Conduction in thin InSb films

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Correlations between anthropometric measurements, biochemical indicators, dietary intake and Dialysis Malnutrition Score among haemodialysis patients in Sibu, Sarawak

Introduction: Malnutrition is a common problem associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality among haemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: This study determined the correlation between anthropometric measurements, biochemical indicators, dietary intake and dialysis malnutrition score among HD patients in Sibu, Sarawak. A total of 55 patients were recruited by purposive sampling and their biochemical parameters were retrieved from dialysis records. Anthropometric measurements and dietary intake were determined using standardised protocols while Dialysis Malnutrition Score (DMS) was computed to determine patients’ nutritional status. Results: Mean age of the patients was 53.0±12.2 years. Mean DMS was low, indicating low tendency of malnutrition among the patients. Approximately one-third of the patients had high interdialytic weight gain (IDWG), indicating a poor adherence on fluid recommendation. Mean intakes of dietary energy (DEI) and protein (DPI) were low, with only approximately 15% achieving the recommendations according to Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/ DOQI). Increase in age (r=0.337, p=0.012) and dialysis vintage (r=0.403, p=0.002) were associated with poorer nutritional status while higher BMI, MUAC, and serum albumin were associated with better nutritional status. Conclusion: This study revealed a high proportion of the HD patients with poor adherence on fluid intake, and the prevalence of inadequate DEI and DPI, indicating the importance of regular dietary counselling for HD patients. In view of their non-invasive nature and close relationship with nutritional status, body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, and serum albumin should be included as part of the comprehensive periodic nutrition assessment of HD patients

Effect of Medium Formulation and Culture Condition on Growth and Plasmid Stability of Recombinant Lactococcus Lactis AM3

Chicken Anemia Virus (CAV) is a small spherical negative single stranded DNA virus which comprised of several overlapping open reading frames (ORPs), three of which encoded for the proteins size of 52, 24 and 13 kDa, designated as VPl, VP2 and VP3, respectively. The recombinant Lactococcus lactis AM3 used in the study was transformed with a plasmid expression vector, pMG36e, which was cloned with the VP3 gene of CAV. This recombinant Lactococcus lactis AM3 was constructed as a model to study the possibility of vaccine delivery into the poultry via oral route. The investigation on the growth of the recombinant Lactococcus lactis AM3 in different carbon sources (glucose, sucrose, lactose and xylose) showed that glucose was the most suitable carbon source where it successfully produced 36; generation numbers of bacteria with final plasmid-bearing cells, 1.13 X 1017 cfu.L⁻¹ after 24 hours of fermentation. The final plasmid stability of recombinant Lactococcus lactis AM3 grew in the glucose medium was 98% indicating that most of the recombinant bacterial still retained their plasmids. There was a stable and optimum growth of the recombinant Lactococcus lactis AM3 in the culture medium with 10 g.L⁻¹ of glucose concentration. The maximum'specific growth rate of plasmid-bearing cells in the culture, .µMAXpb was 0.9885h⁻¹. The higher concentration of glucose (20, 40 and 60 g.L⁻¹) in the medium inhibited the growth of recombinant Lactococcus lactis AM3 . The specific growth rate of Lactococcus lactis AM3 grew in the medium with 20 g.L⁻¹ of yeast extract was the highest, 0.8869 h⁻¹ with 84% of plasmid stability. Similar polypeptides average molecular weights are observed in the yeast extract medium that increased the nitrogen consumption by the recombinant bacteria and eventually increased the bacteria cell number. Further experiments confirmed that 20 g.L⁻¹ of glucose and 20 g.L-1 of yeast extract containing medium was the optimum carbon-nitrogen source for the growth and plasmid maintenance of the recombinant Lactococcus lactis AM3. The specific growth rate and plasmid stability of Lactococcus lactis AM3 in this complex medium were increased to 1.6304 h⁻¹ and 87%, respectively after 26 hours of batch fermentation. There was no nitrogen deficiency occurred and the lost of plasmid, pMG36e-VP3 from the host cell was caused majority by the segregational instability of plasmid after prolonged fermentation. The specific growth rate of recombinant Lactococcus lactis AM3 grew at pH medium 6.5 was the highest, 1.0227 h⁻¹. 91% of plasmid stability of recombinant Lactococcus lactis AM3 grew at pH 6.5 was observed. The maximum specific growth rate of Lactococcus lactis AM3 grew at 30‹C was 0.9780 h⁻¹ with total plasmid-bearing cells of 9.80 X 1020 cfu.L⁻¹ after 28 hours of fermentation. Similar acid-inducible proteins were produced by recombinant Lactococcus lactis AM3 when confronted with high temperatures (32, 34, 36 and 38˚c%). 90% of plasmid stability was observed in Lactococcus lactis AM3 grew at 30‹C. Recombinant Lactococcus iactis AM3 grew in the MRS medium that agitated with 200 r.p.rn. produced 32 generations of plasmid..bearing cells, 3.87 X 1 019 cfu.L⁻¹ with 51% of plasmid stability after 26 hours of fermentation. Obvious fluctuation of the plasmid stability of pMG36e- VP3-bearing cells was observed during the batch fermentation system. The appearance of adaptive descendants without plasmids derived from the bacterial host cells was detected throughout the experiments. The lost of plasmid, pMG36e- VP3 from recombinant Lactococcus lactis AM3 and the fluctuations in the population of plasmid..losing cells in the batch fermentation system suggested that the presence of antibioticdegraded proteins or acids were produced from the bacterial host cells that responsible in the inhibition of proper function of erythromycin in the culture. Most of the plasmid instability was caused by segregational instability

