Development of Standard Approach for Sickle Blade Manufacturing

The sickle blade used in the motorised palm cutter known as “CANTAS” provides fast, easy and safe pruning and harvesting for those hard to reach applications. Jariz Technologies Company is experiencing problem in the consistency of sickle blade which was supplied by various blade manufacturers. Identifying the proper blade material with a certain hardness value would produce a consistent as well as long lasting sickle blade. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in the manufacturing of the sickle blades was suggested to ensure a consistent blade. From this study, the optimum temperature for hardening and tempering of SUP 9 had been identified as 850 °C for hardening and 480 °C for tempering. The final hardness after heat treatment for SUP 9 was around 55HRC

Application of Folin-Ciocalteau colorimetric method in the determination of total tannin in maize and soybean food products

Yellow maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) are local raw materials used in the formulation of complementary foods in Nigeria. The presence of antinutritional factors such as tannins in them could disrupt the nutritional status in infants and young children, thus leading to malnutrition. However, data on the total tannin contents in maize, soybean, and their products remain limited. This could be due to the lack of a fast, accurate, and inexpensive analytical method for tannin determination. The present work thus evaluated the Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) assay for the accurate quantification of total tannin from yellow maize, soybean, and their products. Techniques including soaking, dehulling, oven-drying, boiling, and frying were used to process the raw materials, prior to grinding and subsequent formulation of their products. The FC method was validated to quantify the total tannin contents from extracts of tested samples by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry. The original extracts from the tested samples, and external standards from tannic acid and total phenolics (µg/µL) were used for method validation. The method validation showed that the instrumental response to standard tannic acid and the investigated analytes were specific, linear (R2 = 0.998), precise (% CV < 20%), and accurate (recovery = 91%). The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) were 0.03 and 0.09 µg/µL, respectively. The validation complied with the requirements to ensure the reliability of the results. The combined processing techniques were also effective in reducing the total tannin content of maize (0.213 to 0.041% TAE) and soybean (0.257 to 0.064% TAE) by 81 and 75%, respectively. The present work demonstrated the suitability of the FC method as an analytical tool for the quantification of total tannin from plant-based food products

Supplementation of Nigella sativa Oil and Honey Prolong the Survival Rate of Fresh and Post-Thawed Goat Sperms

Some chemical compositions of polyphenol antioxidants found in Nigella sativa and honey have potential to protect sperm membrane from lipid peroxidation. Therefore, we study the effect of in vitro supplementation of Nigella sativa oil and honey on sperm parameters; motility, progressive score, and abnormalities in fresh and post-thawed goat semen. Pooled semen from five sexually matured males Jermasia goats between aged 2 to 3 years old, with average live weight of 35.9±5.7 kg and average body condition score (BCS) of 1.7±0.45 were used in this study. The semen were added with tris-egg yolk extender and combination of supplements (Nigella sativa oil or/and honey), and divided into groups; Control (no supplementation), Treatment 1 (0.5% v/v Nigella sativa), Treatment 2 (2% v/v honey), and Treatment 3 (0.5% v/v Nigella sativa and 2% v/v honey). All parameters of fresh semen were immediately assessed after semen collection and parameter of post-thawed semen were assessed after 48 hours (2 days) of semen cryopreservation. The fresh sperm parameters were observed at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 hours after semen collection. Results showed that the motility of fresh semen at 1.5 and 2.0 hours after collection treated with Nigella sativa oil (Group 1; 73.8% and 72.0% respectively) and honey (Group 2; 73.3% and 72.0%; respectively) were 20% (1.5 h) and 8% (2.0 h) lower than Controls (93.0% and 79.8% of motility) (P<0.05). The progressive score and sperm abnormality were not significant between groups. While, the motility of post-thawed semen was higher (P<0.05) in treatment 3 (60.33±10.08 of motility; supplemented with Nigella sativa and honey) compare to Controls (24.33±8.17 of motility) at 0 and 0.5 hour after thawing. Thus, we suggested that Nigella sativa oil and honey show a potential as a supplement to goat’s extender with the ability to protect sperm membrane from damage due to oxidative stress and could prevent ice crystal formation during cryopreservation

