Analysis of Physiochemical Parameters to Evaluate the Drinking Water Quality in the State of Perak, Malaysia

YesThe drinking water quality was investigated in suspected parts of Perak state, Malaysia, to ensure the continuous supply of clean and safe drinking water for the public health protection. In this regard, a detailed physical and chemical analysis of drinking water samples was carried out in different residential and commercial areas of the state. A number of parameters such as pH, turbidity, conductivity, total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), and heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, Mg, Fe, Cd, Pb, Cr, As, Hg, and Sn were analysed for each water sample collected during winter and summer periods. The obtained values of each parameter were compared with the standard values set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and local standards such as National Drinking Water Quality Standard (NDWQS). The values of each parameter were found to be within the safe limits set by the WHO and NDWQS. Overall, the water from all the locations was found to be safe as drinking water. However, it is also important to investigate other potential water contaminations such as chemicals and microbial and radiological materials for a longer period of time, including human body fluids, in order to assess the overall water quality of Perak state

Current status of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) of farmed shrimp in Malaysia

A report about a disease problem in cultured whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) was first received by the National Fish Health Research Center (NaFisH) in 2011 from Perak State showing signs of white feces and slow death leading to serious mortality rate. Later, in September of the same year, the Malaysian Shrimp Farmers Association (MSFA) reported to Department of Fisheries (DOF) severe mortalities in almost all of the whiteleg shrimp farms throughout Peninsular Malaysia. Sampling of shrimps for disease diagnosis was then conducted by NaFisH. The bacteriological and histopathological examinations revealed respectively the isolation of V. parahemolyticus and massive sloughing of hepatopancreatic epithelial cells. The disease was subsequently identified as acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND). From our 3-year study, the annual prevalence rates of AHPND were 50%, 26% and 73% in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. At present, AHPND still persists in Malaysia but at a lower prevalence. The risk factors associated with the disease were studied, however, varied environmental and management data analyzed were inconclusive to relate any one parameter directly to the disease. To help ensure the early detection of AHPND, an experimental observation study on `gut scorecard was carried out and this was confirmed by PCR and histopathology. Validation of this technique has yet to be carried out to ensure its reliability. We also examined the potential use of some commercial products such as probiotics and disinfectants available in the market but unfortunately results showed that they were not effective in controlling AHPND. Control measures applied by the farmers such as the use of probiotics were also verified but data generated likewise appeared to be inconclusive. On the contrary, our preliminary study on the antibacterial property of the plant extracts, i.e. betel and lemongrass, incorporated in the feed showed some prophylactic and chemotherapeutic potential against AHPND. However, comprehensive in vitro and in vivo trials are still currently being undertaken to elucidate its efficacy and practical applications. To ensure the shrimp industry s sustainability in Malaysia, results of our ongoing and future studies aimed at preventing and controlling unwarranted outbreaks of AHPND and other emerging transboundary diseases of penaeid shrimps will be continually disseminated to shrimp farmers and pertinent stakeholders

Particle swarm algorithm sliding mode control on spacecraft’s attitude with switching function method thorough error feedback

Small spacecraft requires capable processors with energy efficiency, low cost and low computational burden while maintaining the output tracking accuracy. This paper presents the extension of work in [1], to enhance the transient performance using particle swarm optimization (PSO) on decaying boundary layer and switching function thorough error feedback (DBLSF) in Sliding Mode Control (SMC). Generally, SMC is known for having chattering as the main drawback which can introduce wear and tear to moving mechanical parts. As a solution, a DBLSF proposed in [1] and capable of eliminating the chattering in SMC while considering the essential requirements for small spacecraft operation. Then, the extension implemented on spacecraft's attitude, which is one-of-six subsystems in spacecraft, used to orient the spacecraft referred to reference objects and control the dynamics of a spacecraft time-to-time according to the needs. However, the SMC's transient response can be tuned using some coefficients in the SMC algorithm. The parameters in [1] were tuned using outputs observation technique. In this paper, then, an improvement is introduced to optimize the outputs by adding a PSO in the SMC-DBLSF in term of transient performances and accuracy while reducing the chattering permanently

The Effectiveness of Emergency Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Patients with Severe Acute Cholangitis

