Solar energy is one of the well-known renewable energy sources from sunlight that convert to free-pollution energy. One of the major development problems for developing countries is the energy dilemma. The energy problem is considered a significant obstacle to economic development. In the current situation, solar energy can be considered one of the safest options. This paper presents the assessment of solar energy potentials at nine stations in Johor, Malaysia for a five-year period stretching between 2015 and 2020. The assessment data for all stations were obtained from the Malaysian meteorological department. The meteorological parameters involved include temperature, extraterrestrial solar radiation and clearness index. The assessment technique involved the use of the Angstrom-Prescott (A-P) model to estimate the solar energy potentials at the sites. From the results obtained from the A-P model, it is apparent that Station Segamat has the highest average monthly global solar radiation on the horizontal surface with 6.7921 kWh/m2 monthly solar radiation, while Pontian station has the lowest with 6.7893 kWh/m2 monthly solar radiation. The monthly clearness index throughout the year in each station varies between 0.65 to 0.7 and the maximum temperature ranges from 22.71°C at Pontian station to 32.42°C at station Kota Tinggi. Based on the comparison and analysis of the results, it is clear that each station at Johor has an excellent solar energy potential and is suitable for photovoltaic module system application

Hidden Localization (Case Study of Function Modification of the Former Gedangsewu Localization in Pare Subdistrict, Kediri District): Lokalisasi Terselubung (Studi Kasus Modifikasi Fungsi Eks Lokalisasi Gedangsewu Kecamatan Pare Kabupaten Kediri)

Bisnis prostitusi saat ini masih banyak beroperasional di seluruh Indonesia terkhususnya di Kediri, tidak dapat dipungkiri dewasa ini bisnis prostitusi mengalami komodifikasi yang sering dijumpai di tempat lokalisasi. Penelitian ini mengkaji lokalisasi terselubung Gedangsewu di Pare Kabupaten Kediri, sebagai pisau analisis penelitian ini menggunakan teori komodifikasi dalam perspektif Karl Marx untuk mengetahui bentuk nilai tukar komoditi berbasis ide, sex, jasa yang ada di eks lokalisasi. Tujuan penelitian ini guna untuk mengkaji ulang lokalisasi terselubung di Gedangsewu dalam kajian sosiologis dan untuk mengetahui bentuk komodifikasi yang ada. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif pendekatan studi kasus, teknik pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan observasi, wawancara, dan tinjauan pustaka. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa modifikasi lokalisasi terselubung yang ada dalam penelitian ini merupakan salah satu bentuk manifestasi strategi pemasaran pasca terdapat isu ditutupnya eks lokalisasi Gedangsewu terdapat tiga bentuk modifikasi yaitu warung kopi, karaoke dan prostitusi online. Ketiga komodifikasi tersebut berjalan dan menjadi langkah utama menarik minat konsumen atau pengunjung eks lokalisasi Gedangsewu

Impact of botanical oils on polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism and leukotriene generation in mild asthmatics

Background: Dietary supplementation with botanical oils that contain n-6 and n-3 eighteen carbon chain (18C)-PUFA such as γ linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3n-6), stearidonic acid (SDA, 18:4n-3) and α linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) have been shown to impact PUFA metabolism, alter inflammatory processes including arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism and improve inflammatory disorders. Methods: The diet of mild asthmatics patients was supplemented for three weeks with varying doses of two botanical seed oils (borage oil [Borago officinalis, BO] and echium seed oil [Echium plantagineum; EO]) that contain SDA, ALA and GLA. A three week wash out period followed. The impact of these dietary manipulations was evaluated for several biochemical endpoints, including in vivo PUFA metabolism and ex vivo leukotriene generation from stimulated leukocytes. Results: Supplementation with several EO/BO combinations increased circulating 20–22 carbon (20–22C) PUFAs, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and dihommo-gammalinolenic acid (DGLA), which have been shown to inhibit AA metabolism and inflammation without impacting circulating AA levels. BO/EO combinations also inhibited ex vivo leukotriene generation with some combinations attenuating cysteinyl leukotriene generation in stimulated basophils by >50% and in stimulated neutrophils by >35%. Conclusions: This study shows that dietary supplementation with BO/EO alters 20–22C PUFA levels and attenuates leukotriene production in a manner consistent with a reduction in inflammation

