Green Zeolite Synthesis Assisted with Plants Extract

The study explores the hydrothermal synthesis of zeolite using kaolin clay from Perak in the presence of two different reduction mediums, namely turmeric extract and ginger extract, and a 2M NaOH solution, measuring their efficiency and potential for green synthesis. Before the zeolite synthesis and transformation, the kaolin clay was heated at a temperature of 650 oC for 4 hours in the furnace to produce the metakaolin phase. The synthesized zeolite involves the reaction of NaOH with potential reduction plant extracts to assist the transformation of zeolite. The characterization of the synthesized particles after being ground into a fine powder and subsequently undergoing testing and characterization via X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the existence of zeolite phases in both plants with slightly different zeolite compositions. Synthesis mixtures with turmeric plants show better composition of the zeolite phase as compared to ginger mixtures. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX) also revealed that the synthesized product using turmeric plant extract was able to produce zeolite LTA with a good grade. The current experimental work shows the possibility of obtaining a well crystalline zeolite from Malaysian kaolin, assisted with plant extract reduction medium

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Ethical perception on tax evasion by professional in Malaysia

Tax revenue is the main source of revenue to the government in order to sustain and develop the nation. Therefore, its erosion is detrimental to the economy. In order to combat with tax evasion in Malaysia, Self Assessment System (SAS) was introduced. However with SAS, tax compliance is not only a matter of legal but it is also a matter of ethical choice that taxpayers face to participate in the tax system. Tax literature has recognized taxpayers’ perceptions and ethics as one of the important variables that can influence tax evasion decision. Nevertheless, few have studied on the taxpayers’ ethical perception towards tax evasion and the possible factors that impact on their perception towards tax evasion. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to replicate the work of previous researchers on ethics and tax evasion realm, in order to understand Malaysian professionals’ perceptions and reasoning on ethics to tax evasion as well as to examine the determinants (personal attributes and professional attributes) to ethical perception. A survey questionnaire was administered to professional groups from accounting, law, engineering, and medical, in Klang Valley area. The current finding shows that the selected Malaysian professionals perceived tax evasion as ethically justified, depending on circumstances. The strongest justification for tax evasion was if tax fund were misappropriated. In addition, other than the two perceptual dimensions towards ethics to tax evasion that was found in western countries, this study also found an additional dimension which is selfish motives dimension in Malaysia context. Furthermore, Malaysian professionals’ ethical perception towards tax evasion was found not only influenced by their personal attributes (demographic factor and personality traits) but also their professional attribute (e.g. code of ethics). Hence, both tax authorities and professional bodies should consider emphasizing educational measures that embrace ethical value and targeting groups that require additional attention and considerable tax education program in order to improve voluntary tax compliance

EQUILIBRIUM UTILITIES OF SEQUENTIAL BARGAINING GAMES WITH ORDERLY VOTING

Bachelor'sBACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS

Effects of electrode materials on solution-processed polyvinylidene fluoride-based piezoelectric nanogenerators: do they matter?

Numbers of energy harvesting studies have reported that using the appropriate electrode materials could enhance the electrical output performance of the energy harvesters. In this work, we fabricated polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) using the solution-process method. Different combinations of silver nanowires, indium-tin-oxide (ITO), and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate were used as top and bottom electrodes to investigate the effect of electrode materials on the electrical output performance. The open-circuit voltage (VOC), short-circuit current (ISC), the charge generated, instantaneous areal power measured, and internal impedance were measured. The obtained data reveal no significant difference between the different electrode combinations, with a mean absolute deviation of 0.21 V, and 0.03 μA for VOC and ISC, respectively. Thereby, an equivalent circuit for a real capacitor is adopted to analyze further and identify the impedance manifestation attributed to the PVDF layer and electrode materials. Overall, the electrode materials have an insignificant impact on the electrical output performance of PVDF-based PENGs in this study. Nevertheless, the obtained data inciting that tuning the PVDF impedance by introducing the 2D MXene nanofillers approach could be useful information to improve the performance of solution-processed PVDF-based PENGs