STUDY OF STABILITY AND THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF MULTIWALL CARBON NANOTUBES AND COPPER OXIDE IN ETHYLENE GLYCOL AT MEDIUM TEMPERATURE

The main aim of this study is to prepare a stable MWCNTs / CuO in nanofluid hybrid Ethylene glycol. The experiment will be performed in different amounts and combinations of solid concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1 per cent each. To prepare the hybrid-nanofluid, the most common method in the preparation of nanofluid which is a 2-step process will be used. Temperatures varying from 20ᵒC to 60ᵒC There will be a few characterization tests to verify the characteristics of the prepared nanofluid. The research that was performed for characterization was the study of particle distribution and thermal conductivity. Graphs shown were the findings at different temperatures of the stability and thermal conductivity of various concentrations of nanoparticles

STUDY OF STABILITY AND THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF MULTIWALL CARBON NANOTUBES AND COPPER OXIDE IN ETHYLENE GLYCOL AT MEDIUM TEMPERATURE

The main aim of this study is to prepare a stable MWCNTs / CuO in nanofluid hybrid Ethylene glycol. The experiment will be performed in different amounts and combinations of solid concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1 per cent each. To prepare the hybrid-nanofluid, the most common method in the preparation of nanofluid which is a 2-step process will be used. Temperatures varying from 20ᵒC to 60ᵒC There will be a few characterization tests to verify the characteristics of the prepared nanofluid. The research that was performed for characterization was the study of particle distribution and thermal conductivity. Graphs shown were the findings at different temperatures of the stability and thermal conductivity of various concentrations of nanoparticles

ASSESS THE RISK LEVEL OF POWER TRANSFORMER DUE SHORT-CIRCUIT FAULTS BASED ON ANFIS

A power transformer is an electrical machine that converts electrical power at different voltage levels. Faults, occur in power transformers, inhibit electrical power distribution to the consumer. Protection, therefore, of the power transformers is essential in power systems reliability. The power system can be reliable if the protection devices work well when there is a fault. A hybrid intelligent technique, which is a combination of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Fuzzy known as Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Systems (ANFIS), was used in this research. The objective of this paper is the simulation of differential relays as a protection device on power transformers using Matlab/Simulink. Performance of differential relays for power transformers protection is carried out with internal and external fault scenarios. The input data were classified into three different input for ANFIS such as internal and external 1, internal and external 2, internal, external 1, and external 2, respectively. The error results of ANFIS training for the type of fault internal and external 1 is 9.46*10-7, and types of fault internal and external 2 is 1.09*10-6 internal, external 1 and external 2 are 8.59*10-7. The results obtained from the simulation were accurate and shows that the ANFIS technique is an efficient method that gives less error and a great value. Finally, the technique can minimize faults with power transformers. Finally, to prove this method can reduce faults in the power transformer, the assess of this model has been carried out through the RMSE that has been generated which is zero

Energy efficient distillation columns sequence for hydrocarbon mixtures fractionation process

The objective of this paper is to present the study and analysis of the energy saving improvement for the hydrocarbon mixtures (HM) fractionation process by using driving force method. To perform the study and analysis, the energy efficient HM fractionation plant methodology is developed. Accordingly, the methodology consists of four hierarchical steps; step 1: existing HM sequence energy analysis, step 2: optimal HM sequence determination, step 3: optimal HM sequence energy analysis, and step 4: energy comparison and economic analysis. In the first step, a simple and reliable short-cut method of process simulator (Aspen HYSYS) is used to simulate a base (existing) HM sequence. The energy used to recover individual fractions in the base sequence is analyzed and taken as a reference. In the second stage, an optimal HM sequence is determined by using driving force method. All individual driving force curves for all adjacent components are plotted and the optimal sequence is determined based on the plotted driving force curves. Once the optimal HM sequence has been determined, the new optimal sequence is then simulated in step three using a simple and reliable short-cut method (using Aspen HYSYS), where the energy used in the optimal HM sequence is analyzed. Finally, the energy used in the optimal HMs sequence is compared with the base sequence. The return of investment (ROI) and simple payback period are also calculated. Several case studies have been used to test the performance of the developed methodology. The results show that a maximum energy saving of 40% was achieved when compared the optimal (driving force) sequence with the existing direct sequence. The ROI of 3 was obtained with 4 month of payback period. It can be concluded that, the sequence determined by the driving force method is able to reduce energy used for HM fractionation process. Individual column energy has also been analyzed, and from that several columns that can be improved in terms of energy saving have been identified. All of this findings show that the methodology is able to design minimum energy distillation column sequence for HM fractionation process in an easy, practical and systematic manner

