Silver Nanoclusters And Nanofractals In Natural Rubber Matrix.

Silver nanocrystals were synthesized in natural rubber matrix via UV irradiation technique. A high intensity UV light with a wavelength below 300 nm was used to reduce the silver ions in the natural rubber matrix

Prevention of Nasal Mucosal Irritation in Patients Obtain Nasal Oxygen

Introduction: The provision of oxygen therapy is traditionally use a humidifier to moisten the oxygen and prevent irritation of the nasal mucosa. Recent research proves that the use of a maximum of 4 lpm nasal oxygen without using a humidifier (non humidifier) up to 8 hours does not cause irritation of the nasal mucosa and prevent colonization of bacteria in the humidifier. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of nasal oxygen administration using a non-humidifier more than 8 hours in the prevention of irritation of the nasal mucosa. Method: This study employed an analytic survey with cross-sectional study design. As many as 20 patients at inpatient wards of Port Health Center Hospital Surabaya were recruited as sample by means of consecutive sampling. Inclusion criteria was patients must not suffer from upper respiratory tract infection and do not suffer from impaired immunity. Independent variables were oxygen flow and long of oxygen therapy. Dependent variable was irritation of the nasal mucosa. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and tested with spearman rho correlation test. Result: The results showed that the use of oxygen up to 140 hours with 4 LPM had no effect on the nasal mucosa such as signs of irritation and complaints of discomfort in the nose area. Discussion: It can be concluded that the use of non-humidifier for a maximum of 140 hours with flow maximum of 4 lpm is effective in preventing irritation of the nasal mucosa. Further research on the effectiveness of non humidi fi ers in the elderly population and children under five years of age is needed

A noninvasive molecular approach: exploiting species-locus-specific PCR primers in defeating numts and DNA cross-contamination of cercopithecidae

The lack of a standardized, noninvasive molecular approach to studying genetic aspects of primates has made it hard for primatologists to decode the evolutionary history of these species. Researchers must optimize their own techniques to fully exploit the available samples. Lack of species-locus-specific primers also contributes to difficulties in using noninvasive genetic samples. Thus, the objectives of this study were to develop a standardized technique to collecting samples noninvasively, propose newly designed species-locus-specific primers, and optimize conditions for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Macaca fascicularis, M. nemestrina, Trachypithecus cristatus, and T. obscurus. Nine new species-locus-specific primers for three different loci of mitochondrial DNA, namely D-loop, cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), and cytochrome b, were successfully designed. These primers proved to be efficient in amplifying larger datasets (up to ~1,000 bp) of the targeted species in the optimized PCR conditions. The species-locus-specific primers are able to anneal to host DNA alone in highly contaminated feces of highlighted species. They can also offer alternatives measures in avoiding contamination related to nuclear insertion of mitochondrial pseudogenes (numts)

Electrical and Thermal Behavior of Copper-Epoxy Nanocomposites Prepared via Aqueous to Organic Phase Transfer Technique

The preparation, electrical, and thermal behaviors of copper-epoxy nanocomposites are described. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide- (CTAB-) stabilized copper (Cu) particles were synthesized via phase transfer technique. Isopropanol (IPA), sodium borohydride (NaBH4), and toluene solution of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) were used as transferring, reducing agent, and the organic phase, respectively. The UV-Vis absorbance spectra of all the sols prepared indicate that the presence of Cu particles with the particles transfer efficiency is ≥97%. The amount, size, and size distribution of particles in the organosol were dependent on the content of organic solute in the organosol. The composites were obtained upon drying the organosols and these were then subjected to further studies on the curing, thermal, and electrical characteristic. The presence of Cu fillers does not significantly affect the completeness of the composite curing process and only slightly reduce the thermal stability of the composites that is >300◦C. The highest conductivity value of the composites obtained is 3.06 × 10−2 S cm−1

Antiproliferative activity of five garcinia species collected in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo against estrogen receptor-human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) cell line

Garcinia species are well-known for their unique properties of having natural secondary metabolite compounds called xanthone as well as their ethnomedicinal values such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. The study was conducted to investigate the antiproliferative activity of peel, flesh and seed extracts of G. dulcis, G. parvifolia, G. nitida, G. mangostana var. mangosta and G. cambogia collected from Malaysian Borneo (Sabah) against estrogen receptor-positive human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) cells. The antiproliferative activity was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The results showed that G. dulcis seed induced strongest antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 cancer cell line with the IC50 value of 2.5±0.0 μg/ml, followed by G. dulcis flesh, G. mangostana var. mangostana peel and G. dulcis peel with IC50 values of 9.33 ± 3.21, 11.17 ± 1.04 and 17.67 ± 2.08 μg/ml, respectively. Meanwhile, the IC50 value for G. cambogia peel was 56.67 ± 10.5 μg/ml. No IC50 value was detected in all parts of G. parvifolia and G. nitida at concentration tested (<100 μg/ml). Overall, this study clearly showed that the whole fruit of G. dulcis displayed potent cytotoxic effect by inducing antiproliferative activity at low concentration. Further studies are needed in the future to develop this fruit as pharmaceutical and nutraceutical product for the treatment and prevention against cancer

