A foresight study on green technology in paint industries in Malaysia

Green technology paint industries have been rising significantly over the years due to its benefit to environment and consequently to human health. However, the high manufacturing cost and other disadvantages threatened its sustainability in the future. Therefore a research was carried out to identify the issues and drivers of employing in green technology paint industries and to study the future trend of green technology paints in Malaysia. STEEPV approach which is an acronym for (Social, Technological, Environmental, Economic, Political and Values) is an internationally recognized tool used in conducting technology foresight worldwide. This tool was used in the current research in identifying various issues and drivers based on the above mentioned six categories. New technologies in preparing low energy consuming paints and the role of government and non-governmental organization was voted as the most influential drivers for the eco-friendly paint industries in Malaysia. In line with this regard, a scenario development carried out and a number of projects were suggested in order to move towards sustainable development of eco-friendly paint industry. As a consequence it is recommended to add more political will and support in such projects to ensure the ownership at the top level and maximize the chances of implementing the outcomes

Augmented reality marketing in Malaysia—future scenarios

Augmented Reality (AR) marketing is a novel and creative way to market products and services. However, there are concerns about its marketing effectiveness as it is still immature to take over the place of traditional marketing method. Hence, this study was aimed to identify the issues and drivers of employing AR, in marketing, and to study the future trend of AR marketing in Malaysia. Foresight methodology tool, the Social, Technological, Environmental, Economic, Political, and Values (STEEPV) method was used in identifying the issues and drivers of employing AR in marketing. Furthermore, an impact–uncertainty analysis was used to identify the top two drivers of the subject. The top two drivers identified were the “need for interrelation between the virtual and the real word” and “technological knowledge generation” with the highest statistical mean vote for impact and uncertainty, respectively. The development of scenario analysis was constructed in correspondence with the top two drivers which gave insights into the four alternative possibilities in the time horizon of 5 to 10 years. The drivers must coexist in order to generate potential scenarios for the development and sustainability of AR marketing in Malaysia

A foresight study on nanotechnology in cosmetics industries in Malaysia

The advancement of science and technology has greatly impacted the society because these scientific advances and technological elements are the key performances to improve competitive advantage and enhance the nation’s economic status. Recent years, there are an increasing emphasis on nanotechnology because nanotechnology is becoming popular and it is seen as a potential technology to replace the existing limitations with current conventional computer hardware lithography capabilities and it would be a new generation of technology that is more environmental friendly, reliable and precise to society. The current study aims to identify the issues and drives of employing nanotechnology in cosmetic industries and to study the future trend of nanocosmetics in Malaysia. STEEPV approach which is an acronym for (Social, Technological, Environmental, Economic, Political and Values) is an internationally recognized tool used in conducting Technology Foresight worldwide. This tool was used in the current research in identifying various issues and drives falling under the above mentioned six categories. Need an efficient waste management system and usage of biocompatible and biodegradable compounds in nanocosmetics was voted as the most influential drivers for the nanocosmetics industries in Malaysia. In line with this regard, a scenario development was done and a number of solution were suggested in order to move towards sustainable development of nanocosmetics industry. As a consequence it is recommended to add more political will and support in such solution to ensure the ownership at the top level and maximize the chances of implementing the outcomes

Water-soluble thiaporphyrins and metallothiaporphyrins; synthesis, characterization, ground- and excited-state properties

The synthesis and characterization of two anionic water-soluble thiaporphyrins 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)-21-thiaporphyrin (Htsptp4) and 5,10,15,20tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)-21,23-dithiaporphyrin (tspdtp4) and derivatives of the former with Cu2+ and Ni2+{[Cu(tsptp)Cl]4 and [Ni(tsptp)Cl]4} have been carried out. Both Htsptp4 and tspdtp4 show aggregation in aqueous solution. Addition of cation and 18-crown-6 (1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclooctadecane) to dilute monomeric solutions of either results in cofacial dimer formation similar to that observed for normal anionic water-soluble porphyrins. The electronic absorption spectra of both the paramagnetic metal derivatives of the monothiaporphyrin show a split Soret band and a complex pattern of Q bands due to reduced symmetry. The fluorescence of the two thiaporphyrins is quenched considerably relative to H2tspp4[5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin], the magnitude of quenching depending on the number of sulfur atoms in the porphyrin core. Electrochemical studies indicate harder oxidations and easier reductions for Htsptp4 and tspdtp4 relative to H2tspp4. Addition of a first electron to [Cu(tsptp)Cl]4 or [Ni(tsptp)Cl]4 results in the reduction of the metal centre suggesting that the metal dx2y2 orbital is lower in energy than the empty porphyrin eg(π∗) orbitals in contrast to those of [Cu(tspp)]4 and [Ni(tspp)]4

Case Report: Persistent erectile dysfunction in a man with prolactinoma [v1; ref status: indexed, http://f1000r.es/4qj]

Erectile dysfunction has been explored as a condition secondary to elevated prolactin; however, the mechanisms by which elevated prolactin levels cause erectile dysfunction have not yet been clearly established. We here present a patient with a history of prolactinoma who suffered from persistent erectile dysfunction despite testosterone supplementation and pharmacological and surgical treatment for the prolactinoma.  Patients who have had both prolactinemia and erectile dysfunction have been reported in the literature, but we find no report of a patient with persistent erectile dysfunction in the setting of testosterone supplementation and persistent hyperprolactinemia refractory to treatment. This case provides evidence supporting the idea that suppression of erectile function occurs in both the central and peripheral nervous systems independent of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis