Factors affecting speed of industrialized building system (IBS) projects in Malaysia

This study attempts to identify the factors affect the speed of IBS and the probability level to select either IBS or conventional method. A questionnaire was distributed in order to collect the data. It consists of 6 main factors namely: high productivity of structural elements, using of moulds, using of new equipments and technology, workers skills and experience, equipments and mechanical plants used, and the materials used. The level of importance of the categories was measured and ranked in terms of relative importance weights. Logit linear analysis was used to choose either using IBS or Non- IBS (conventional system) in term of speed. In addition, it was used to test and compare the affecting of different speed factors on the probability to choose the construction methods. The finding of this study was found that the high productivity of structural elements is the main factor. Using of moulds factor, and using of new techniques and technology factor were the second important factors affecting the speed of industrialized building system in construction projects in Malaysia. This paper suggests possible improvements that could be made in order to reduce the delays and increase the productivity in the construction building industry

Voltage Instability Analysis Based On Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System And Probabilistic Neural Network

This paper presents the application of Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) and Probabilistic Neural Network (PNN) for voltage instability analysis in electric power system. The voltage instability analysis is executed in this research by calculating the values of voltage instability indices. The voltage instability indices used are voltage stability margin (VSM) and load power margin (LPM). Both VSM and LPM are obtained from the real power-voltage (PV) curve and reactive power-voltage (QV) curve. ANFIS is used for predicting the values of voltage instability indices. Meanwhile, PNN is used for classifying the voltage instability indices. The IEEE 14-bus test system has been chosen as the reference electrical power system. Both ANFIS and PNN used in this research are deployed by using MATLAB software

Spirometry outcomes in survivors of COVID-19 pneumonia

Introduction: Acute COVID-19 infection could lead to long COVID, a heterogenous condition which includes the respiratory system. But data on long-term respiratory complications are scarce and limited especially from our part of the world. Methods: A total of 443 post COVID-19 patients were recruited from post COVID-19 clinic. The following assessments were performed in all patients; symptoms, 6-minute-walk-test (6MWT), 1-minute-sit-to-stand-test (1STST), spirometry, and chest radiograph. Results: Patient’s mean age was 51 (13) years old, majority were male (60%), and Malay ethnicity (73%). Majority were in category severe (n=254, 57%), critical (n=122, 28%) and moderate (n=67, 15%). Abnormal spirometry (FVC 4% during 6MWT and 1STST, OR 1.8 (1.1-2.9) and OR 1.7 (1.1-2.6) respectively, and abnormal chest radiograph, OR 3.9 (2.5-6.2) compared to those with normal spirometry findings. 125 patients have full lung function test and gas transfer done which showed reduced TLC (80%) in majority of cases; 80% (n = 100), 86.4% (n = 108) and 94% (n = 117). Conclusion: Abnormal spirometry findings are common among post COVID-19 patients with pneumonia and are associated with poorer respiratory outcomes; exertional oxygen desaturation and abnormal chest radiograph. Therefore, these groups of patients should be referred for spirometry assessmen

Synthesis and Characterization of Silver-Coated Polymeric Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering: Antibacterial and In Vitro Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Biocompatibility

In bone tissue engineering, multifunctional composite materials are very challenging. Bone tissue engineering is an innovative technique to develop biocompatible scaffolds with suitable orthopedic applications with enhanced antibacterial and mechanical properties. This research introduces a polymeric nanocomposite scaffold based on arabinoxylan-co-acrylic acid, nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp), nano-aluminum oxide (nAl₂O₃), and graphene oxide (GO) by free-radical polymerization for the development of porous scaffolds using the freeze-drying technique. These polymeric nanocomposite scaffolds were coated with silver (Ag) nanoparticles to improve antibacterial activities. Together, nHAp, nAl₂O₃, and GO enhance the multifunctional properties of materials, which regulate their physicochemical and biomechanical properties. Results revealed that the Ag-coated polymeric nanocomposite scaffolds had excellent antibacterial properties and better microstructural properties. Regulated morphological properties and maximal antibacterial inhibition zones were found in the porous scaffolds with the increasing amount of GO. Moreover, the nanosystem and the polymeric matrix have improved the compressive strength (18.89 MPa) and Young’s modulus (198.61 MPa) of scaffolds upon increasing the amount of GO. The biological activities of the scaffolds were investigated against the mouse preosteoblast cell lines (MC3T3-E1) and increasing the quantities of GO helps cell adherence and proliferation. Therefore, our findings showed that these silver-coated polymeric nanocomposite scaffolds have the potential for engineering bone tissue

Dual-stage gain-clamped erbium-doped fiber amplifier with fiber Bragg grating

We demonstrate a dual-stage gain-clamped erbiumdoped fiber amplifier. The first-stage amplifier consists of a short length of erbium-doped fiber to produce low noise figures. The second-stage is constructed from a counter-propagating ringlaser, in which the signals and the lasing wavelength propagate in the opposite direction. The lasing wavelength is selected via a reflective-type of fiber Bragg grating. The gain-clamping mechanism can be adjusted by either changing the fiber Bragg grating reflectivity or center wavelength. The noise figure penalty is about 1.5 dB for the gain-clamping value from 11 dB to 20.5 dB. (© 2008 by Astro Ltd., Published exclusively by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

Exploring disorganized attachment style among Malay mothers in Malaysia: a study using the Attachment Style Interview

This article explores emerging themes involving disorganized attachment style among Malay Muslim mothers using the Attachment Style Interview (ASI). Analysis of the 18 mothers with disorganized attachment style (those with combined anxious and avoidant styles) utilized themes deemed important from the attachment research literature and selected based on a careful reading of the narrative cases. These include more extreme negative interpersonal experiences than found in other insecure attachment style descriptors, and included partner violence and related isolation/social exclusion. It also indicated more complex cognitive-affective disturbance including mixed or contradictory dependency patterns and both angry and fearful attitudes to others. We discuss the concept of disorganized attachment style in relation to abuse, social exclusion, and its implication for psychopathology, intervention, and treatment

Proapoptotic and antimetastatic properties of supercritical CO2 extract of Nigella sativa Linn. Against breast cancer cells

Nigella sativa, commonly referred as black cumin, is a popular spice that has been used since the ancient Egyptians. It has traditionally been used for treatment of various human ailments ranging from fever to intestinal disturbances to cancer. This study investigated the apoptotic, antimetastatic, and anticancer activities of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO) extracts of the seeds of N. sativa Linn. against estrogen-dependent human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Twelve extracts were prepared from N. sativa seeds using the SC-CO extraction method by varying pressure and temperature. Extracts were analyzed using FTIR and UV-Vis spectrometry. Cytotoxicity of the extracts was evaluated on various human cancer and normal cell lines. Of the 12 extracts, 1 extract (A3) that was prepared at 60 C and 2500 psi (∼17.24 MPa) showed selective antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 cells with an IC of 53.34±2.15 μg/mL. Induction of apoptosis was confirmed by evaluating caspases activities and observing the cells under a scanning electron microscope. In vitro antimetastatic properties of A3 were investigated by colony formation, cell migration, and cell invasion assays. The elevated levels of caspases in A3 treated MCF-7 cells suggest that A3 is proapoptotic. Further nuclear condensation and fragmentation studies confirmed that A3 induces cytotoxicity through the apoptosis pathway. A3 also demonstrated remarkable inhibition in migration and invasion assays of MCF-7 cells at subcytotoxic concentrations. Thus, this study highlights the therapeutic potentials of SC-CO extract of N. sativa in targeting breast cancer