Synthesis of palm oil based polyol via glycerolysis and transamidation reactions for polyurethane foam production

Renewable sources like vegetable oil have been used to prepare many polymeric resins due to the awareness on environmental issue and depletion on petrochemical sources. In polyurethane (PU) production, petroleum-based polyols such as polypropylene glycol (PPG) have been replaced with plant-based polyols from canola oil, soybean oil and palm oil. However, these vegetable oils need to be chemically or physically modified in order to increase their functionalities especially hydroxyl groups. In this study, palm oil (PO) had been modified via two different reaction routes, namely, glycerolsis and transamidation. FTIR spectra of both routes confirmed that the hydroxyl groups (-OH) had been successfully introduced into the palm oil molecular structure. The modified PO was then be reacted with p-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (p-MDI) at 1:1 NCO:OH ratio in the presence of distilled water as blowing agent and silicone surfactant as foam stabilizer to produce palm oil based PU foam. Hardness test was conducted to study type of PU foam produced. Both foams exhibited nearly similar values at shore D 33.6 and 35.4 respectively, which these values fall within the range of rigid PU foam (shore D 30-59). The foams have potential to be used in many non-load bearing application such as insulator in building and refrigerator

Introducing English vocabulary to young learners with flashcards

English has become the most commonly spoken language in the modern era. English should be taught in every primary school because it is widely used. The most important skill to master when studying the English language is vocabulary. Hence, before learning any language skill, such as reading, writing, or listening, students must first learn vocabulary. Flashcards are a visually appealing medium that can help students understand vocabulary. This study aimed to improve the vocabulary of sixth-grade pupils at an elementary school in Lam Awee, Aceh Besar, using flashcards. The sample was taken from the sixth grade which consisted of 6 students. The data was collected using a vocabulary matching test consisting of questions covering parts of body, family, color, and fruit. The data were analyzed by testing the hypothesis at the significance level of 0.05. The results showed that the student vocabulary score improved significantly after learning the language using flashcards. Therefore, it is recommended for teachers to use flashcards to provide a basic vocabulary to beginners because it helps boost students’ motivation to learn new English vocabulary

University students’ perception toward the use of the mother tongue in the EFL classrooms

This study identified learners’ perceptions toward using the mother tongue and analyzed the function or occasions of its use in the EFL classroom. A mixed-methods design, employing classroom observation, questionnaire, and semi-structured interview as data collection methods, was used to pursue this study. The questionnaire items gained the students’ opinion on two categories, namely: students’ preference and occasion of mother tongue use. Twenty undergraduate students who took the Speaking course at a private university in Aceh were involved as the participant of the observation and questionnaire. Meanwhile, only three of them were chosen as the interviewee. The questionnaire data were analyzed quantitatively. In contrast, the observation and interview data were analyzed qualitatively. The results indicated that the use of mother tongue brought positive and negative impacts regarding the students’ perception based on their various English proficiency levels. The low level of English proficiency and intermediate students revealed a higher preference toward the mother tongue to understand the instructions, explain unfamiliar vocabularies, and understand the differences or similarities of English pronunciation and idioms. At the same time, the advanced students indicated a negative perception of mother tongue use. They chose to avoid using their mother tongue to improve their skill through maximum exposure to English as the target language in the speaking classroom atmosphere

Determinants of Employees’ Performance in Selected Business Sector in Palestine: Moderating role of Islamic Value System

This paper highlights relationship between servant leadership and employee performance and moderation of Islamic value system in selected Business Sector in Palestine.Employees’ performance is seemed to be related with factors like servant leadership, and Islamic value system, which were conceptually discussed.Overall, the present study offers a beneficial insight to the importance of servant leadership and value system from the view point of Islam and servant leadership behavior in business sector in order to attain excellent employee performance.Further, the results might help future research to study the effect of Islamic value system, servant leadership in producing other intended outcomes.This paper also highlights findings from its pilot study, preliminary discussion and recommendations are posted toward the end of this paper

Ergogenic, anti-diabetic and antioxidant attributes of selected Malaysian herbs: characterisation of flavonoids and correlation of functional activities

In the present work, aqueous ethanolic (60% ethanol) extracts from selected Malaysian herbs including Murraya koenigii L. Spreng, Lawsonia inermis L., Cosmos caudatus Kunth, Piper betle L., and P. sarmentosum Roxb. were evaluated for their ergogenic, anti-diabetic and antioxidant potentials. Results showed that the analysed herbs had ergogenic property and were able to activate 5'AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in a concentration dependant manner. The highest AMPK activation was exhibited by M. koenigii extract which showed no significant (p > 0.05) difference with green tea (positive control). For anti-diabetic potential, the highest α-glucosidase inhibition was exhibited by M. koenigii extract with IC50 of 43.35 ± 7.5 μg/mL, which was higher than acarbose (positive control). The determinations of free radical scavenging activity and total phenolics content (TPC) indicated that the analysed herbs had good antioxidant activity. However, C. caudatus extract showed superior antioxidant activity with IC50 against free radical and TPC of 21.12 ± 3.20 μg/mL and 221.61 ± 7.49 mg GAE/g, respectively. RP-HPLC analysis established the presence of flavonoids in the herbs wherein L. inermis contained the highest flavonoid (catechin, epicatechin, naringin and rutin) content (668.87 mg/kg of extract). Correlations between the analyses were conducted, and revealed incoherent trends. Overall, M. koenigii was noted to be the most potent herb for enhancement of AMPK activity and α-glucosidase inhibition but exhibited moderate antioxidant activity. These results revealed that the selected herbs could be potential sources of natural ergogenic and anti-diabetic/antioxidant agents due to their rich profile of phenolics. Further analysis in vivo should be carried out to further elucidate the mechanism of actions of these herbs as ergogenic aids and anti-diabetic/antioxidant agents