Evaluation of new suspension system for limb prosthetics

Background: Good prosthetic suspension system secures the residual limb inside the prosthetic socket and enables easy donning and doffing. This study aimed to introduce, evaluate and compare a newly designed prosthetic suspension system (HOLO) with the current suspension systems (suction, pin/lock and magnetic systems).Methods: All the suspension systems were tested (tensile testing machine) in terms of the degree of the shear strength and the patient's comfort. Nine transtibial amputees participated in this study. The patients were asked to use four different suspension systems. Afterwards, each participant completed a questionnaire for each system to evaluate their comfort. Furthermore, the systems were compared in terms of the cost.Results: The maximum tensile load that the new system could bear was 490 N (SD, 5.5) before the system failed. Pin/lock, magnetic and suction suspension systems could tolerate loads of580 N (SD, 8.5), 350.9 (SD, 7) and 310 N (SD, 8.4), respectively. Our subjects were satisfied with the new hook and loop system, particularly in terms of easy donning and doffing. Furthermore, the new system is considerably cheaper (35 times) than the current locking systems in the market.Conclusions: The new suspension system could successfully retain the prosthesis on the residual limb as a good alternative for lower limb amputees. In addition, the new system addresses some problems of the existing systems and is more cost effective than its counterparts. © 2014 Gholizadeh et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Effect of Milwaukee brace on static and dynamic balance of female hyperkyphotic adolescents

Background: Biomechanical factors, such as spinal deformities can result in balance control disorders.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of bracing on static and dynamic balance control of hyperkyphotic female adolescents.Study Design: Clinical trial.Methods: A force platform was employed to record center of pressure (COP) parameters. Ten adolescents undergoing Milwaukee brace for hyperkyphosis and 14 normal subjects participated in the study. The COP data were collected with and without brace immediately on first day and after 120 days of continuous brace wear.Results: No significant difference was found in dynamic and static balance tests with and without brace on the first day (P > 0.05). After 120 days, the values of COP displacement in functional reach to the right and left for the hyperkyphotic adolescents when performing without brace enhanced significantly compared to the first day. The forward reach distance was not significantly different between the normal and hyperkyphotic subjects (P = 0.361); however, hyperkyphotic participants had significantly smaller reach distance in the functional reach to the right (21.88 vs. 25.56cm) and left (17.04 vs. 21.25cm).Conclusion: It might be concluded that bracing had a possible effect on improvement of dynamic balance performance, because the subjects could reach the target in dynamic reach tests with higher displacement in sagittal plane without losing their balance control

Kontrak Pintar dalam Transaksi Kutipan Zakat melalui Pembangunan Sistem Demo Backend Platform Blockchain di MAIWP-PPZ

