Experimental Study Using Recycled Waste Tyre as Sustainable Clay Soil Stabilisation

Clay presents construction challenges to geotechnical engineers as it shows high compressibility, low shear strength and high level of volumetric changes behaviour. Therefore, the properties of clay need to be improved before it can be used in any type of construction. Clay soil stabilisation using either mechanical or chemical methods are normally adopted to improve its properties. However, some of these methods are reported to be ineffective, expensive and harmful to the environment. In Malaysia, around 8.2 million tyres are dumped in landfill annually. The dumping of tyres will lead to long-term environmental impact. Hence, it is proposed to reuse waste tyres for clay soil stabilisation. This research investigates the effects of recycled waste tyres on the compaction and strength properties of clay soil. Clay soils were firstly mixed with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% of waste tyres and each mixed sample was tested for compaction and unconfined compressive strength tests. The results show that the optimum moisture content (OMC) increases and maximum dry density (MDD) decreases with increasing waste tyre content. Meanwhile, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) reaches a maximum value at 10% waste tyre content and then decreases with further increments of waste tyre. It can be concluded that waste tyres have the potential to be used as an additive for sustainable clay soil stabilisation

Experimental Study Using Recycled Waste Tyre as Sustainable Clay Soil Stabilisation

Clay presents construction challenges to geotechnical engineers as it shows high compressibility, low shear strength and high level of volumetric changes behaviour. Therefore, the properties of clay need to be improved before it can be used in any type of construction. Clay soil stabilisation using either mechanical or chemical methods are normally adopted to improve its properties. However, some of these methods are reported to be ineffective, expensive and harmful to the environment. In Malaysia, around 8.2 million tyres are dumped in landfill annually. The dumping of tyres will lead to long-term environmental impact. Hence, it is proposed to reuse waste tyres for clay soil stabilisation. This research investigates the effects of recycled waste tyres on the compaction and strength properties of clay soil. Clay soils were firstly mixed with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% of waste tyres and each mixed sample was tested for compaction and unconfined compressive strength tests. The results show that the optimum moisture content (OMC) increases and maximum dry density (MDD) decreases with increasing waste tyre content. Meanwhile, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) reaches a maximum value at 10% waste tyre content and then decreases with further increments of waste tyre. It can be concluded that waste tyres have the potential to be used as an additive for sustainable clay soil stabilisation

Transformation of Muslim Behaviour towards Sustainable Environment: Perspectives of Non-Governmental Organisations in Klang Valley

Man cannot depend solely on science and technology to solve environmental problems. In fact, scholars and environmentalists have observed that some of the causes of environmental deterioration are rooted in science and technology. It is clear that environmental problems need ethical solution. However, environmentally ethical behaviour (EEB) is often overlooked in the life of a Muslim. This behaviour is important, particularly, to ensure the future of civilization of the Islamic world and, generally, civilization as a whole. Given the fact that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are more sensitive to the transformation of public behaviour compared to other groups, this article discusses the perspectives of Malaysian NGOs on the transformation of Muslim EEB in Malaysia in three aspects: (a) The type of EEB practiced by Muslims in Malaysia; (b) The transformation process of EEB experienced by Muslims in Malaysia; and (c) Whether or not the transformation of EEB of Muslims in Malaysia is motivated by the values advocated by Islam. The research adopted a qualitative research method of data collection, i.e., focus group discussions (FGDs). FGD’s results illustrated that: (a) Pre-cycling, reusing and recycling are the common types of EEB practiced by Muslims in Malaysia; (b) The transformation process of EEB experienced by Muslims in Malaysia is not accelerating at the speed that we hoped for; and (c) The transformation of EEB of Muslims in Malaysia is motivated more by economic and social factors as well as level of education and regulation enforcement compared to the values advocated by Islam

Transformation of Muslim behaviour towards sustainable environment: perspectives of non-governmental organisations in Klang Valley

Man cannot depend solely on science and technology to solve environmental problems. In fact, scholars and environmentalists have observed that some of the causes of environmental deterioration are rooted in science and technology. It is clear that environmental problems need ethical solution. However, environmentally ethical behaviour (EEB) is often overlooked in the life of a Muslim. This behaviour is important, particularly, to ensure the future of civilization of the Islamic world and, generally, civilization as a whole. Given the fact that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are more sensitive to the transformation of public behaviour compared to other groups, this article discusses the perspectives of Malaysian NGOs on the transformation of Muslim EEB in Malaysia in three aspects: (a) The type of EEB practiced by Muslims in Malaysia; (b) The transformation process of EEB experienced by Muslims in Malaysia; and (c) Whether or not the transformation of EEB of Muslims in Malaysia is motivated by the values advocated by Islam. The research adopted a qualitative research method of data collection, i.e., focus group discussions (FGDs). FGD’s results illustrated that: (a) Pre-cycling, reusing and recycling are the common types of EEB practiced by Muslims in Malaysia; (b) The transformation process of EEB experienced by Muslims in Malaysia is not accelerating at the speed that we hoped for; and (c) The transformation of EEB of Muslims in Malaysia is motivated more by economic and social factors as well as level of education and regulation enforcement compared to the values advocated by Islam