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

MODEL PEMBELAJARAN INTERGRATIF BAHASA INGGRIS SEBAGAI BAHASA ASING BERDASARKAN PENDEKATAN KOMUNIKATIF DI SEKOLAH DASAR

Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh adanya ketidaksamaan antara tuntutan Kurikulum Muatan Lokal Pendidikan Dasar untuk Sekolah dasar 1994 Jawa Barat mata pelajaran Bahasa Inggris dengan kondisi pembelajaran di sekolah dasar, sehingga diperlukan suatu preskripsi pembelajaran. Di satu sisi kurikulum tersebut menuntut ketercapaian tujuan substansial dan tujuan proses, sedangkan di pihak lain implementasi kurikulum tersebut terkesan dilakukan seadanya. Kondisi ini didasari oleh masih rendahnya kemampuan guru untuk mengembangkan pembelajaran di dalam kelas. Model pembelajaran integratif dipilih sebagai model untuk mengembangkan pembelajaran bahasa Ing gris di sekolah dasar. Seberapa tinggi efektivitas model tersebut dan bagaimana relevansinya untuk kajian bidang bahasa Inggris merupakan permasalahan penelitian ini. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menghasilkan produk berupa model pembelajaran integratif dalam rangka mengembangkan penguasaan bahasa Inggris yang pada gilirannya meningkatkan mutu implementasi kurikulum bahasa Inggris sekolah dasar. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan menggunakan pendekatan penelitian dan pengembangan. Secara garis besar tahapan penelitian ini meliputi (a) prasurvai, yakni mengidentifikasi profil pembelajaran bahasa Inggris yang sedang berjalan, (b) hasil identifikasi digunakan sebagai dasar mengembangkan model pembelajaran integratif yang diujico-bakan siap pakai, dan (c) model pengembangan diuji validasi untuk memperoleh tingkat efektivitas model terhadap perbaikan kualitas pembelajaran. Selama model diujicobakan, dilakukan modifikasi terutama penyesuaian terhadap implementasi model untuk siswa tingkat sekolah dasar yang memiliki karakteristik berada dalam fase-fase perkembangan, dan penyesuaian terhadap kebutuhan perbaikan ki-nerja guru. Peningkatan prestasi belajar dan perbaikan kinerja guru itu ditunjukkan oleh / adanya perbedaan perubahan rerata skor perolehan yang signifikan antara siswa pada kelas kelompok eksperimen dan kelompok kontrol. Siswa kelompok eksperimen menunjukkan rerata skor perubahan yang lebih tinggi daripada siswa kelas kelompok kontrol. Pada eksperimen caturwulan 1 uji t terhadap rerata skor perubahan menunjukkan harga t sebesar -3,28 dengan derajat kebebasan 76 dan probabilitas signifikansi dua sebesar 0,002. Pada caturwulan 2, harga t sebesar -4,19 dengan derajat kebebasan 79 dan probabilitas signifikansi dua sebesar 0,000. Secara singkat dapat dikatakan, pada caturwulan 1 keadaan prestasi belajar yang semula tidak berbeda antara kelas kelompok kontrol dan kelas kelompok eksperimen menjadi berbeda setelah dibelajarkan dengan model pembelajaran PBIBA-SD, di mana rerata prestasi belajar kelas kelompok eksperimen lebih tinggi daripada kelas kelompok kontrol. Pada caturwulan 2 dari situasi yang telah berbeda menjadi semakin jauh berbeda, di mana murid kelompok eksperimen mengalami peningkatan skor prestasi belajar yang jauh lebih tinggi rerata prestasi belajarnya daripada siswa pada kelompok kontrol. Temuan analisis data penelitian eksperimen itu dapat disimpulkan bahwa model PBIBA-SD efektif untuk meningkatkan prestasi belajar siswa Temuan ini memperlihatkan bahwa model pembelajaran integratif efektif untuk meningkatkan prestasi belajar siswa, relevan digunakan dalam pelajaran bahasa Inggris, dan efektif pula untuk memperbaiki kinerja guru sehingga dapat dikatakan model pembelajaran integratif cukup efektif untuk memperbaiki kualitas pembelajaran bahasa Inggris. Hasil penelitian ini memiliki implikasi praktis, di antaranya perlu ditumbuhkan kemauan guru untuk memperbaiki kinerja dalam rangka memperbaiki kualitas pembel-jaran dan perlunya dilakukan sosialisasi model pembelajaran integratif sebagai salah satu alternatif; sedangkan implikasi teoretis mengarah kepada efektivitas pembelajaran yang dapat dicapai, jika difasilitasi oleh langkah-langkah yang tersuruktur, dan disesuaikan dengan tingkat perkembangan anak. Berdasarkan hasil yang diperoleh, disarankan kepada guru bahasa Inggris di sekolah dasar agar menggunakan model pembelajaran integratif sebagai salah satu alternatif model pembelajaran bahasa Inggris dalam rangka meningkatkan mutu pembelajaran bahasa Inggris di sekolah dasar

A new technique for 3D measurment using 3D producer

The paper describes a study using video captured by 3D producer. An off-the-shelf NuView 3D adapter and a Cannon camcorder were used to capture 3D-video footage. The NuView allows two distinct views (left and right view) to enter the single lens camcorder. A simple single convergence control in the NuView allows the user to obtain 3D view of near and far objects. The research involves the calibration of the system for 3D measurement. A stereo-digitizing photogrammetric workstation was used to determine the accuracy of the system. The results show that system can achieve a depth accuracy of 45 mm and 60 mm at object distances of 3 and 5 m respectively. The horizontal accuracy is approximately two times more accurate than the depth