Optimization of Reaction Conditions in the Production of Gadolinium Diethylenetriamine Pentaacetate-Folate

A previous study has performed the laboratory-scale synthesis and characterization of Gadolinium Diethylenetriaminepentaacetate-Folate. Some parameters associated with the synthesis have been defined. In current study was focused on establishment the parameters for scaling up the production of Gadolinium Diethylenetriaminepentaacetate-Folate as a targeted MRI contrast agent. For the purpose of subsequent scaling up the synthesis, the parameters particularly those determining the yield of the reaction product should be established. This report presents the use of The Placket Burman Design and the Response Surface Methodology in establishing the parameters. Thus, following the Placket Burman Design, a number of synthesis reactions were carried out, each with different reaction conditions, with respect to parameters to include: mole ratio of reactants (i.e mole of Gd3+ to DTPA-Folate), time of reaction, temperature, stirring rate, pH and solvent volume. Using this method, a conclusion could be drawn that the three factors were found to be significant. To get final conclusions on the optimal synthesis reaction conditions, the Response Surface Methodology was then applied. For this purpose, again, some synthesis reactions experiments were performed. These were done, in accordance to the Response Surface Methodology, verified by analysis of countour plots, helped to locate the optimal value of the factors. The resulted data showed that for optimal yield of the synthesis reaction there were three dominant parameters. They were mole ratio of reactants, stirring rate process, and the volume of water

Molecular Charaterisation of Salmonella Serovars Isolated from Poultry

Salmonellosis has received considerable amount of attention because public health concerns in third world and developing countries including Malaysia. In Malaysia, the incidence of non-typhoidal salmonellosis is relatively unknown and has not been given much attention. Data collec1ed shows that the incidence of Salmonella species iso1atcd from animals and food sources have increased in recent years especially from poultry sources. One hundred and fourty seven Salmonella isolates belonging to 14 serovars were examined in the present study. Molecular techniques namely random amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR), enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-PCR (ERlC-PCR), polymerase chain reaction-ribotyping and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were used to subtype all the 147 Salmonella isolates at strains leveL Among these techniques. RAPD-PCR was the most superior in distinguishing all Salmonella serovars, followed by PFGE, ERIC-PCR and PCR-ribotyping. The PCR-based methods offered several advan1:ages over PFGE due to its speed, economics, ease to perform, results can be generated within 24 hours and large of samples can be analysed. simultaneously. In contrast, PFGE method was technically tedious, demanding and time consuming. Extensive genetic polymorphism or diversity was observed among strains of Salmonella serovars. In molecular typing for epidemiological studies, the level of the percentage of similarity in cluster analysis is arbitrarily adopted based on the clustering of the strains analysed. In this study, 70% of similarity level was chosen to analyse results obtained in PCR-based and PFGE analysis. Cluster obtained by the peR-based and PFGE typing techniques showed some disagreements in discriminating strains. Several strains that have different RAPD patterns did not necessarily bad similar PFGE. ERIC or PCR-ribotyping patterns. From the present study, it can be concluded that, it is impossible to rely on a single method to determine genetic relatedness among Salmonella serovars for effective epidemiological studies. This study clearly suggests that only a combination of different techniques is able to provide a comprehensive epidemiology of Salmonella serovars, and thus the need for a careful selection of the typing techniques. It has been identify the DNA-based typing methods is most effective for epidemiological studies

Modeling the effects of high strain rate loading on RC columns using Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) technique

In recent years, many studies have been conducted by governmental and nongovernmental organizations across the world in an attempt to better understand the effect of explosive loads on buildings in order to better design against specific threats. This study is intended to contribute to increase the knowledge about how explosions affect reinforced concrete (RC) columns. In this study, a nonlinear model is developed to study the blast response of RC columns subjected to explosive loads. Numerical modeling of RC column under explosive load is presented using advanced finite element code LS DYNA. The obtained numerical model is validated with the experimental test and the results are in substantial agreement with the experimental data. ALE method for blast analysis is presented in the current research. The effects of scaled distance on the damage profile of RC columns are investigated. The results demonstrate that the level of damage increased with describing the scaled distance. Also the results shown duration for the blast loading, and hence the impulse, varies with charge masses at the specified scaled distance. Higher magnitude charge masses produced longer blast loading durations than lower magnitude charge masses. This means that at the same scaled distance, a charge mass of higher magnitude produced a higher impulse than the lower magnitude charge mass. The findings of this research represent the scaled distance is an important parameter that should be taken into account when analyzing the behavior of RC columns under explosive effects. The data collected from this research are being used to improve the knowledge of how structures will respond to a blast event, and improve finite element models for predicting the blast performance of concrete structures.Peer Reviewe

