Impact Modified Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Fiber/Poly(Lactic) Acid Composite

In this study, composites were fabricated from oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber and poly(lactic) acid by extrusionn followed by injection moulding. Surface of the fiber was pre-treated by ultrasound in an alkali medium and treatment efficiency was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis and Fourier transforms infrared spectrometer (FTIR). Effect of fiber treatment on composite was characterized by tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM) and impact strength (IS). Furthermore, biostrong impact modifier was incorporated into the treated fiber composite to improve its impact properties. Mechanical testing showed an improvement of up to 23.5% and 33.6% respectively for TS and TM of treated fiber composite above untreated fiber composite. On the other hand incorporation of impact modifier led to enhancement of about 20% above the initial IS of the treated fiber composite

Preschool children perceived by mothers as irregular eaters: physical and psychosocial predictors from a Birth Cohort Study

Objective: Parents often report their children display irregular eating patterns. Our aim is to describe the stability of maternal-perceived irregular eating of their offspring from 6 months to 2-4 years of age and to investigate factors that are associated with maternal perceived irregular eating of their 2-4 year old offspring. Methods: A longitudinal mother-child linked analysis was carried out using 5 year follow-up data from a population-based prospective birth cohort of 5122 mothers who were participants in the Mater-University Study of Pregnancy, Brisbane. Measures included responses to standardized questionnaires, pediatrician review and standardized measures such as the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised and the Child Behavior Checklist. Results: 20.2% and 7.6% of mothers respectively stated their 2-4 year old was sometimes or often an irregular eater. Continuity of feeding difficulties from age 6 months was prominent: 48% of 6 month Olds with a feeding problem were 'sometimes' or 'often' irregular eaters at age 2-4 years. From a multivariable analysis, both child-intrinsic factors (chronic physical morbidity, sleeplessness and anxiety-depressive symptoms) and factors that impinge upon the child (poor maternal health and maternal depression and anxiety) independently contributed to irregular eating status at age 2-4 years. Conclusions: We conclude that approximately one third of mothers had some concern with their child's irregular eating, 7.6% of mothers were often concerned. irregular eating children were usually physically well, more likely to have persisting feeding problems, sleeplessness, behavioral problems and lived with mothers with perceived poor physical and mental health. Ontervention strategies should be family orientated and include child, mother and mother-child psychosocial approaches

Use of Wireless Sensor and Microcontroller to Develop Water-level Monitoring System

This paper presents the design and development process of Wireless Data Acquisition System (WiDAS) which is a multi-sensor system for water level monitoring. It also consists of a microcontroller (ATMega8L), a data display device and an ultrasonic distance sensor (Parallax Ping). This wireless based acquisition system can communicate through RF module (Tx-Rx) from the measurement sources, such as sensors and devices as digital or analog values over a period of time. The developed system has the option to store the data in the computer memory. It was tested in real time and showed continuous and correct data. The developed system is consisting of a number of features, such as low energy consumption, easy to operate and well-built invulnerability, which cangive successful results to measure the water level. Finally, its flexibility facilitates an extensive application span for self-directed data collection with trustworthy transmission in few sparse points over huge areas

Is there a fetal origin of depression? Evidence from the Mater University Study of Pregnancy and its outcomes

It is unclear whether there is a fetal origin of adult depression. In particular, previous studies have been unable to adjust for the potential effect of maternal depression during pregnancy on any association. The association of birth weight with adult symptoms of depression was examined in an Australian prospective birth cohort, the Mater University Study of Pregnancy and its outcomes. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale among 3,719 participants at the 21-year follow-up in 2002-2005. In multivariable analyses, there were a weak inverse association between birth weight and symptoms of depression in the whole cohort and some evidence of sex differences in this association. Among females, there was a graded inverse association: In the fully adjusted model, the odds ratio for a high level of depressive symptoms for a 1-standard deviation increase in birth weight (gestational age-standardized z score) was 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.73, 0.92). Among males, there was no association (with sex in all models: p(interaction) < 0.004). Study results provide some support for a fetal origin of adult depression and suggest that the association is not explained by maternal mental health characteristics during pregnancy. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying the association

Association of Maternal Smoking and Alcohol Consumption with Young Adults' Cannabis Use: A Prospective Study

This 2006 study examined 1) whether maternal use of tobacco and consumption of alcohol when a child is 5 and 14 years of age predict cannabis use in young adults, and 2) whether this association is explained by possible confounding or mediating factors. Data were taken from a prospective birth cohort study of mothers and their children in Brisbane, Australia. This study was based on a cohort of 3,176 young adults who participated at the 21-year follow-up of the study and for whom data were available on maternal smoking and alcohol consumption 5 and 14 years after their birth. After controlling for possible confounders, the authors found that maternal smoking at 14 years was associated with frequent use of cannabis in offspring at 21 years, regardless of maternal smoking at 5 years. Children of mothers who drank more than one glass of alcohol at 5 years and continued at 14 years were more likely to use cannabis in early adulthood. The association between maternal substance use and offspring cannabis use was partially mediated by adolescent externalizing behavior and smoking measured at 14 years. Prevention programs that address maternal and adolescent tobacco use and adolescent externalizing behavior should be considered as strategies to reduce cannabis use by young adult

