Analysis of tumor growth and immune system interaction model

Immune system plays a vital role in controlling the tumor growth. Therefore, this paper proposes a new mathematical model that describes tumor-immune interaction, focusing on the role of natural killer (NK) cell and CD8+ T cell. The tumor population is subdivided into two different phases, namely interphase and mitosis. This model used Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) and the functions involved in the model represents tumor-immune growth, responses and interaction between the cells. The stability and analysis of the model are carried out. From the analysis, it shown that the stability curve limits tumor growth region. The curve from the model lie below the curve of the model with single immune response (CD8+ T cell). This result concluded that the proposed model with involvement of NK cell suppression will lower the tumor growth region

Strategic Capabilities And Export Performance Of Manufacturing Smes In Malaysia: The Impacts Of Individual, Firm And Industry Level Factors

Research on export performance among SMEs in Malaysia has become more significant nowadays as export is a major source of income for most countries. It is important for SMEs especially those in emerging countries like Malaysia to look into and put their efforts to strategize their capabilities to respond to the global competition and business opportunities in enhancing their export performance. Specifically, the study attempts to examine the impacts of individual level factor, firm level factors and industrial level factors towards strategic capabilities in enhancing the export performance. While considering strategic capabilities as having significant impact on export performance, this study also examines the role of government export assistance as moderator whether it strengthening the relationship between strategic capabilities and export performance. Drawing upon the combination of Resource-Based View Theory (RBV), Dynamic Capability Theory and Internationalization Theory, a conceptual framework is developed for further investigation. A quantitative approach was employed in this study and a total of 187 responses from SME exporters were received and further analyzed using Partial Least Squares (PLS) technique. The results demonstrated that; Export-Market Oriented (EMO) has no significant impact on strategic capabilities, while intellectual capital and environmental conditions partially have positive and significant impacts on some elements of strategic capabilities. Strategic capabilities in terms of innovation and technology have positive and significant impacts on export performance and government export assistance in the form of access to financing strengthens the relationship between strategic capabilities (marketing capability and innovation capability) and export performance. The findings also provide invaluable implications to both theory and practice

Faktor Risiko Jenayah Pecah Rumah dan Impak Kepada Kesejahteraan Hidup Masyarakat

Jenayah pecah rumah merupakan suatu jenayah harta benda yang kerap terjadi dan jenayah ini sering kali dilaporkan berbanding jenayah kekerasan di Malaysia. Kegagalan melakukan pencegahan jenayah dalam mengawal permasalahan jenayah pecah rumah akan memberikan kesan kepada kesejahteraan masyarakat Malaysia. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk membincangkan mengenai faktor risiko jenayah pecah rumah dan impaknya terhadap kesejahteraan masyarakat. Kaedah kajian yang digunakan adalah berdasarkan kepada penelitian terhadap kajian-kajian lepas. Oleh itu, penelitian kajian lepas bagi faktor-faktor yang menyebabkan berlakunya jenayah pecah rumah serta impaknya terhadap kesejahteraan akan dibincangkan. Faktor kurangnya kawalan keselamatan, pemantauan pihak berkuasa PDRM dan Rukun Tetangga, serta sasaran penjenayah antara sebab berlakunya jenayah pecah rumah. Kesimpulannya, faktor-faktor berkenaan haruslah dititikberatkan supaya dapat mencegah daripada berlakunya jenayah pecah rumah. Artikel ini juga diharapkan dapat membantu pihak bertanggungjawab dalam merancang langkah pencegahan jenayah pecah rumah bagi menjamin kesejahteraan masyarakat

The effectiveness of diphenyltin (IV) and triphenyltin (IV) alkylphenyldithiocarbamate compounds as insecticide against aedes aegypti LINN. (Diptera: Culicidae) in laboratory

