Gray matter structural correlates of fatigue in multiple sclerosis

We aimed to assess whether frontal cortex-striatum-thalamus (FCST) pathway or other grey matter (GM) structures are associated with longitudinal patterns of fatigue, namely reversible (RF) versus sustained fatigue (SF). MS patients enrolled in our prospective cohort were grouped based on their longitudinal Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) scores: 1. SF: MFIS≥38 at the two most recent yearly assessments; 2. RF: MFIS<38 at last assessment, but presence of at least one previous MFIS≥38; 3. Never Fatigued (NF): at least five MFIS<38. Accordingly, we selected 98 patients (30 SF, 31 RF, 37 NF; age-range:29-66, female/male:76/22, Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS)6; 13 patients with secondary progressive (SP) MS and 85 with relapsing remitting (RR) MS in remission). Disability and depression were assessed using the EDSS and CES-D, respectively. 3T T1-weighted MRI was used for voxel based morphometry (VBM) to survey for GM atrophy associated with fatigue, controlling for age, sex and EDSS. Group-wise volumetric comparison was performed on deep GM structures identified by VBM, controlling for age, sex, EDSS and CES-D score. VBM showed significant inverse relation between the MFIS cognitive subscale score and areas within the bilateral fronto-medial and fronto-orbital cortices, anterior striata, thalami, temporal poles, insulae and left lateral occipital cortex (peak FWE-p value of 0.021), and between the MFIS physical subscale and areas within the bilateral frontal poles, and frontal medial cortices (peak FWE-p value of 0.043). Volumetric analysis showed significant atrophy in the putamen (RF<NF p<0.0004; SF<NF p<0.0085) and thalamus (RF<NF p<0.00048)

Empowering human resources of organizations based on social investment strategies

Employee empowerment is an essential tool of management that can be used to direct human resources to increase productivity. This article, with a practical approach toward the concept of employee's empowerment, is focused on investigation of the effective factors on empowerment. Employee's empowerment is one of the effective tools in increasing employee productivity and optimum use of their individual and collective capabilities and capacities in line with organizational goals. Nowadays, organizations affected by factors such as increase in global competition, sudden transformations, the need for quality and after-sales service, limited resources, and ... are under a lot of pressure. After years of experience, the whole world has come to the conclusion that if an organization wants to be at the cutting edge in its professional and financial affairs and does not left behind in competitive arena, should benefit creative and highly motivated manpower. Human resources make up the basis of real wealth of an organization. The concept of social capital is considered as a resource that individuals, groups and communities may use to achieve optimum results. Thus, social capital is the social relationships' heritage and facilitates collective action. In what follows, we will mention to the importance and necessity of employees empowerment in organizations and the achievements aroused out of empowerment in organizations and the barriers to implementing empowerment. Finally the concepts and factors of social capital, their role and effect on empowering human resources in line with organizational activities are analyzed

MELIHAT SISTEM PEREKONOMIAN INDONESIA DENGAN PERSPEKTIF ISLAM

The economic system is the process provide income to people's lives, both in the long term and short term. What is wrong with the economic system of Indonesia? Is the government does not pay attention to the public? In theory an economic system that consists of a capitalist, socialist and Islamic system. In its application in Indonesian economic system over the capitalist system tends to apply. Judging from policies issued sometimes more aligned to the owners of capital. Sources of more production controlled by private parties and foreign parties, so that the uneven distribution of income

Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Solid Wastes Disposed at Taman Beringin Landfill, Kuala Lumpur

At present, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (KLCH) is facing problems in the disposal of their solid wastes due to the rapid increase in the amount generated as a result of rapid urbanisation. Existing landfill site at Taman Beringin is already exhausted and should be closed at any time. Due to this problem, there is a move to treat the solid wastes by thermal treatment technologies. Data on the characteristics of the solid waste is lacking and not reliable for the evaluation of these technologies. In addition, models for estimating the heating value based on the characteristics of Kuala Lumpur wastes are not available. This study was carried out to determine the characteristics and consequently develop the models for estimating the heating value of the Kuala Lumpur solid wastes. The study analyses and evaluates the physical and chemical characteristics of Kuala Lumpur solid wastes. The study was conducted at Taman Beringin Landfill from Mac 2000 to Jun 2000. A total of 26 samples were obtained from various sources including residential, commercial, institutional, cleansing and light industrial wastes. The truckload method was used for the sampling and characterising the physical components of wastes. The proximate and ultimate analysis of the wastes were also carried out

Kinetic Modeling of Hydrodeoxygenation of Methyl Oleate over Solid Catalysts to Green Diesel from First Principles

This dissertation covers the activities and findings of Final Year Project (FYP) I & II. FYP I activities are mainly on the literature research, elucidation of reaction mechanisms and development of kinetic models. FYP II on the other hands is actually the continuation of the FYP I activities. In clear picture, FYP II covers the simulation of the developed kinetic models using MATLAB software, graphing and tabulation of results and finally, the analysis of the findings. The analysis is concluded based on the related research papers that had been produced by many scholars. Current development of green diesel production was focusing on the triglycerides as the feedstock. There is no study on the green diesel production using monoglyceride. Because of that, the intent of this paper is to study the trend and variat ion of optimal operating temperature and initial hydrogen pressure at which reaction route can efficiently hydroconvert methyl oleate, an example of monoglyceride. The research provides insights for future optimal operation and industrial scaling by using monoglyceride as the feedstock to produce green diesel. The parameters to be identified at the end of the project are methyl oleate conversion, selectivity towards formation of through hydrodeoxygenation reaction (to suppress decarboxylation and decarbonylation), yield for all of the components involved in the conversion, optimum temperature and optimum pressure within 2 hours reaction time. The project has undergone few stages to achieve the objectives. The stages involved are literature study, elucidation of reaction mechanisms, derivation of rate expressions, pre-exponential factors calculations, reactor model development from first principles and finally, simulation of the model equations using MATLAB software. Overall, the project has achieved all of the objectives, with optimum operating temperature of 270 ⁰C, pressure of 50 bar in 2 hours reaction time, for 100 % maximum methyl oleate conversion forming 79 mol% of maximum octadecane yield