Perception of muslim consumers towards tax deduction through Zakat in malaysia: an empirical investigation on muslims in Malaysia

The aim of this study is to explore the factors which are affecting Muslim consumers‟ perception towards tax deduction through zakat in Malaysia. A conceptual framework was drawn based on the literature. Six factors were extracted through principal component analysis and SEM was run to test the hypotheses. This research found that halal-haram aspect of Islamic Shariah has a very positive influence on Muslim consumers‟ perception towards the tax rebate system. In addition, legal consciousness and knowledge about tax and zakat have positive significant impact on Muslim consumers‟ perceptions towards this system. Due to the limited literature available on this subject matter, this study offers unique findings that may help in capitalizing the practices in Muslim countries and to understand their consumers‟ perception regarding the tax deduction system. In conclusion zakat institutions in Malaysia will also be better benefitted through this research finding. Keywords: Muslim Consumer, Perception, Tax deduction through Zaka

Urban runoff quantity and quality control – Malaysian perspective.

continued to increase at the urban areas in Malaysia. Such deteriorating trend was linked to increased land conversion activities, rapid disposal concept of drainage systems, main target on the control of point pollution sources (municipal and industrial wastewater) only, illicit connections and discharge of untreated sullage (grey-water) to the drainage systems. Realizing the limitations of the past efforts, various initiatives are taken in the recent pasts to improve the flood mitigation measures and river water quality throughout the country. Quantity and quality control of urban runoff is one of the most significant initiatives taken by the government of Malaysia. The significance of urban runoff quantity and quality control is gaining recognition throughout the country since the endorsement of Urban Stormwater Management Manual for Malaysia (USMMM), which was mandated in June 2000 by the Ministry Cabinet. It is now being applied for urban land development approval. The Manual consists of detailed engineering procedures and guidelines for runoff quantity control and treatment of non-point (diffuse) source pollutants. Receiving response from various stake-holders during the last 10 years, the government has taken another initiative to further improve the USMMM and prepare Standard Books for the legal enforcement of the runoff quantity and quality control. Such initiative by the government is highly expected to assist regulatory authorities and practitioners to reduce urban runoff related problems (flash flood and diffuse pollution) from the municipalities and help achieve the target of improved in river water quality nationwide. Various types of structural and non-structural best management practices (BMPs) are proposed in the manual. All stakeholders are working together to adopt the BMPs recommended in the USMMM. Lack of nationwide data on runoff quality from various landuses and local performance data of the structural best management practices (BMPs), are the main constraints the authorities are focusing on. The initiatives taken by the government of Malaysia can be a model for other developing nations in controlling runoff quantity and quality from urban areas. This paper briefly overviews the background of the urban runoff (both quantity and quality) management practices highlighting the issues regarding its implementation and improvement

Educational Life in the Interregnum: Race, Dis/ability, and Special Education

This article undertakes a comparative analysis of special education policy through the juxtaposition of two recent Supreme Court actions: Allston v. Lower Merion School District (2015) and Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District (2017). This comparison reveals an ordering of special education policy around questions of race. Specifically, this article argues that special education policy is governed by a racecraft of disability labeling that defines students of color as variously disabled and through a biopolitics of special education that expands disability services for individual students who are within the truth demarcated by scientific-juridical mediations of life. Against such negative inflections of life, this article concludes by turning to John Dewey’s educational and democratic thinking to posit an affirmation of educational life that counters the morbid symptoms that presently define education’s interregnum

Joule Heating Effect on the Coupling of Conduction with Magnetohydrodynamic Free Convection Flow from a Vertical Flat Plate

The present work describes the effect of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)&nbsp;natural convection flow along a vertical flat plate with Joule heating and heat conduction.&nbsp;The governing boundary layer equations are first transformed into a non-dimensional&nbsp;form and resulting nonlinear system of partial differential equations are then solved&nbsp;numerically by using the implicit finite difference method with Keller box scheme. The&nbsp;results of the skin friction co-efficient, the surface temperature distribution, the velocity&nbsp;and the temperature profiles over the whole boundary layer are shown graphically for&nbsp;different values of the Prandtl number Pr (Pr = 1.74, 1.00, 0.72, 0.50, 0.10), the&nbsp;magnetic parameter M (M = 1.40, 0.90, 0.50, 0.10) and the Joule heating parameter&nbsp;J (J = 0.90, 0.70, 0.40, 0.20). Numerical values of the skin friction coefficients and&nbsp;surface temperature distributions for different values of Joule heating parameter have&nbsp;been presented in tabular form