Investigate of wave absorption performance for oil palm frond and empty fruit bunch at 5.8 GHz

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Student attitudes and barriers of undergraduate pharmacy students towards scientific research: A preliminary study

This study aimed to evaluate attitudes and barriers towards scientific research among undergraduate pharmacy students. This preliminary descriptive study took place between August and December 2018 and included 200 students of year 3 and year 4 from Kuliyyah of Pharmacy in IIUM, Kuantan. A validated questionnaire survey with 15 close-ended questions and two open-ended questions were designed to evaluate students’ attitudes and barriers towards research. Responses were scored on a 5-point Likert scale. A total of 200 students participated in the study (response rate: 90%). Of these, 150 (75%) were female. A positive attitude towards research was reported by 80% of the students. No statistically significant differences were observed between genders with regards to attitudes towards and available resources for research (P = 0.500 and 0.200, respectively). Our result shows that the senior (Year 4) students had a significantly more positive attitude towards research compared to year 3 students (P = 0.005). A total of 78% students agreed that research is important for student and that they had sufficient resources for research. The participants reported barriers to embark on research included time management restrictions (n = 80; 40%), lack of research mentors (n = 30; 15%), lack of formal research analysis/methodology training (n = 20; 10%) and troubles in conducting literature searches (n = 20; 10%). According to the survey, pharmacy students had a positive attitude towards scientific research. Participants reported that research is relevant for their course, and the students need more formal training. The result of this study could be the basis for future study which may encourage positive research attitudes among student. Attention should be given to minimize the barriers identified in this study

Thermal, flammability, and antimicrobial properties of arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) fiber reinforced arrowroot starch biopolymer composites for food packaging applications

Using the solution casting method, a novel biodegradable thermoplastic arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) starch (TPAS) films containing arrowroot fiber (AF) at different concentrations (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt%) were developed and characterized in terms of thermal, antibacterial activity, water vapor permeability (WVP), biodegradability, and light transmittance properties. The TPAS/AF-10 biocomposite film revealed a higher degradation temperature (313.02 °C) than other biocomposite films, indicating better thermal stability. Furthermore, increasing AF concentration led to a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the linear burning rate and WVP of the biocomposite films from 248.9 to 115.2 mm/min and 8.18 × 10−10 ×g. s−1.m−1. Pa−1 to 5.20 × 10−10 ×g. s−1.m−1. Pa−1, respectively. The addition of fibers in the surface structure had a significant impact on remarkable drop in opacity (91.1 to 74.1%). In addition, the incorporation of AF and control film showed an insignificant effect against three pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 43300), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and Bacillus subtilis (B29). The soil burial findings demonstrated that the weight loss of TPAS/AF biocomposite films was significantly higher than TPAS film. Overall, the reinforcement of arrowroot fiber with TPAS film improved the properties of biocomposites for environmentally friendly food packaging applications

Numerical Simulation Analysis of Unfilled and Filled Reinforced Polypropylene on Thin-Walled Parts Formed Using the Injection-Moulding Process

Thin-walled moulding technology has attracted increasing attention, particularly in electronic packing applications. The injection moulding of shallow, thin-walled parts with a thickness of 0.7 mm was performed using three types of materials from polypropylene, PP (PP, PP + 50 wt% wood composite, and PP + 10 wt% glass fibre composite). The highest deflection resulting from PP + 50 wt% wood does not occur in the critical area of the thin-walled part compared with PP + 10 wt% glass fibre. In addition, the results revealed that the warpage at the midpoint of the part surface injected using PP + 50 wt% wood is 0.04 mm lower than the value of 0.08 mm obtained when injected using PP + 10 wt% glass fibre. The warpage was hypothesised to result from the residual stress caused by nonuniform volumetric shrinkages formed during the solidification phase

Brief Review and Islamic perspective: Common Mental Health Challenges amongst Undergraduate Universities Students in South East Asia