Using Media Independent Handover to Support PMIPv6 Inter-domain Mobility Based Vehicular Networks

Proxy Mobile IPv6 (PMIPv6) was proposed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) as a new network-based mobility protocol which does not require the involvement of MN’s in any form of mobility management. MN can handover relatively faster in PMIPv6 than in host-based mobility protocols (e.g. Mobile IPv6 (MIPv6)) because it actively uses link-layer attachment information which reduces the movement detection time, and eliminates duplicate address detection procedures. However, the current PMIPv6 cannot provide continuous mobility support for MN when roaming between different PMIPv6 domains; we introduce a novel inter-domain PMIPv6 scheme to support seamless handover for vehicle in motion to support continuous and seamless connection while roaming in the new PMIPv6 domain. In this paper we analytically evaluate our proposed scheme to support inter-domain mobility for vehicle roaming between two PMIPv6 domains by using Media Independent Handover (MIH) and Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) to support the handover in addition to a continuous connection

Membrane electrode assembly with high efficiency and stability: effect of solvent type and membrane composition

Membrane electrode assembly (MEA) method is being widely considered in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) preparation. This work describes for the first time how PEMFC performance can be enhanced, while using relatively low temperature processing for the MEA, by choosing the suitable solvent and suitable ionomer (nafion) content. Three dispersion solvents (water, ethylene glycol and ethanol) have been examined here, and ethanol (with lowest boiling point) showed best PEMFC performance. In addition to its non-hazardous nature, the low boiling point ethanol allowed manufacturing the working membrane at 130°C or lower besides using a safe solvent to use. In each solvent system, different nafion concentrations were used (10%, 20% and 30%). The 30% nafion concentration in ethanol showed highest performance (Open circuit potential of 0.88 V and output working potential of 0.67 V at 20 mA/cm2 current density) among the series. The anode and cathode, of the MEA, were both fabricated using same catalyst material (Platinum) and same nafion sheet thickness (50 μm). The spray method was employed. The electrochemical performance for the prepared MEA fuel cells was assessed by linear sweep voltammetry to evaluate the open circuit voltage

Flexural Strength of Interlocking Compressed Earth Brick (ICEB) Unit

This paper presents the flexural strength of the ICEB unit. The flexural strength is important in determining the strength of the masonry unit. About 260 units of ICEB consist three type of unit were tested on flatwise (bed direction) and inverted direction, with the different shape at the top and bottom of the ICEB. The unit was loaded at midspan through a steel bearing plate of 6.4 mm thickness and 38.1 mm width. Specimens were supported at both ends which are free to rotate in the longitudinal and transverse directions during the test. The highest flexural strength of ICEB is Wall Brick for both flatwise and inverted direction which is 2.36 N/mm2 and 2.15 N/mm2, respectively. For flatwise direction, Beam Brick has the lowest flexural strength which is 1.55 N/mm2, and in inverted direction Column Brick flexural strength is lower than Beam Brick which is 1.65 N/mm2. ICEB can be used in construction and has the equal properties as other common brick and block at the market nowadays

Detection and quantification of probiotic bacteria using optimized DNA extraction, traditional and real-time PCR methods in complex microbial communities

The aim of this study is to optimize molecular detection and quantification methods of probiotic bacteria in complex microbial communities that have long been difficult for traditional culture-based methods. Traditional and real-time PCR were optimized to detect and quantify Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. in complex microbial community. Fish and shrimp sauce were used as a model for complex microbial community. Directly form samples, 4 DNA extraction methods, primers specificity, PCR, and real-time PCR procedures were optimized, tested in comparison with samples, enriched bacteria and related standard bacterial strains, E. coli, Bacteroides, Enterococcus and Salmonella. Results showed that extracted genomic DNA using Wizard&#174; Genomic DNA Purification Kit showed the highest yield, quality and performance. Moreover, the specificity of the primer set specific for Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. was checked and found highly specific. The sensitivity of real-time PCR was higher than the conventional PCR and its quantifying potential is very precise for the detection and quantification of Lactobacillus spp. but not Bifidobacterium spp. which was absent in the tested samples. In conclusion, PCR and real-time PCR assays could be used very efficiently in quantifying and detecting Lactobacillus spp. that are present in very PCR-suppressive and complex microbial environment