Blockchain ialah rekod transaksi digital berdasarkan strukturnya pangkalan data bagi setiap data individu atau transaksi dihubungkan melalui blok di bawah rangkaian yang dibentuk. Potensi penggunaan sistem blockchain dalam sektor kewangan sosial Islam, sebagai contohnya, zakat belum diterokai sepenuhnya dan ianya boleh dijadikan agenda di peringkat nasional dan antarabangsa. Hasilnya, penulisan ini adalah bertujuan untuk merancang dan mengembangkan kontrak pintar pada teknologi hyperlejar zakat yang diedarkan dengan menggunakan platform Blockchain untuk menghasilkan kecekapan dan produktiviti yang lebih tinggi serta menjimatkan kos yang berkaitan. Bagi memenuhi tujuan ini, kaedah pembangunan sistem yang dinamakan “Waterfall Model” telah diadaptasikan di dalam pembinaan sistem “demo backend” blockchain pungutan telah melalui 4 peringkat iaitu proses temu bual dan analisa carta alir berkaitan Manual Prosedur Operasi (SOP) kutipan zakat di PPZ-MAIWP. Dari peringkat ini, Spesifikasi Keperluan Reka Bentuk “Design Requirement Specification” (DRS) dihasilkan. DRS mesti dikaji dan dipersetujui oleh semua pihak yang berkepentingan pembangunan teknologi ini. Hasilnya, kajian ini telah berjaya menghasilkan satu sistem “demo backend” Blockchain zakat yang mampu mengesan transaksi di dalam aktiviti zakat yang di mana ianya diyakini mampu meningkatkan keyakinan yang lebih tinggi di kalangan pembayar zakat dan akhirnya mampu meningkatkan jumlah kutipan zakat di PPZ-MAIWP. PPZ-MAIWP akan mendapat keuntungan dari sistem “demo backend” platform Blockchain yang dibangunkan kerana ianya menawarkan transaksi yang cepat, fleksibel dan sangat berskala besar

Evaluation of postural steadiness in below-knee amputees when wearing different prosthetic feet during various sensory conditions using the biodex (R) stability system

In recent years, computerized posturography has become an essential tool in quantitative assessment of postural steadiness in the clinical settings. The purpose of this study was to explore the ability of the Biodex((R)) Stability System (BSS) to quantify postural steadiness in below-knee amputees. A convenience sample of 10 below-knee amputees participated in the study. The overall (OSI), anterior-posterior (APSI) and medial-lateral (MLSI) stability indexes as well as the percentage of time spent in left and right quadrants and four concentric zones were measured under altered sensory conditions while standing with solid ankle cushion heel (SACH), single-axis (SA) and energy storage and release (ESAR) feet. Significant difference was found between sensory conditions in SACH and ESAR feet for OSI (SACH, p=0.002; ESAR, p=0.005), APSI (SACH, p=0.036; ESAR, p=0.003) and MLSI (SACH, p=0.008; ESAR, p=0.05) stability indexes. The percentage of time spent in Zone A (0 degrees-5 degrees) was significantly greater than the other three concentric zones (p<0.01). The loading time percentage on their intact limb (80-94) was significantly longer than the amputated limb (20-6) in all conditions for all three prosthetic feet. Below-knee amputees showed compromised postural steadiness when visual, proprioceptive or vestibular sensory input was altered. The findings highlight that the characteristics of postural stability in amputees can be clinically assessed by utilizing the outcomes produced by the BSS

Clinical investigation of the interface pressure in the trans-tibial socket with Dermo and Seal-In X5 liner during walking and their effect on patient satisfaction

Background: The interface pressure between the residual limb and prosthetic socket has a significant effect on an amputee's satisfaction and comfort. Liners provide a comfortable interface by adding a soft cushion between the residual limb and the socket. The Dermo and the Seal-In X5 liner are two new interface systems and, due to their relative infancy, very little are known about their effect on patient satisfaction. The aim of this study was to compare the interface pressure with these two liners and their effect on patient satisfaction. Methods: Nine unilateral transtibial amputees participated in the study. Two prostheses were fabricated for each amputee, one with the Seal-In liner and one with the Dermo liner. Interface pressure was measured at the anterior, posterior, medial and lateral regions during walking on the level ground. Each subject filled in a Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ) regarding the satisfaction with the two liners. Findings The mean peak pressures with the Seal-In liner was 34.0 higher at the anterior, 24.0 higher at the posterior and 7.0 higher at the medial regions of the socket (P = 0.008, P = 0.046, P = 0.025) than it was with the Dermo Liner. There were no significant differences in the mean peak pressures between the two liners at the lateral regions. In addition, significant difference was found between the two liners both for satisfaction and problems (P < 0.05). Interpretation There was less interface pressure between the socket and the residual limb with the Dermo liner. The results indicated that the Dermo liner provides more comfort in the socket than the Seal-In liner