Properties of Polyurethane Foam/Coconut Coir Fiber as a Core Material and as a Sandwich Composites Component

This research focuses on the fabrication and characterization of the sandwich composites panel using glass fiber composite skin and polyurethane foam reinforced coconut coir fiber core. The main objectives are to characterize the physical and mechanical properties and to elucidate the effect of coconut coir fibers in polyurethane foam cores and sandwich composites panel. Coconut coir fibers were used as reinforcement in polyurethane foams in which later were applied as the core in sandwich composites ranged from 5 wt% to 20 wt%. The physical and mechanical properties found to be significant at 5 wt% coconut coir fiber in polyurethane foam cores as well as in sandwich composites. It was found that composites properties serve better in sandwich composites construction

Silicon Nanowire Immunosensor for Detection of 8-Hydroxy-2^|^apos;-Deoxyguanosine Oxidative Stress Cancer Biomarker

A silicon nanowire-based immunosensor has been developed to determine the presence of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). This research demonstrates a process for the detection of 8-OHdG, which is an oxidative stress biomarker, in which elevated concentrations in urine and saliva can act as an indicator of the presence of acute leukaemia, colorectal, breast, lung and prostate cancers. The detection of elevated levels of this biomarker is critical in determining the presence of various mutagenesis and can be used to diagnose early stage cancer before initial symptoms appear. The surface functionalization process has involved the attachment of diazonium salt to the silicon nanowire surface with further stage which involves the reduction of PhNO2 to PhNH2. The antibody targeted against 8-OHdG was subsequently bound to the amine NH2 modified grafted layer of a 370 nm width nanowire. The immunosensor was evaluated through the use of current/voltage electrical probe monitoring in which a 2 μg/ml concentration of 8-OHdG was detected. A further comparison with phosphate buffered saline solution added to the sensor was observed to be negligible. The antibody-functionalised SiNW sensor has been used to detect binding of the 8-OHdG biomarker to the SiNW surface within sixty-seconds of exposure, making this a rapid cancer biomarker test

Analisis Metode Economic Order Quantity (Eoq) Sebagai Dasar Pengendalian Persediaan Bahan Baku Pembantu (Studi Pada Pg. Ngadirejo Kediri - PT. Perkebunan Nusantara X)

The purpose of this study was to determine the auxiliary raw material inventory control by PG. Ngadirejo Kediri and determine the auxiliary raw material inventory control using Economic Order Quantity. This type of research is descriptive research with quantitative approach. Source of data in this research using secondary data sources obtained directly from the company. Collecting data using interviews and documentation. Analysis of the data used in this research using Economic Order Quantity. Result of the analysis proves that when companies apply the method Economic Order Quantity in 2013, 2014, and 2015 in the purchase of raw materials auxiliary optimum, so there are the difference of spending cuts total cost for raw materials auxiliary belerang consecutive Rp. 1.010.959,19574, Rp. 957.208,54419, Rp. 1.165.215,68373. So also the raw material phosphate auxiliary in 2013, 2014, and 2015 there were a total savings respectively of Rp. 2.961.990,3358, Rp. 2.764.054,70668, Rp. 3.374.978,66496. Based on the analysis conducted, it should be PG. Ngadirejo Kediri apply method Economic Order Quantity in determining the quantity of the purchase of raw materials auxiliary materials optimal, so as to minimize total cost incurred by the company every year

Transformer Fault Early Warning System Model Using GSM Network

This paper presents the design and implementation of amobile embedded system using an Arduino microprocessor to monitorand record key operational indicators of a distribution transformer,such as transformer oil level, temperature and vibration of adistribution transformer in a substation. If there is any abnormalityor an emergency situation, the system sends SMS (Short MessageService) messages to designated mobile telephones containinginformation about the abnormality of the mentioned parameters.Providing early warning of the abnormality of the distributiontransformer can be accomplished by shutting down the entire unitwith the aid on-line monitoring system integrates with Global ServiceMobile (GSM) Modem. Furthermore, the design generally consiststand-alone single chip microcontroller, modem and sensor packageslocated on distribution transformer site. In general, the design isdeveloped for the user to easily recognize the distribution transformerthat is suffered by any high vibration and rise in temperatures andlocated in remote or suburban area which is rarely and hard to reachfor manual monitoring. The ultimate objective is to monitor thetransformer oil level and temperature of 24 hours, 7 days a weekcontinuously besides the current and voltage parameter whichincluded in basis monitoring syste