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency, indications, yield and outcome of emergent endoscopy retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in severe acute cholangitis patients. Method: Records of all cholangitis patients undergoing ERCP were reviewed over a six months period. Indications, findings, therapeutic interventions and survival were analyzed. Indications for urgent drainage were temperature greater than 38ºC, increasing abdominal pain, jaundice and any organ involvement. Results: Of 80 ERCPs, 19 (23.75%) were severe acute cholangitis patients underwent emergency ERCP. The common bile duct was the duct of interest in all patients and was cannulated in 100%. The most common findings were choledocholithiasis (42.1%) and pancreatic head cancer (42.1%), followed by cholangiocarcinoma (10.5%) and papil vater carcinoma (5.3%). There were 12 (63.2%) septic shock patients with systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg and heart rate greater than 90 beats/minute who required inotropic drugs. Endoscopic biliary drainage was performed using 8.5 F biliary stent (73.7%) or common bile duct (CDB) stones removal (26.3%). The overall 30 days mortality was 0. Conclusion: Emergency ERCP in severe acute cholangitis is associated with improvement of clinical and some laboratory parameters without a complication of acute pancreatitis. In cases of chIoledocholithiasis, it can be performed with stone extraction as well as stent insertio

Analisis Keputusan Pembelian Ayam KUB dalam Memenuhi Kebutuhan Upacara Adat dan Agama di Provinsi Bali

Ayam Kampung Unggul Balitbangtan (KUB) dimanfaatkan sebagai sumber protein dan sebagai bahan upakara adat dan keagamaan di Provinsi Bali. Penelitian bertujuan untuk menganalisis keputusan pembelian ayam KUB dalam memenuhi kebutuhan upacara adat dan agama di Provinsi Bali. Responden penelitian berjumlah 179, terdiri dari 89 konsumen rumah tangga serta 90 pedagang caru dan banten yang ditentukan dengan metode multi stage sampling. Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui survei menggunakan kuesioner. Data yang terkumpul dianalisis secara deskriptif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ayam dengan jumlah permintaan konsumen rumah tangga tertinggi adalah ayam brumbun (76,40%), putih (10,11%), hitam (8,99%), biing (1,12), dan warna lainnya (1,12%). Keputusan pembelian sebagian besar ditentukan berdasarkan spesifikasi warna (65,17%) dan jenis ayam (33,71%). Sedangkan lokasi, harga, dan pelayanan tidak menjadi pertimbangan utama konsumen dalam mengambil keputusan pembelian. Tingginya permintaan ayam KUB warna brumbun berdampak pada kelangkaan dan sulitnya pedagang memenuhi permintaan dengan nilai lebih dari 45%. Kesimpulannya, usaha peternakan ayam KUB dengan spesifikasi warna berpotensi untuk dikembangkan karena permintaan ayam KUB akan tetap ada untuk memenuhi kebutuhan upacara adat dan agama di Provinsi Bali. Perlu adanya upaya untuk menumbuhkan minat usaha peternak memelihara ayam KUB berdasarkan spesifikasi warna untuk mengatasi kelangkaan ayam KUB khususnya di Provinsi Bali

Why has not it worked? An empirical application of the extended Burns and Scapens' framework within the implementation of a controlling department

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to understand the implementation of a controlling department within Bogt and Scapens' framework (2014) as an empirical observation mechanism towards investigating rationalities that prevented its implementation. This study was conducted in a quite successful 63-year old company in the South of Brazil. We hope these results promote practical insight to those interested in supporting changes within this field of organizational environment. There had been two main reasons leading to such work: a lack of equivalent study in the scholarly literature as well as empirical application of Burns and Scapens' framework (2000) reorganized by Bogt and Scapens (2014). Bogt and Scapens (2014), inspired by different logics (Bogt & Scapens, 2012) and in order to revaluate their original framework (2000), suggest the introduction of a fairly important term: rationality. This new element shows the deliberate action from the organizational player - his/her way of thinking. However, even with the introduction of rationales within the model by Bogt and Scapens (2014), rules and routines remain as important elements so that actions take shape. Used methodology consists of an interpretational case study with document analysis, direct observation, and application of semi-structured interviews. Through the interviews and discussions with individuals involved in the study, it can be observed that some rationality resulted in conflicts. Different rationales and the culture of the individual and the organization are relevant aspects observed in the speeches analyzed; all may be factors, which led to the gap within the process of implementation of controlling department in the organization. In addition, time factors suggested in the extended Bogt and Scapens' (2014) framework is of utmost importance for changes must occur gradually

Distance-Based and Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks

A wireless sensor network (WSN) comprises small sensor nodes with limited energy capabilities. The power constraints of WSNs necessitate efficient energy utilization to extend the overall network lifetime of these networks. We propose a distance-based and low-energy adaptive clustering (DISCPLN) protocol to streamline the green issue of efficient energy utilization in WSNs. We also enhance our proposed protocol into the multi-hop-DISCPLN protocol to increase the lifetime of the network in terms of high throughput with minimum delay time and packet loss. We also propose the mobile-DISCPLN protocol to maintain the stability of the network. The modelling and comparison of these protocols with their corresponding benchmarks exhibit promising results

Predicting survival of de novo metastatic breast cancer in Asian women: Systematic review and validation study

10.1371/journal.pone.0093755PLoS ONE94-POLN