A Study Of The Relationship Between Indicators And Public Donation Intention In Penang

Kekekalan untuk terus beroperasi bagi organisasi amal telah dicabar oleh peningkatan permintaan bagi perkhidmatan mereka serta sokongan kerajaan yang berkurangan, dan keadaan ini telah membawa kepada peningkatan keperluan untuk dermaan kebajikan (Sargeant, Lee, dan Jay, 2002). The continuous survival of charity organizations has been challenged with increasing demand for their services as well as diminishing government supports, leading to ever-increasing need for charity giving (Sargeant, Lee, and Jay, 2002)

A Study Of The Relationship Between Indicators And Public Donation Intention In Penang: A Perspective Of Planned Behavior Theory With Inclusion Of Some Cognitive Factors

Kekekalan untuk terus beroperasi bagi organisasi amal telah dicabar oleh peningkatan permintaan bagi perkhidmatan mereka serta sokongan kerajaan yang berkurangan. The continuous survival of charity organizations has been challenged with increasing demand for their services as well as diminishing government support

Ownership structure and voluntary disclosure in Malaysian listed firms

This study investigates the impact of ownership structure on the extent of voluntary disclosure by Malaysian listed firms over the volatile time period 1996 to 2006. During this period of time, the onset of the 1997 Asian financial crisis and global corporate scandals resulted in major institutional and environmental changes. The nature of these regulatory reforms clearly impacted on firm management's incentives to voluntarily disclose more information in annual reports.The results show that the average level of voluntary disclosure is generally low although there is an increase in the extent of voluntary disclosure exhibited by Malaysian firms over the eleven-year time period. Controlling for firm size, leverage and profitability, the empirical results show that ownership concentration is positively associated with voluntary disclosure. The positive association of high ownership concentration may reflect the firms' choice to disclose more information as a governance initiative to enhance transparency. Institutional and foreign ownership have motivation to disclose in excess of mandatory requirements. The findings imply that the presence of institutional and foreign investors in a firm pushes firms to voluntarily disclose more information in annual reports. Such enhanced disclosure practice should be encouraged in order to attract funds from such investors both locally and abroad

ZOOTOPIA: How Does Music Make A Statement For Diversity In The Modern Society

Diversity is a big topic in the movie Zootopia, in which music plays an tremendously important role in presenting the concept. This essay aims to identify and investigate the different musical styles that influence the score, how the various styles are put together, and how these influences are translated for the storytelling purpose in the film.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-scoring/1066/thumbnail.jp

Benefits and costs of legalized gaming in Penghu as perceived by Taiwanese people

This study evaluates attitudes and perceptions of residents in Penghu County and the main island of Taiwan regarding benefits and costs of legalized gaming in Penghu County. Surveys were conducted by using convenient sampling in both Taiwan\u27s main island and Penghu County. Results indicate residents in Penghu and residents in Taiwanese have no significant difference in supporting legalized gaming. Residents in both locations show a positive attitude toward the legalized gaming based on the mean score from the test. Results also indicate that there are three socio-demographic groups have significantly different opinions in supporting legalized gaming. Results also point out the impacts that those three groups are concerned about regarding benefits and costs of legalized gaming. In addition, results may provide the Taiwanese Government some directions for improving residents\u27 perceptions toward the benefits and costs of legalized gaming once the Taiwanese Government decides to use legalized gaming as a means to improve the community\u27s economy and tourism development