Polymeric-based membranes for hydrogen enrichment and natural gas sweetening

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Hydrogen peroxide induced genomic instability in nucleotide excision repair-deficient lymphoblastoid cells

Copyright @ 2010 Gopalakrishnan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.Background The Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER) pathway specialises in UV-induced DNA damage repair. Inherited defects in the NER can predispose individuals to Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP). UV-induced DNA damage cannot account for the manifestation of XP in organ systems not directly exposed to sunlight. While the NER has recently been implicated in the repair of oxidative DNA lesions, it is not well characterised. Therefore we sought to investigate the role of NER factors Xeroderma Pigmentosum A (XPA), XPB and XPD in oxidative DNA damage-repair by subjecting lymphoblastoid cells from patients suffering from XP-A, XP-D and XP-B with Cockayne Syndrome to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Results Loss of functional XPB or XPD but not XPA led to enhanced sensitivity towards H2O2-induced cell death. XP-deficient lymphoblastoid cells exhibited increased susceptibility to H2O2-induced DNA damage with XPD showing the highest susceptibility and lowest repair capacity. Furthermore, XPB- and XPD-deficient lymphoblastoid cells displayed enhanced DNA damage at the telomeres. XPA- and XPB-deficient lymphoblastoid cells also showed differential regulation of XPD following H2O2 treatment. Conclusions Taken together, our data implicate a role for the NER in H2O2-induced oxidative stress management and further corroborates that oxidative stress is a significant contributing factor in XP symptoms. Resistance of XPA-deficient lymphoblastoid cells to H2O2-induced cell death while harbouring DNA damage poses a potential cancer risk factor for XPA patients. Our data implicate XPB and XPD in the protection against oxidative stress-induced DNA damage and telomere shortening, and thus premature senescence.This research is supported by the Defence Innovative Research Programme, Defence Science and Technology Agency, Singapore (POD: 0613592) and the Academic Research Fund, Ministry of Education, Singapore (T206B3108). Supported in part by a grant from British Council, PMI2 Connect (Grant Number: RC134)

Convulsions and Shigellosis

The records of 97 children with culture-proven Shigellosis were reviewed in order to assess the frequency and risk factors of convulsions associated with this infection. Thirteen (13.4%) had convulsions, three of whom had additional features suggestive of encephalopathy. Clinical and laboratory data were compared between patients with and without convulsions to define the risk factors for the development of seizures. A high peak temperature and high band forms in excess of 10% of the differential white cell count were significant risk factors. Age, sex, family history of febrile seizure or epilepsy, and the Shigella strain were not significant risk factors.published_or_final_versio

Consumers' perceived functions of and attitude toward corporate sponsors of small-scale amateur sporting event

Aspiring to become a sporting nation, one recommendation from Singapore’s Vision 2030 is to develop a sustainable resourcing model, by encouraging more corporate companies to sponsor sporting events. This research aimed to identify the perceived functions of corporate sponsors, which influenced consumers to develop positive attitudes toward these sponsors. 210 undergraduate students participated in this study. The five perceived functions of corporate sponsors were ubiquity, sincerity, credibility, sponsor-event fit, and profit-orientation. It was hypothesised that perceived ubiquity and profit-orientation negatively influenced consumers’ attitude while perceived sincerity, credibility, and sponsor-event fit were positive influences. A multiple regression test showed perceived ubiquity and sponsor-event fit as significant functions which positively influenced consumers’ attitude toward corporate sponsors of small-scale sporting events

Compliance with the Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on Construction Sites in Johor, Malaysia

The construction environment is one of the most dangerous workplaces where several fatal accidents have been recorded. Personal protective equipment (PPE) has therefore been used as a vital protection in ensuring the health and safety of workers on construction sites. A few findings reveal that PPE is usually not worn by construction workers in Malaysia. The purpose of this research was to investigate the awareness and compliance with PPE usage on construction sites in Johor, Malaysia. A mixed-method research approach was adopted for the study. A total of 95 questionnaires were distributed to workers on nine (9) construction sites in Johor with a response rate of 72%. The data analysis method utilised quantitative analysis using mean values, and qualitative analysis using coding of real-time observations. Both quantitative and qualitative methods reveal head, foot, body, and hand PPE as the most commonly used PPE among construction workers on sites in Johor. The findings also reveal a considerable level of awareness but a low level of compliance with the use of PPE by construction workers in Johor as only three (3) PPE out of eight (8) had a compliance level above the average mean of 2.5. Hence, approaches such as provision of safety training and penalties to workers who fail to comply with PPE usage should be implemented to enhance compliance with the use of PPE on construction sites

