Effect of extraction solvents and drying conditions on total phenolic content and antioxidant properties of watermelon rind powder

The objective of the present study was to determine the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant properties, i.e. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) assay, of red- and yellow-fleshed watermelon rind powders prepared using different drying conditions (hot-air oven drying at 40 and 60°C and freeze drying). All the samples were subjected to four different solvent extract using water, methanol, ethanol and acetone prior analyses. Water extract from red- and yellow-fleshed watermelon rind powders presented highest value for TPC and TFC. However, methanol extract samples showed highest value for antioxidant properties (DPPH and FRAP) followed by acetone, ethanol and water extract. By comparing the drying conditions, all samples dried using hot-air dryer at 40 and 60°C had significantly higher (p<0.05) in TPC value than the samples dried using freeze dryer. However, samples dried using freeze dryer showed highest in DPPH and FRAP values. The present obtained results would be useful to the food and pharmaceutical industries for developing of functional ingredients

Kajian Penandaarasan Bidang Tumpuan Utama Dalam Pembangunan Strategi Sebuah Zoo Di Malaysia (Benchmarking Study on Key Focus Area in Strategy Development of a Zoo in Malaysia)

Strategic management is very important in ensuring the continuity and sustainability of an organization, especially business organizations. Similarly, to ensure the survival of an organization such as a zoo which is largely of its financial resources depends on the sustainability of business operations. This article discusses about a study conducted to identify the key of focus areas in developing the best strategy for Zoo Negara, one of the zoo in Malaysia. A Benchmarking study was conducted to identify the key of focus areas and practices adopted by leading zoos from States of America, Australia, and Canada. A field study was also conducted at three zoos in Thailand to make a comparative and well-known focus area. The findings show that there are six main focus areas that need to be emphasized in ensuring Zoo Negaras performance. This study has practical implications for zoo management to develop appropriate strategies

Baseline Central Visual Field Defect as a Risk Factor For NTG Progression

Precis:This 5-year follow-up study on normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients demonstrated that those with baseline central visual field (VF) defect progress at a more increased rate compared with those with peripheral field defect.Purpose:The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics, including 24-hour ocular perfusion pressure and risk of progression in patients with baseline central VF defect, as compared with those with peripheral VF defect in NTG.Design:This was a prospective, longitudinal study.Methods:A total of 65 NTG patients who completed 5 years of follow-up were included in this study. All the enrolled patients underwent baseline 24-hour intraocular pressure and blood pressure monitoring via 2-hourly measurements in their habitual position and had ≥5 reliable VF tests during the 5-year follow-up. Patients were assigned to two groups on the basis of VF defect locations at baseline, the central 10 degrees, and the peripheral 10-to 24-degree area. Modified Anderson criteria were used to assess global VF progression over 5 years. Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to compare the elapsed time of confirmed VF progression in the two groups. Hazard ratios for the association between clinical risk factors and VF progression were obtained by using Cox proportional hazards models.Results:There were no significant differences between the patients with baseline central and peripheral VF defects in terms of demography, clinical, ocular and systemic hemodynamic factors. Eyes with baseline defects involving the central fields progressed faster (difference: central=-0.78 dB/y, 95% confidence interval=-0.22 to-1.33, P=0.007) and have 3.56 times higher hazard of progressing (95% confidence interval=1.17-10.82, P=0.025) than those with only peripheral defects.Conclusion:NTG patients with baseline central VF involvement are at increased risk of progression compared with those with peripheral VF defect. © 2019 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved

Stabilizing high-humidity perovskite solar cells with MoS2 hybrid HTL

Abstract The obstacle to the industrialization of perovskite solar cells (PSC) technology lies in their stability. This work rationalizes the PSC design with the employment of 2D-MoS2 as the hybrid hole transport layer (HTL). MoS2 was selected due to its unique optoelectronic and mechanical properties that could enhance hole extraction and thus boost the performance and stability of PSC devices. Five concentrations indicated MoS2 nanosheets were directly deposited onto the perovskite layer via the facile spin coating method. The electrochemical exfoliation and liquid exchange methods were demonstrated to obtain the lateral size of MoS2 nanosheets and further discussed their microscopic and spectroscopic characterizations. Remarkably, the optimum thickness and the excellent device increased the stability of the PSC, allowing it to maintain 45% of its degradation percentage ( $$\frac{\Delta PCE}{PCE}$$ Δ P C E PCE ) for 120 h with high relative humidity (RH = 40–50%) in its vicinity. We observed that lithium-ion can intercalate into the layered MoS2 structure and reduce the interfacial resistance of perovskite and the HTL. Most importantly, the 2D-MoS2 mechanism’s effect on enabling stable and efficient devices by reducing lithium-ion migration in the HTL is demonstrated in this work to validate the great potential of this hybrid structure in PSC applications

Knowledge, attitude and practice on hygiene of Kampung Sungai Karang Darat residents and its related factors November 2003

Introduction: A cross-sectional study was conducted in September 2003 to evaluate the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) level on hygiene of Kampung Sungai Karang Darat residents and its related factors. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study conducted by a group of year four medical students 2003/2004 from Community Health and Family Medicine posting, Kulliyyah of Medicine, IIUM. Data collection methods included observations and interview-guided questionnaires. Out of the total number of 2620 residents, 304 people aged 18 and above from 200 houses which were randomly selected from 600 houses in that village were surveyed on the KAP of hygiene. We then determined the factors that affect the KAP level, and how it in turn influenced the health status of the respondents, particularly their susceptibility towards hygiene-related diseases. Result: From the statistical analysis, it was found that the mean KAP score of the respondents was 26.42+4.15, on a scale that ranged from 0 to 39 with the lowest KAP score of 14 and the highest KAP score of 36. It was then found that the higher the age of the respondents, the lower the KAP score (p<0.001). Higher socioeconomic status was associated with higher KAP score (occupation (p=0.007), academic level (p<0.001), and income per capita (p<0.001)). Malaysians of non-Pahang origin also had higher KAP score compared to residents of Pahang origin (p<0.001). People living in modern houses had a higher KAP value than those living in traditional houses (p<0.001). Housing quality also had effect on the KAP score (r=+0.665). However, the KAP level was not significantly related to gender difference (p=0.162). Personal hygiene had the lowest mean KAP score, followed by domestic hygiene and then community hygiene. Meanwhile, the highest mean low KAP score were found to have no significant preponderance towards hygiene-related diseases (p=0.409) Conclusion: Overall, the KAP level on hygiene of residents of Kampung Sungai Karang Darat was at a satisfactory level