Tartaric Acid Modified Rice Hull as a Sorbent for Methylene Blue Removal

Problem statement: Improper dye discharge from various industries such as textile, paper, cosmetic and plastics into receiving streams can be one of the sources towards water pollution. The release of these effluents not only causes various disruptions in the ecosystems, but also poses hazard effect as most of the dyes are highly toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic in nature. Approach: To prepare an inexpensive and efficient sorbent by chemically modifying rice hull for the removal of Methylene Blue (MB) which is predominantly used in coloring acrylic fiber. Batch experiments were carried out for the removal of MB from aqueous solution by using Tartaric Acid Modified Rice Hull (TARH). Parameters studied include effect of pH, contact time, initial dye concentration and agitation rate and sorption isotherm. Results: From the results, the percentage uptake of MB increased with increasing contact time and agitation rate. Based on the linear regression correlation coefficient, R2, the system under study is more appropriately described by the pseudo-second order model. Maximum sorption capacity calculated from the Langmuir model is 25.0 mg g-1 for MB. Conclusion: The study has shown the effectiveness of TARH in the removal of MB, a basic dye from synthetic solutions. © 2010 Science Publications

Exome sequencing identifies SLC26A4, GJB2, SCARB2 and DUOX2 mutations in 2 siblings with Pendred syndrome in a Malaysian family

List of PCR primers used. (XLSX 9 kb

The Body Shop "Forever Against Animal Testing”

Body Shop is a well-known cruelty-free cosmetics brand company. This research paper explores how Body Shop is running the campaign 'forever against animal testing' and raising its voice for banning animal testing in cosmetics. The Body Shop has been advocating for animal rights since 1989. Qualitative analysis techniques have been used in this research paper and information is obtained through a questioner focused on convenient sampling. We have discovered in our research that most consumers do not want to purchase goods which are created by harming animals. In manufacturing cosmetics, we say companies must use alternative artificial testing like Body Shop

Characterizing employees with primary and secondary caregiving responsibilities: informal care provision in Malaysia

There is a need to determine the extent to which Malaysian employees reconcile both paid employment and informal care provision. We examined data from the Malaysia’s Healthiest Workplace via AIA Vitality Online Survey 2019 (N = 17,286). A multivariate multinomial regression was conducted to examine characteristics for the following groups: primary caregiver of a child or disabled child, primary caregiver of a disabled adult or elderly individual, primary caregiver for both children and elderly, as well as secondary caregivers. Respondent mean age ± SD was 34.76 ± 9.31, with 49.6% (n = 8573), identifying as either a primary or secondary caregiver to at least one child under 18 years, an elderly individual, or both. Males (n = 6957; 40.2%) had higher odds of being primary caregivers to children (OR 2.06; 95% CI 1.85–2.30), elderly (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.09–1.41) and both children and elderly (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.57–2.22). However, males were less likely to be secondary caregivers than females (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.53–0.71). Our results highlight the differences in characteristics of employees engaged in informal care provision, and to a lesser degree, the extent to which mid-life individual employees are sandwiched into caring for children and/or the elderly

Tartaric acid modified rice hull as a sorbent for methylene blue removal

Problem statement: Improper dye discharge from various industries such as textile, paper, cosmetic and plastics into receiving streams can be one of the sources towards water pollution. The release of these effluents not only causes various disruptions in the ecosystems, but also poses hazard effect as most of the dyes are highly toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic in nature. Approach: To prepare an inexpensive and efficient sorbent by chemically modifying rice hull for the removal of Methylene Blue (MB) which is predominantly used in coloring acrylic fiber. Batch experiments were carried out for the removal of MB from aqueous solution by using Tartaric Acid Modified Rice Hull (TARH). Parameters studied include effect of pH, contact time, initial dye concentration and agitation rate and sorption isotherm. Results: From the results, the percentage uptake of MB increased with increasing contact time and agitation rate. Based on the linear regression correlation coefficient, R2, the system under study is more appropriately described by the pseudo-second order model. Maximum sorption capacity calculated from the Langmuir model is 25.0 mg g-1 for MB. Conclusion: The study has shown the effectiveness of TARH in the removal of MB, a basic dye from synthetic solutions

Piezoresistive strain sensor array using polydimethylsiloxane-based conducting nanocomposites for electronic skin application

Purpose: This paper aims to report a stretchable piezoresistive strain sensor array that can detect various static and dynamic stimuli, including bending, normal force, shear stress and certain range of temperature variation, through sandwiching an array of conductive blocks, made of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite. The strain sensor array induces localized resistance changes at different external mechanical forces, which can be potentially implemented as electronic skin. Design/methodology/approach: The working principle is the piezoresistivity of the strain sensor array is based on the tunnelling resistance connection between the fillers and reformation of the percolating path when the PDMS and MWCNT composite deforms. When an external compression stimulus is exerted, the MWCNT inter-filler distance at the conductive block array reduces, resulting in the reduction of the resistance. The resistance between the conductive blocks in the array, on the other hand, increases when the strain sensor is exposed to an external stretching force. The methodology was as follows: Numerical simulation has been performed to study the pressure distribution across the sensor. This method applies two thin layers of conductive elastomer composite across a 2 × 3 conductive block array, where the former is to detect the stretchable force, whereas the latter is to detect the compression force. The fabrication of the strain sensor consists of two main stages: fabricating the conducting block array (detect compression force) and depositing two thin conductive layers (detect stretchable force). Findings: Characterizations have been performed at the sensor pressure response: static and dynamic configuration, strain sensing and temperature sensing. Both pressure and strain sensing are studied in terms of the temporal response. The temporal response shows rapid resistance changes and returns to its original value after the external load is removed. The electrical conductivity of the prototype correlates to the temperature by showing negative temperature coefficient material behaviour with the sensitivity of −0.105 MΩ/°C. Research limitations/implications: The conductive sensor array can potentially be implemented as electronic skin due to its reaction with mechanical stimuli: compression and stretchable pressure force, strain sensing and temperature sensing. Originality/value: This prototype enables various static and dynamic stimulus detections, including bending, normal force, shear stress and certain range of temperature variation, through sandwiching an array of conductive blocks, made of MWCNT and PDMS composite. Conventional design might need to integrate different microfeatures to perform the similar task, especially for dynamic force sensing

Additional file 3: Table S2. of Exome sequencing identifies SLC26A4, GJB2, SCARB2 and DUOX2 mutations in 2 siblings with Pendred syndrome in a Malaysian family

List of non-synonymous heterozygous mutations inherited from mother. (XLSX 91 kb

Additional file 4: Table S3. of Exome sequencing identifies SLC26A4, GJB2, SCARB2 and DUOX2 mutations in 2 siblings with Pendred syndrome in a Malaysian family

List of other possible PDS causal mutations which uniquely inherited by the eldest sister. (XLSX 11 kb

Distributed under Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 Genomic insight into pathogenicity of dematiaceous fungus Corynespora cassiicola

ABSTRACT Corynespora cassiicola is a common plant pathogen that causes leaf spot disease in a broad range of crop, and it heavily affect rubber trees in Malaysia (Hsueh, 2011

Additional file 1: Figure S1. of Membrane feeding of dengue patient’s blood as a substitute for direct skin feeding in studying Aedes-dengue virus interaction

Patient’s arm inside a glove-box during feeding experiments. (DOCX 25 kb