Depression, Anxiety, Stress and Perceived Social Support Among Breast Cancer Survivors in Tertiary Hospital in Malaysia

The emotional distress and psychosocial factors are links to the worst quality of life among cancer patients as well as survivors. It gives a negative impact on the survivors and their families. The objective of the study was to determine the correlation of depression, anxiety, and stress with perceived social support among breast cancersurvivors. This is a baseline finding of an educational intervention study. A total of 131 female breast cancer survivors were recruited while they went for their appointment at the Oncology clinic in one of the Tertiary Hospital in Kuala Lumpur. Baseline data was collected using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) questionnaires. Descriptive analysis andcorrelation tests were used to determine the strength of a linear relationship between depression, anxiety and stress with perceived social support. The descriptive analysis showed that breast cancer survivors had a higher prevalence of anxiety (30.5%) as compared to depression (14.5%) and stress (12.2%). Perceived social support was higher among family support (96.2%) as compared to significant others (84.7%) and friends (71.8%). There was a fair negative correlation between: (i) depression and family support (r = -0.372, p < 0.001), and (ii) stress and family support (r = -0.342, p < 0.001). Other domains had a poor correlation (r < 0.030). The finding showsthat social support from the family and significant others have a significant but fair inverse association with the emotional aspect (depression and stress) of breast cancer survivors. Keywords: Correlation, DASS, MSPSS, breast cancer, Malaysia

Helicobacter pylori: association with gall bladder disorders in Pakistan

Helicobacter species colonise the biliary tract and therefore this study explores the relationship between of Helicobacter pylori and cholecystitis. Bile and gall bladder tissue samples were obtained from 144 Patients who underwent cholecystectomy. Of these, 89 had chronic cholecystitis with cholelithiasis, 44 had gall bladder carcinoma and 11 had gall bladder polyps. Histopathology examination included special staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC), while Helicobacter species (H. pylori, H. bilis and H. hepaticus) were detected by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequencing and BLAST query of PCR products was undertaken and samples were considered to contain H. pylori if both PCR and IHC were positive. Immunohistochemistry for H. pylori was positive in 22 (25%) cases compared to five (9%) in the control group (P=0.02). Testing (PCR) for 16S rDNA was positive in 23 (26%) cases compared to six (11%) controls (P=0.03). Negative PCR results were obtained for H. bilis and H. hepaticus. Twenty-four (89%) were positive by both 16S rDNA PCR and IHC for H. pylori (

Preparation, characterization and performances of photocatalytic TiO2-Ag2O/PESf membrane for methylene blue removal

This study proposed an effective method of methylene blue (MB) removal using a membrane with photocatalytic properties. The photocatalytic membrane, made of polyethersulfone (PESf) was incorporated with titanium dioxide (TiO2) and silver oxide (Ag2O) as the photocatalyst during the phase inversion process. TiO2 was synthesized using sol-gel method before being modified by Ag2O via wet pre-deposition method. The PESf/TiO2/Ag2O (PTA) membrane was characterized using scanning electron microscope coupled with elementary dispersion X-ray (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), attenuated Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), and ultraviolet visible near infrared (UV-vis NIR). The PTA membrane with 0.2 wt.% loading of TiO2/Ag2O shows uniform distribution of the photocatalyst materials and exhibits the highest degradation of MB at 85%. The TiO2/Ag2O presence was confirmed by the crystallinity analysis using XRD. UV-Vis NIR revealed that the band gap of TiO2 reduced from 3.2 to 2.1 eV when modified with Ag2O. This proved that membrane separation assisted with photocatalytic degradation is able to perform high degradation of MB dyes and has potential to be applied in industrial application

A simple load sensor based on a bent single-mode–multimode–single-mode fiber structure

A load sensor is demonstrated using a single-mode-multimode-single-mode (SMS) fiber structure, which is sandwiched between two CR-39 plastic polymer plates. A larger effective transverse strain can be achieved when the distance, D2, between the stage and the edge of the multimode fiber is larger. A higher sensitivity is obtained when D2 = 7 cm with a value of −0.0102 nm/mN, as compared to −0.0027 nm/mN when D2 = 3 cm. In contrast, an FBG integrated in a similar manner has shown an indiscernible change in the wavelength shift as compared to that produced by the SMS device. The result indicates that the proposed SMS device is suitable for sensing a small load or transverse strain with a reasonably high sensitivity