Indoor thermal comfort in university classroom: a case of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

The student spends the majority of their time in the classroom to participate in the learning and teaching session. Recently, there are plenty of issues reported from the building occupants due to poor thermal comfort in the building. A poor indoor thermal could lead to Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), unproductive and unhappy occupants. A conducive indoor thermal environment, on the other hand, helps the occupants to perform well, such as increasing their ability to focus, become more productive and not easily get an illness. This study aims to investigate the indoor thermal comfort level of classrooms in a university. Empirical data were collected from field observation which was held in two sessions (morning and evening) in February 2019 in 40 classrooms. The results showed that 70 % of the classrooms have complied with the existing standard of air temperature and 85 % of the classrooms have complied with the standard of relative humidity. All of the classrooms were recorded with a higher level of air velocity as required in the standard. The findings of this study can provide a guide for facilities manager to improve the indoor thermal comfort level in the classroom and increase awareness among building users on the importance of conducive indoor thermal comfort

Compliance with the Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on Construction Sites in Johor, Malaysia

The construction environment is one of the most dangerous workplaces where several fatal accidents have been recorded. Personal protective equipment (PPE) has therefore been used as a vital protection in ensuring the health and safety of workers on construction sites. A few findings reveal that PPE is usually not worn by construction workers in Malaysia. The purpose of this research was to investigate the awareness and compliance with PPE usage on construction sites in Johor, Malaysia. A mixed-method research approach was adopted for the study. A total of 95 questionnaires were distributed to workers on nine (9) construction sites in Johor with a response rate of 72%. The data analysis method utilised quantitative analysis using mean values, and qualitative analysis using coding of real-time observations. Both quantitative and qualitative methods reveal head, foot, body, and hand PPE as the most commonly used PPE among construction workers on sites in Johor. The findings also reveal a considerable level of awareness but a low level of compliance with the use of PPE by construction workers in Johor as only three (3) PPE out of eight (8) had a compliance level above the average mean of 2.5. Hence, approaches such as provision of safety training and penalties to workers who fail to comply with PPE usage should be implemented to enhance compliance with the use of PPE on construction sites

A measurement model of occupant well-being for Malaysian office building

The condition of indoor environment is becoming progressively crucial because inadequate indoor conditions in office building can create risks to occupant well-being such as adverse health effects, productivity loss and higher rate of absenteeism. This has led to the development of various assessment tools dealing with this issue. However, most of existing assessment tools focused on the environmental protection and economic growth of building, while the importance of social aspect such as occupant well-being has been scarcely emphasized. This study aims to develop a measurement model of occupant well-being for Malaysian office building. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is utilized to assign the weight of four criteria of occupant well-being and fifteen associated indoor environmental parameters for computing the measurement model of occupant well-being for Malaysian office building. The measurement model, which have been driven from an AHP weighting process found that Occupant Health scores the highest priority (35.5%) in computing the measurement model of occupant well-being for Malaysian office building, followed by Occupant Comfort, Occupant Safety and Occupant Adaptation respectively. This study makes a methodological contribution by developing a novel approach that is applicable to monitor the performance of indoor environment in Malaysian office building context to improve occupant well-being

Are you “phubbing” me? The Determinants of Phubbing Behavior and Assessment of Measurement Invariance across Sex Differences

Phubbing behavior is pervasive but the examination of the determinants and measurement invariance remain deficient. The present study aims to investigate: (1) relationships between Big Five personality traits (i.e., open-mindedness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and negative emotionality), coping styles (i.e., problem-focused and emotional-focused), Internet addiction and phubbing behavior; (2) the mediating role of Internet addiction among these relationships; and (3) measurement invariance across sex groups. A total of 405 responses were included in the final analyses. Participants were sampled using a probability-proportionate-to-size (PPS) method. Data were collected using paper-and-pencil survey: Phubbing Scale, Internet Addiction Test, Big Five Inventory, and Simplified Coping Styles Questionnaire. Negative emotionality, open-mindedness, and Internet addiction were the significant determinants of phubbing behavior. Internet addiction partially mediates open-mindedness and phubbing behavior. As for measurement invariance across sex groups, conscientiousness, extraversion, negative emotionality, Internet addiction, and phubbing behavior constructs achieved full measurement invariance. The agreeableness construct showed partial measurement invariance. Three constructs (i.e., open-mindedness, problem-focused and emotional-focused coping) failed to achieve partial measurement invariance, signifying that male and female participants had different interpretations on the items of these constructs. This pervasive culture could be gradually weakened if in-person interaction is intensely promoted