A Miniaturized Wide Band Implantable Antenna for Biomedical Application

In this paper, a miniaturized high gain antenna was designed for biomedical applications. The designed antenna operates on the industrial, medical, and scientific(2.40 - 2.4835) GHz band. The proposed antenna consists of the radiating element having rectangular, and circular slots, and a ground plane with rectangular slots. The total volume of the designed antenna is (7x7xO.2) mm 3 , and the thickness of the superstrate and substrate is 0.1 mm. The Rogers ULTRALAM (e , = 2.9, tanD = 0.0025) material is used for substrate and superstrate. The proposed antenna is placed inside the different phantoms of the human body. The maximum gain achieved by the simulations of the proposed antenna is -12 dBi at 2.45 GHz. The designed antenna has better results than the antennas discussed in the literature in term of size, gain, and bandwidth

Analysis of genetic diversity in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers

Genetic diversity of seven chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars of Pakistani origin was analyzed by using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, an extremely effective method to determine the variations among the chickpea cultivars. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) conditions were optimized for RAPD and the conditions which gave the optimized results were selected for further amplifications. Using nine random decamers for seven genotypes of chickpea, 63 bands were amplified. Out of 63 bands, 50 were polymorphic in all the seven chickpea cultivars. The numbers of RAPD fragments generated per primer ranged from 3 to 11. However, majority of the primers amplified 7 to 11 fragments. The Jaccard’s similarity coefficients ranged from 0.333 to 0.651. Maximum similarity (65.1%) was observed between PK G-3 and PK G-4 and the lowest similarity (33.3%) was observed between PK G-3 and PK G-7. A dendrogram was constructed by using the unweighted pair group arithmetic mean arrangement (UPGMA) that was based on similarity coefficients. Seven chickpea cultivars were clustered in two distinct groups of which two cultivars (PK G-6 and PK G-7) stood separately in the dendrogram. The results from this study may be useful to maximize the selection of diverse parent cultivars and to broaden the germplasm base in the future for chickpea breeding programs. The information generated from this study can also be used in identifying efficient strategies for the sustainable management of the genetic resources of chickpea crop.Keywords: Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), chickpea cultivars, genetic diversit

A NATURAL PRODUCT DECURSIN ENHANCES THE RADIOSENSITIZATION OF IONIZING RADIATION AGAINST DMBA-INDUCED TUMOR

Objective: Radiation therapy has gained significant attention for the treatment and prevention of solid and malignant human tumors. However, after periodical exposures, radiation therapy losses its efficacy against cancer cells displaying radio-resistant phenotypes. Therefore, decursin might improve the efficiency of radiotherapy against a variety of human cancers. Methods: The chemopreventive efficacy of decursin was evaluated against B16F10 cancer cell lines and DMBA/croton oil-induced skin carcinogenesis in BALB/c mice. Decursin was administered intraperitoneal at the dose of 20 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks following exposure to 5 Gy of ionizing radiation (IR) after 1 month of DMBA application. Western blot was performed for underlying mechanism of radioresistance. Results: Decursin suppressed the proliferation and viability of melanoma cancer cell lines in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The in vivo data collected from mice model revealed that decursin reduced the precancerous skin lesions and the incidence of tumor bearing in radiation-exposed mice. Decursin also enhanced the effect of IR by downregulation of Akt/NFκB pathway through activation of IκBα. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the activation of Akt/NFκB establishes a pro-survival response to radiation that may account for the development of radioresistance. Decursin blocks the abnormal expression of these proteins and potentiates the radiotherapeutic effect

Surgical Management of Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Background: To study the management patternof soft tissue sarcomas in a tertiary care settingMethods: In this descriptive study patients whowere operated for soft tissue masses were included.Intra-operative findings, procedure details andpostoperative orders were recorded. Postoperativechemo-radiotherapy records were reviewed andrecorded. Depth of the tumour was grouped asdeeper or superficial than 5 cm. The follow uprecords were accessed from the outpatientdepartment and any surgical complications wererecorded up to three years.Staging was done usingclinical and radiological criteria taking into accountthe histological grade,tumour size , depth, locallymph node invasion and metastasis.Surgicalprocedure for removal of STS are wide local excision(WLE), intralesional excision (IE) or tumordebulking, marginal excision (ME) and radicalexcision (RE).Results: Sixty eight patients with mean age of 43.0± 17.258 SD were diagnosed as cases of soft tissuesarcomas. Male to female ratio was 3.25:1.The mostcommon histopathological variety was malignantfibrous histiocytoma (35.3%) , followed byRhabdomyosarcoma(30%). Most common involvedsite was lower limbs (35.3%).Wide local excision wasperformed in majority (82.4%) . Most commonpostop complication was wound infection (10.3%)Conclusion: Clinicians must be agile about thenature of these tumours and their referral to aspecialist surgeon for further management. Promptdiagnosis, accurate investigations and earlyintervention will benefit the patients and help usunderstand this disease entity