The development of using insecticide of organotin(IV) compound against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have been explored and test the effectiveness of compound to prevent resistance insecticide. The aim of this research was to examine the insecticidal effect which is larvisidal and adulticidal effect two series of diphenyltin(IV) and triphenyltin(IV) alkylphenyldithiocarbamate compounds against Ae. aegypti in laboratory. Four compounds which diphenyltin(IV) ethylphenylditiocarbamate (DFEF), triphenyltin(IV) ethylphenylditiocarbamate (TFEF), diphenyltin(IV) butylphenylditiocarbamate (DFBF) and triphenyltin(IV) butylphenylditiocarbamate(DFBF) were carried out larvicidal bioassay testing against third instar larvae of Aedes aegypti. Based on activity of larvicidal testing, further study was continued to compound WHO showed the best activity larvicidal to test adulticide effect against female mosquito adults of Aedes aegypti. The results showed that TFEF compound showed the best larvicidal effect with LC50 and LC90 values of 0.082 ppm and 0.184 ppm, respectively. Therefore, TFBF compound showed a good larvicide effect with LC50 and LC90 values of 0.108 ppm and 0.273 ppm respectively. However, both of two compounds DFEF and DFBF were not a good of larvicide effect. Based on adultisial testing, TFEF compound not showed good activity of adulticidal effect with high LC50 and LC90 values which is 31,556.03 ppm and 98,427.05 ppm respectively. TFEF compound not show the good adulticide effect but it has potential to develop as larvicide. In conclusion, further study was needed to elucidate and ensure this compound will be used safely as larvicide

Pencegahan Jenayah Pecah Rumah Bagi Menjamin Keselamatan Masyarakat: Suatu Pemerhatian Awal

Permasalahan jenayah pecah rumah merupakan suatu permasalahan sosial yang memberikan kesan kepada keselamatan masyarakat. Jenayah pecah rumah ini merupakan suatu jenayah harta benda yang sering terjadi dan jenayah ini kerap dilaporkan berbanding jenayah kekerasan di Malaysia. Amalan pencegahan jenayah perlu dilaksanakan dalam mengawal permasalahan jenayah pecah rumah supaya dapat menjamin keselamatan masyarakat Malaysia. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk membincangkan mengenai langkah-langkah pencegahan jenayah pecah rumah bagi menjamin keselamatan masyarakat. Kaedah kajian yang digunakan adalah berdasarkan kepada penelitian terhadap kajian-kajian lepas. Oleh itu, penelitian kajian lepas bagi langkah-langkah pencegahan jenayah pecah rumah akan dibincangkan. Langkah pencegahan seperti pemantauan pihak berkuasa PDRM, pengawasan komuniti, meningkatkan ciri-ciri keselamatan dan pemilihan komuniti berpagar merupakan amalan pencegahan yang dapat mengurangkan risiko jenayah pecah rumah berlaku. Kesimpulannya, langkah-langkah pencegahan berkenaan haruslah dititikberatkan supaya dapat mencegah daripada berlakunya jenayah pecah rumah. Artikel ini juga diharapkan dapat membantu pihak bertanggungjawab dalam melaksanakan pencegahan jenayah pecah rumah bagi menjamin keselamatan dan kesejahteraan masyarakat

Carbon stock estimation of agroforestry system in Tawau, Sabah

Studies on total aboveground carbon (TAC) and belowground carbon (TBC) stock has been conducted in Balung Plantation, Tawau, Sabah. The main objective of the study was to determine the above and below ground carbon stock in agroforestry system. The combination of agroforestry systems with different ages were investigated, which is oil palm (25 years) and agarwood (7 years), oil palm (20 years) and agarwood (7 years), and oil palm (17 years) and agarwood (5 years). Monoculture of oil palm (16 years) and Tawau Hill Park forest reserve was set as control. A random systematic sampling method was used in conducting field inventory and soil sampling. The size of the sampled area in agroforestry and monoculture is 3 × 50m × 50m, while for forest reserve, the sampled area is 3 x 30m x 30m. Allometric equations were used to calculate the stand biomass. Sampling for organic and shrub layers were collected in a square frame (1m × 1m). Soil samples and bulk density was collected from three different layers which are 0 – 5 cm, 5 – 10 cm and 10 – 30 cm in randomly located sites within the plots. Soil samples, organic and shrub layer were analyzed using CHN628 series for carbon content. Result shows that the amount of total carbon stock in agroforestry was 79.12 tan C ha-1, 85.39 tan C ha-1 and 78.27 tan C ha-1, respectively. Monoculture of oil palm (16 years) has 76.44 tan C ha-1 while Tawau Hill Park forest reserve has total carbon stock at 287.38 tan C ha-1. Forest reserve stand has the highest total carbon stock compared to agroforestry and monoculture systems. But, in terms of soil carbon, forest reserve has the lowest TBC compared to agroforestry and monoculture systems. ANOVA was conducted to explore the impact of planting systems on total carbon stock. There was a statistically significant difference at the p < .05 level for soil carbon, living tree and organic layer between agroforestry, monoculture and forest reserve. Good crop and fertilizer management in agroforestry and monoculture systems helps in increasing soil organic carbon (SOC)