A Rare Case of a Gastro-Peritoneal Fistula Following Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Successfully Treated with Endoscopic Stenting

Gastro-peritoneal fistula is a rare but serious complication of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with significant morbidity and mortality. We present the case of a 42-year-old man who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity and presented later with a history of chronic epigastric pain and severe reflux. Upper gastrointestinal series showed the presence of a communicating fistula between the stomach and the left hemi-diaphragm and peri-splenic area

Corneal Curvature Measurements Utilizing a New Swept-source Optical Coherence Tomography Tomey OA-2000® and Comparison With IOL Master® 500 in Pterygium Patients

Introduction: Corneal curvature (CC) is an important anterior segment parameter. This study compared CC measurements conducted with two optical devices in pterygium eyes.Methods: Sixty pterygium eyes of 30 patients were enrolled in this study. CC was measured three times with the optical biometer and topography-keratometer Tomey OA-2000 (Tomey Corporation, Nagoya, Japan), then with partial optical coherence interferometry (PCI) IOL Master 500 (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) and data were statistically analysed.Results: The measurements revealed in a mean CC of 43.86 ± 1.57 D with Tomey OA-2000 and 43.84 ± 1.55 D with IOL Master. Distribution of data is normal, and no significance difference in CC values was detected (P = 0.952) between the two devices. Correlation between CC measurements was highly significant (r = 0. 99; P < 0.0001). The mean difference of CC values between devices was 0.017 D and 95% limit of agreement was -0.088 to 0.12. Duration taken for measurements with the standard biometer IOL Master was longer (55.17 ± 2.24 seconds) than with Tomey OA-2000 (39.88 ± 2.38 seconds) in automatic mode. Duration of manual measurement with Tomey OA-2000 in manual mode was shorter (28.57 ± 2.71 seconds).Conclusion: In pterygium eyes, CC measured with Tomey OA-2000 and IOL Master showed similar values, and high correlation was observed between these two devices. This shows that both devices can be used interchangeably. Tomey OA-2000 is better in terms of faster to operate and has its own topography systems

Synthesis and Characterization of SnO2 Thin Film Semiconductor for Electronic Device Applications

Synthesis and characterization of SnO2 thin films with various types of doping materials such as aluminum, fluorine and indium have been successfully carried out. This study aims to determine the effect of various types of doping materials on the quality of thin films such as the energy band gap produced. The results showed that the higher the doping concentration, the more transparent the layer formed. In addition, the optical properties of thin films such as band gap energy are affected by the applied doping. The direct and indirect values ​​of the largest band gap energy for the percentage of 95:5% are 3.62 eV and 3.92 eV are found in the SnO2: In thin layer. Meanwhile, the lowest direct and indirect values ​​of band gap energy are in the thin layer of SnO2:(Al+F+In) for a percentage of 85:15%, namely 3.41 eV and 3.55 eV. The greater the amount of doping given, the smaller the bandgap energy produced. In addition, the more combinations of doping mixtures (aluminum, fluorine, and indium) given, the smaller the bandgap energy produced. This shows that the quality of a thin film of SnO2 produced is influenced by the amount of concentration and the type of doping use

The cytotoxic effect and glucose uptake modulation of Baeckea frutescens on breast cancer cells

Background: Baeckea frutescens (B. frutescens) of the family Myrtaceae is a plant that has been used in traditionalmedicine. It is known to have antibacterial, antipyretic and cytoprotective properties. The objective of this study isto explore the mechanism of B. frutescens leaves extracts in eliminating breast cancer cells. Method: B. frutescens leaves extracts were prepared using Soxhlet apparatus with solvents of different polarity. The selective cytotoxicity of these extracts at various concentrations (20 to 160 μg/ml) were tested using cell viability assay after 24, 48 and 72 h of treatment. The IC50 value in human breast cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and mammary breast (MCF10A) cell lines were determined. Apoptotic study using AO/PI double staining was performed using fluorescent microscope. The glucose uptake was measured using 2-NBDG, a fluorescent glucose analogue. The phytochemical screening was performed for alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, triterpenoids, and phenols. Results: B. frutescens leaves extracts showed IC50 value ranging from 10 -127μg/ml in MCF-7 cells after 72 h of treatment. Hexane extract had the lowest IC50 value (10μg/ml), indicating its potent selective cytotoxic activity. Morphology of MCF-7 cells after treatment with B. frutescens extracts exhibited evidence of apoptosis that included membrane blebbing and chromatin condensation. In the glucose uptake assay, B. frutescens extracts suppressed glucose uptake in cancer cells as early as 24 h upon treatment. The inhibition was significantly lower compared to the positive control WZB117 at their respective IC50 value after 72 h incubation. It was also shown that the glucose inhibition is selective towards cancer cells compared to normal cells. The phytochemical analysis of the extract using hexane as the solvent in particular gave similar quantities of tannin, triterpenoids, flavonoid and phenols. Presumably, these metabolites have a synergistic effect in the in vitro testing, producing the potent IC50 value and subsequently cell death. Conclusion: This study reports the potent selective cytotoxic effect of B. frutescens leaves hexane extract against MCF-7 cancer cells. B. frutescens extracts selectively suppressed cancer cells glucose uptake and subsequently induced cancer cell death. These findings suggest a new role of B. frutescens in cancer cell metabolis