UnNIMAP,UPM terima anugerah penyelidik sains

Pensyarah universiti Malaysia Pedis (UniMAP) dan dua pensyarah Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) masing-masing menerima Anugerah Nasional Fellowship untuk Wanita Dalam Sains daripada L'Oreal Malaysia

Incorporating multiple intelligence into electronic teaching material in supports of usability aspect

This paper presents a part of an ongoing study on incorporating the Multiple Intelligence into learning materials for children.This study believes that incorporating the Multiple Intelligence theory into learning materials is able to add more values towards the usability aspects of learning materials.In accordance, this paper aims at describing an attempt in designing a learning material that incorporates the Multiple Intelligence.In particular, the aims of the paper are (1) to suggest on how the elements of Multiple Intelligence could be incorporated into learning materials and (2) to outline the design and development of a sample of learning material that incorporates the Multiple Intelligence.User-centered design (UCD)approach is used as part of the methods in the design process, which involves three stages: (1)requirement gathering, (2) prototype development,and (3) user testing. This study involves children and teachers at kindergartens. As the results, an initial design of the learning material that incorporates the Multiple Intelligence is obtained and discussed in this paper at length

An overview of biodiesel energy

Over the last ten years’ attention to biofuels production has increased dramatically and become crucial. One of the main factors is the rise in world oil prices, coupled with the abatement of greenhouse gas emissions and concerns about energy security. Biodiesel is diesel fuel extracted and made out of animal fats, vegetable oils, or recycled restaurant greases. It is harmless, biodegradable, and generate fewer air pollutants than conventional-based diesel. This paper will be summarized the overview of biodiesel including. competitiveness of biodiesel, ii. biodiesel production and iii. engine performance using biodiesel

Keberkesanan modul pengajaran ekosistem hutan tropika dalam meningkatkan pengetahuan dan sikap pelajar

Pengetahuan dan sikap pelajar terhadap alam sekitar merupakan satu isu yang diberikan penekanan pada masa kini. Berkaitan isu ini, Jabatan Alam Sekitar, dengan kerjasama beberapa pertubuhan bukan kerajaan, universiti tempatan dan syarikat swasta, telah membentuk tujuh modul pengajaran untuk kegunaan aktiviti Pendidikan Alam Sekitar di Kem-Kem Kesedaran Alam Sekitar di Malaysia. Sejak modul-modul ini mula digunakan pada tahun 1994, tiada sebarang penilaian telah dilakukan terhadap keberkesanannya. Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk menilai keberkesanan salah satu dari modul tersebut, iaitu, Modul Pengajaran Ekosistem Hutan Jabatan Alam Sekitar, dalam meningkatkan pengetahuan dan sikap pelajar terhadap ekosistem hutan tropika. Dalam kajian ini, reka bentuk eksperimen dengan pengukuran berulang telah digunakan. Ini melibatkan 240 orang subjek pelajar tingkatan empat daripada empat buah sekolah menengah yang mewakili empat buah negeri dari empat zon di Semenanjung Malaysia. Pemilihan dilakukan secara persampelan rawak mudah daripada senarai sekolah yang disediakan oleh Jabatan Alam Sekitar. Subjek dipadankan secara rawak kepada dua kumpulan iaitu kumpulan rawatan dan kumpulan kawalan. Kumpulan rawatan dinilai menggunakan ujian pra (sebelum modul digunakan), ujian pos pertama (sehari selepas modul digunakan) dan ujian pos kedua (satu bulan selepas modul digunakan). Kumpulan kawalan hanya dinilai mengunakan ujian pra dan ujian pos pertama sahaja. Setiap set ujian mengandungi 30 soalan pengetahuan pelbagai pilihan dan 30 pernyataan sikap skala lima Likert