METABOLITES PROFILE OF COLORECTAL CANCER CELLS AT DIFFERENT STAGES

Objective: The aim of this study is to characterize the metabolite profiles of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells of different stages of the disease to understandthe pathophysiological changes that may help to identify prevention strategies as well as the sites for potential therapeutic drug actions.Methods: Six CRC cell lines of different stages (classified using the Dukes classification) were used, and they are SW 1116 (stage A), HT 29 and SW480 (stage B), HCT 15 and DLD-1 (stage C), and HCT 116 (stage D). Metabolites were extracted using methanol and water, and metabolic profiling wasperformed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Mass profiler professional software was used for statistical analysis.Results: There were 111,096 compounds detected across the samples, and 24 metabolites were identified to be significantly different betweenthe CRC stages. Most notably, there were eight metabolites that were significantly upregulated in the more advanced stages (B, C, and D) comparedwith Stage A. These metabolites include flavin mononucleotide, l-methionine, muricatacin, amillaripin, 2-methylbutyroylcarnitine, lumichrome,hexadeconoic acid, and lysoPE (0:0/16:0).Conclusion: This study showed that the expressions of metabolites at different stages of CRC were different, which represent the metabolic changesoccurring as CRC advances. The knowledge may help identify biomarkers for the staging of CRC, which could improve its prognosis as well as providea basis for the development of therapeutic interventions

Metabolomic characterization of colorectal cancer cell lines highlighting stage-specific alterations during cancer progression

Introduction: Metabolomic studies on various colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines have improved our understanding of the biochemical events underlying the disease. However, the metabolic profile dynamics associated with different stages of CRC progression is still lacking. Such information can provide further insights into the pathophysiology and progression of the disease that will prove useful in identifying specific targets for drug designing and therapeutics. Thus, our study aims to characterize the metabolite profiles in the established cell lines corresponding to different stages of CRC. Methods: Metabolite profiling of normal colon cell lines (CCD 841 CoN) and CRC cell lines corresponding to different stages, i.e., SW 1116 (stage A), HT 29 and SW 480 (stage B), HCT 15 and DLD-1 (stage C), and HCT 116 (stage D), was carried out using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Mass Profiler Professional and Metaboanalyst 4.0 software were used for statistical and pathway analysis. METLIN database was used for the identification of metabolites. Results: We identified 72 differential metabolites compared between CRC cell lines of all the stages and normal colon cells. Principle component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis score plot were used to segregate normal and CRC cells, as well as CRC cells in different stages of the disease. Variable importance in projection score identified unique differential metabolites in CRC cells of the different stages. We identified 7 differential metabolites unique to stage A, 3 in stage B, 5 in stage C, and 5 in stage D. Conclusion: This study highlights the differential metabolite profiling in CRC cell lines corresponding to different stages. The identification of the differential metabolites in CRC cells at individual stages will lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of CRC development and progression and, hence, its application in treatment strategies

Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) of Risk Factors for Mathematical Anxiety in Tertiary Students

Mathematics anxiety or mathematics phobia is a general term for several disorders that will cause panic attacks, nervousness, and social anxiety, which potentially gave negative outcomes when faced with any situation related to mathematical problems. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the factors that influence mathematics anxiety among private college students. Two private colleges from north Malaysia were selected from its nine branches all over Malaysia. These colleges offered 9 different courses where each course offered mathematics subject. After conducting factor analysis, five factors were identified as reasons for the occurrence of mathematics anxiety among students. The factors are student attitude, role of teacher, skills, emotions, and peers. Structural equation model has shown that there are relationships between these five factors. Peers and role of teachers proven to have a positive direct effect on mathematics anxiety with role of teachers was found to be the strongest factor. Meanwhile, students’ attitude and skills have a negative direct effect on mathematics anxiety. Finally, emotions influence mathematics anxiety indirectly through students’ attitud

Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) of Risk Factors for Mathematical Anxiety in Tertiary Students

Mathematics anxiety or mathematics phobia is a general term for several disorders that will cause panic attacks, nervousness, and social anxiety, which potentially gave negative outcomes when faced with any situation related to mathematical problems. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the factors that influence mathematics anxiety among private college students. Two private colleges from north Malaysia were selected from its nine branches all over Malaysia. These colleges offered 9 different courses where each course offered mathematics subject. After conducting factor analysis, five factors were identified as reasons for the occurrence of mathematics anxiety among students. The factors are student attitude, role of teacher, skills, emotions, and peers. Structural equation model has shown that there are relationships between these five factors. Peers and role of teachers proven to have a positive direct effect on mathematics anxiety with role of teachers was found to be the strongest factor. Meanwhile, students’ attitude and skills have a negative direct effect on mathematics anxiety. Finally, emotions influence mathematics anxiety indirectly through students’ attitud

Effect of surface area of clay pots on physicochemical and microbiological properties of stingless bee (Geniotrigona thoracica) honey

High moisture content (>20%) in stingless bee (kelulut) honey contributes to many undesirable reactions that deteriorate the quality of the honey. This study proposed an alternative method to facilitate moisture reduction in Geniotrigona thoracica honey using unglazed clay pots with different surface diffusion areas. Stingless bee honey with an initial moisture content of 26.4 ± 0.3 g/100 g was placed in two custom-designed clay pots, and a glass bottle (control), stored at 25 ± 2 °C and evaluated for 10 days. Results showed that the honey stored in the clay pot with the larger surface area reduced moisture content more effectively, i.e., <20% in <3 days. The pH and free acidity did not change over the storage period, indicating that the honey was stable against fermentation. Hydroxymethylfurfural was not detected in all samples, showing that the quality of honey was preserved. Molds and yeasts were not detected in honey stored in clay pots as the aw was relatively low (<0.63)