Pattern of medication use among the elderly at one nursing center for terminally-ill patients in the east coast Malaysia: a cross-sectional study

The elderly populations who often have multiple medical problems usually requires comprehensive care and this include an increase in medication use. This project aims to assess the pattern of medication use and the prevalence of polypharmacy as well as to screen for the use of potentially inappropriate medications among the elderly residents at one nursing centre for terminally-ill patients in East coast Malaysia. Prior to the study, ethical approval was obtained from IIUM Research Ethical Committee (IREC 2019-166). This cross-sectional study involved residents aged 60 years old and above (n=73) that fulfil the inclusion criterion of taking at least one medication. Patient’s sociodemographic profile and medication use patterns were obtained from patient’s personal folder and descriptive analysis was run using IBM SPSS Version 26 software. The list of medications was cross-checked with the list of American Geriatrics Society (AGS) 2019 Updated AGS Beers Criteria® for potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in older adults. From 73 elderly residents, their mean age was 72 ± 9.07 years old, with the majority were Malays (83.6%), males (50.7%), Muslims (86.3%), single (53.4%), bed-bound, and dependent to the care-takers for their daily activities (75.3%). Polypharmacy (concurrent drugs between five to eight drugs) occurred in one-fifth of the residents (21.9%). Most residents were on cholesterol-lowering (72.6%) and antihypertensive (64.4%) drugs. Other common medications include blood-thinning agents (37%), anti-diabetic (21.9%), vitamin B (19.2%) and iron (16.4%) supplements. Several medications listed in 2019 AGS Updated Beers Criteria such as prazosin (1.4%), ranitidine (6.8%), colchicine (1.4%), lorazepam (1.4%), and chlorpromazine (1.4 %) were in use by the minority of residents. In conclusion, the prevalence of polypharmacy in this study was moderate with some minor use of PIM. The use of PIM however should be re-considered to minimise adverse drug reactions and to improve health conditions of these residents

Binocular vision problem and amblyopia cases in IIUM Optometry Clinic: a retrospective analysis

Aim: To analyze the prevalence of binocular vision (BV) problem and amblyopic cases in the International Islamic University Malaysia Optometry Clinic (IIUM-OC), Kuantan Pahang, Malaysia. Methodology: The present clinical-based retrospective study was conducted, and 1229 patient files from IIUM-OC presented from January 2017 to September 2018 were evaluated. All new cases files with diagnosis of BV problem and amblyopia were recorded and analyzed. Results: The prevalence of BV problem and amblyopia are respectively, 13.59% (167 patients) and 3.42% (42 patients). From the BV problem cases, the highest prevalence is accommodation insufficiency (AI) 26.3% (44 patients), followed by convergence insufficiency (CI) 23.4% (39 patients), accommodation excess (AE) 18.0% (30 patients), accommodation infacility (AF) 7.8% (13 patients), divergence excess (DE) 3.6% (6 patients), basic exophoria 3.6% (6 patients), convergence excess (CE) 3.0% (5 patients), basic esophoria 3.0% (5 patients), ill-sustained accommodation (ISA) 1.2% (2 patients), and divergence insufficiency (DI) 0.6% (1 patient); while the remaining are the combination of various BV problems at 9.6% (16 patients). For amblyopia cases, the unilateral refractive amblyopia recorded as the major type at 50.0% (21 patients). Other causes of amblyopia include strabismus with 16.7% (7 patients), and bilateral refractive with 2.4% (1 patient); while the remaining cases are the combination causes with 31.0% (13 patients). Conclusion: BV problem and amblyopia are prevalent in IIUM-OC which warrant proper management to provide a better care for the patients