Aboveground carbon stock potential of teak (tectona grandis) under different land use system in Balung plantation, Tawau Sabah

Assessment of aboveground carbon stock in different teak plantation systems was conducted in Balung River Plantation, Tawau, Sabah. The objective of this study is to determine the potential of teak as the main tree components to increase the above ground carbon stock in different land use system. The above ground carbon stock of agroforestry and mixed plantation system of teak (Tectona grandis) were compared with natural forest and monoculture plantation of the species. The agroforestry combinations investigated are agroforestry system 1, teak (18 years) with snake fruit (8 years) and agarwood (8 years); agroforestry system 2, teak (17 years) with coffee (14 years); and also mixed timber plantation system, teak (18 years) with agarwood (8 years); while 20 years teak monoculture plantation and natural forest reserve was set up as a control. A random systematic sampling method was used in conducting field inventory. The methodologies used include the measurement of height and diameter breast height (DBH) of trees within a 50 m x 50 m plot dimension (for plantation) and 30 m x 30 m (forest). Allometric equations were used to derive the field measured attributes into stand biomass while carbon stock was estimated as 50 percent from the total biomass. The result shows the accumulation of carbon stock goes in the following order: forest reserve (213.84 t C/ha) > mixed timber plantation (69.94 t C ha-1 ) > agroforestry system 2 (37.75 t C/ha) > agroforestry system 1 (37.34 t C/ha) > teak monoculture (34.53 t C/ha) witnessing the teak trees to increase the total aboveground carbon stock in agroforestry and mixed timber plantation system by more than 60 percent. This study suggested that teak has great potential in transforming a low biomass land use into a carbon-rich tree based systems

Distinct coordination geometries in bis[N,N-bis(2-methoxyethyl)dithiocarbamato-κ2S,S′]diphenyltin(IV) and bis[N-(2-methoxyethyl)-N-methyldithiocarbamato-κ2S,S′]diphenyltin(IV): crystal structures and Hirshfeld surface analysis

The crystal and mol­ecular structures of two di­phenyl­tin bis­(di­thio­carbamate)s, [Sn(C6H5)2(C5H10NOS2)2], (I), and [Sn(C6H5)2(C7H14NO2S2)2], (II), are described. In (I), in which the metal atom lies on a twofold rotation axis, the di­thio­carbamate ligand coordinates with approximately equal Sn-S bond lengths and the ipso-C atoms of the Sn-bound phenyl groups occupy cis-positions in the resulting octa­hedral C2S4 donor set. A quite distinct coordination geometry is noted in (II), arising as a result of quite disparate Sn-S bond lengths. Here, the four S-donors define a trapezoidal plane with the ipso-C atoms lying over the weaker of the Sn-S bonds so that the C2S4 donor set defines a skewed trapezoidal bipyramid. The packing of (I) features supra­molecular layers in the ab plane sustained by methyl­ene-C-H...[pi](Sn-ar­yl) inter­actions; these stack along the c-axis direction with no specific inter­actions between them. In (II), supra­molecular chains along the b-axis direction are formed by methyl­ene-C-O(ether) inter­actions; these pack with no directional inter­actions between them. A Hirshfeld surface analysis was conducted on both (I) and (II) and revealed the dominance of H...H inter­actions contributing to the respective surfaces, i.e. >60% in each case, and other features consistent with the description of the mol­ecular packing above

A conceptual framework for ranking the multiple intelligences of people with epilepsy

Intelligence of a person can be enhanced if the person focuses and practices regularly. ATIE©, a psychometric test, was developed based on the Multiple Intelligence (MI) theory of Howard Gardner to measure eight types of intelligence skills namely musical, kinesthetic, math-logic, spatial, verbal, interpersonal, intrapersonal and naturalist. The inverse model of ATIE , Fuzzy Inverse ATIE (FIA) was developed to get the best intelligence parameters that would be garnered to maximize the employment probability of people with epilepsy (PWE). In this paper, we present a conceptual framework of a model to rank the suggested intelligences obtained from FIA which are to be improved. This information is essential in order to improve the chances of PWE to be employed