Introduction: Mental health issue should not be taken lightly. As modernization paves its way into today’s world, the burden of mental disorders increases. The aim of this review is to identify the prevalence of mental health problems among university undergraduates in ASEAN region, influencing factors, effects and types of interventions conducted to manage the problems. Brief Islamic perspective is also embedded in this review. Methodology: Relevant literatures were reviewed based on a combination of one or more of the following keywords: Mental health problems, South East Asia region, College, Undergraduate Universities. An Islamic perspective on mental issue was extracted using the primary sources (related Qur’anic verses and Hadith) as well as secondary sources (fatwa; Islamic jurisprudence, made by Islamic scholars). Results: This review revealed significant proportion of university students were inflicted with mental health disorders ranging from depression, anxiety, suicidality, self-injury and eating disorders with many underlying factors behind it. The effects of mental health problems were detrimental because they caused academic, physical, psychological and social impairment. However, several interventions such as mindfulness-based therapy, biofeedback intervention and counselling have been proven beneficial. In Islamic view, mental health issue can be discussed through several perspectives: trial and tribulation of life, seeking treatment in Islam and prejudice towards mental illnesses. Conclusion: This review highlighted that mental health is a growing problem with an interplay of multiple factors and deleterious effects. This study would also like to assert the importance of mental health programs among students to prevent prejudices against them. The main outcome of this review would allow various parties. i.e. the university, the community, health scientists, medical practitioners and, to be cognizant pertaining mental health issue

Lightweight and durable PVDF-SSPF composites for photovoltaics backsheet applications: thermal, optical and technical properties

Photovoltaic module backsheets are characterized according to their thermal, optical, mechanical, and technical properties. This work introduces new fabricated backsheets for PV modules using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) reinforced with short sugar palm fiber (SSPF) composites. The preparation of composites undergoes multiple phases of fabrication. Thermal, optical, and technical investigations of their properties were conducted. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, in-situ scanning probe microscopy (SPM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermal mechanical analysis (TMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and prolonged technical testing were accomplished to expansively understand the complex behavior of composites under various conditions. The optical properties of PV backsheets are critical components in determining the reflectance, absorbance, and transmittance of light. The PVDF–SSPF composites exhibited exceptional compatibility and thermal stability, further revealing a homogenous composite structure with enhanced interfacial bonding between the short fiber and polymer matrix

Malaysia high rise residential light well quality satisfactory assessment

Most commonly, residents are always arguing about the quality of their high rise residential property. A growing number of high rise residential buildings in Malaysia with differing light well were designed by the structural design and planning since 15 years ago. This light well is defined as an intermediate space area between indoor and outdoor of the high-rise residential building. The questionnaire survey of three high rise residential buildings that have different sizes of the light well and building designed were conducted to make clear the occupants' evaluation about the real quality conditions of the buildings. As a result, the quality of light well is clearly satisfied and well managed by the property manager in their high rise residential buildings

Structural and functional characterization of Legionella pneumophila effector MavL

Abstract: Legionella pneumophila is a Gram-negative intracellular pathogen that causes Legionnaires' disease in elderly or immunocompromised individuals. This bacterium relies on the Dot/Icm (Defective in organelle trafficking/Intracellular multiplication) Type IV Secretion System (T4SS) and a large (>330) set of effector proteins to colonize the host cell. The structural variability of these effectors allows them to disrupt many host processes. Herein, we report the crystal structure of MavL to 2.65 Å resolution. MavL adopts an ADP-ribosyltransferase (ART) fold and contains the distinctive ligand-binding cleft of ART proteins. Indeed, MavL binds ADP-ribose with Kd of 13 µM. Structural overlay of MavL with poly-(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolases (PARGs) revealed a pair of aspartate residues in MavL that align with the catalytic glutamates in PARGs. MavL also aligns with ADP-ribose “reader” proteins (proteins that recognize ADP-ribose). Since no glycohydrolase activity was observed when incubated in the presence of ADP-ribosylated PARP1, MavL may play a role as a signaling protein that binds ADP-ribose. An interaction between MavL and the mammalian ubiquitinconjugating enzyme UBE2Q1 was revealed by yeast two-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation experiments. This work provides structural and molecular insights to guide biochemical studies aimed at elucidating the function of MavL. Our findings support the notion that ubiquitination and ADP-ribosylation are global modifications exploited by L. pneumophila