Penyelidikan Kekuatan Tekan dan Laju Keausan Komposit dengan Filler Palm Slag sebagai Bahan Penyusun Kanvas Rem Sepeda Motor

Palm slag as waste burning of palm shells and bunches for boiler fuel is available in abundance. Availability of abundant is potential to be developed as a filler of brake composite. The using of palm slag as filler composite non-asbestos brake pads have been studied and potential to be used as a substitute for asbestos brake pads motorcycle. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of variations in the initial compacting pressure and sintering temperature on the compressive strength and the wear rate of the composite. In this study the manufacture of composite brake using materials with a composition of 40% palm slag, 20% steel powder, 20% phenolic resin, 10% alumina, and 10% graphite. Manufacture of composites using powder metallurgy techniques by varying the compaction pressure at 254, 508, and 762 MPa, and sintering temperatures of 150, 160, and 170oC. Increasing compaction pressure and sintering temperature does not always affect the compressive strength and the wear rate of composite brake. Initial compaction pressure affecting the increase in compressive strength is 508 MPa at 150 and 160oC sintering temperature. Initial compaction pressure affecting decrease the wear rate is 254 and 508 MPa at sintering temperatures of 150 and 160oC

The Effect of Treating Bacterial Vaginosis on Preterm Labor

Objective: Multiple studies suggest that bacterial vaginosis (BV) causes preterm labor; yet its routine treatment remains controversial. In order to help to elucidate this controversy, we performed a thorough review of studies with levels of evidence ranging from I to II–II. Methods: We searched for all of the studies from the years 1994 to 2001 via Medline’s database, including MD Consult and Ovid Mednet. Results: Several trials discovered a decrease in the incidence of preterm labor when BV was treated, but most of those trials were performed on women with a history of preterm labor. However, the majority of trials reviewed advise against treatment of a general low-risk obstetric population, as there was no significant decrease in preterm labor. Conclusions: Therefore, based on the above studies and the current guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), treating pregnant women in high-risk populations who are diagnosed with BV provides the clinician with an opportunity to possibly prevent preterm labor in this population. In nulliparous women without a history of preterm birth, treatment is recommended if other risk factors are present (e.g. gonorrhea or chlamydia). However, in the general low-risk populations, routine screening is not indicated

The Efficacy of Vaginal Clindamycin for the Treatment of Abnormal Genital Tract Flora in Pregnancy

Objective: To assess the efficacy of 2% clindamycin vaginal cream (CVC) to treat bacterial vaginosis (BV) in pregnancy. Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, tricenter study. Four hundred and four women with BV on Gram stain at their first antenatal clinic visit were randomized to receive a 3-day course of 2% CVC or placebo. The outcome was assessed using an intention to treat analysis at 3 weeks and 6 weeks post-treatment according to three different diagnostic methods based on five criteria (Gram stain and all four elements of clinical composite criteria: vaginal discharge, abnormal vaginal pH, clue cells, amine odor), three criteria (vaginal pH, clue cells, amine odor) or two criteria (clue cells and amine odor) to reflect stringency of diagnosis, historical precedence and government agency recommendations respectively. Results: Using five diagnostic criteria, 18% of CVC patients were cured and 70.8% either cured and/or improved compared to 1.6% and 12% of placebo patients respectively (p < 0.0001). Using three diagnostic criteria, 44.8% of CVC patients were cured and 77.3% were either cured and/or improved compared to 9.3% and 28.8% of placebo patients respectively (p < 0.0001). Using two diagnostic criteria, 75.0% of CVC patients were cured compared to 18.0% of placebo patients (p < 0.0001). Recurrence rates in those CVC patients successfully treated were approximately 6% at 6 weeks post baseline and 10% at 28 to 34 weeks gestation. Conclusions: A 3-day course of CVC appears to be well tolerated by the mother and statistically significantly more efficacious than placebo in the treatment of BV during the second trimester of pregnancy

Kajian faktor-faktor fizikal terhadap tahap keselesaan bekerja di Bahagian Casting Shop di kalangan pekerja di Kilang Pembuatan Kereta

Background : Level of comfort in working environment can contribute to increase level of health, emotion during working, level of safety, quality and productivity of work. A study of physical factors (heat, noise and lighting) is important to determine the level of comfort during working. This study was carried out to study those physical factors upon comfort level during working among Casting Shop workers in a car manufacturing factory. Methods : Instruments for the physical monitoring including Questemp°36 Thermal Environment Monitor, Sound Level Meter and Lux Meter were used at seven measured areas. The information about the level of comfort during working was collected using questionnaires among 65 respondents by random sampling method. Results : Measured data showed there were four measured areas which Wet Bulb Globe Temperature indoor (WBGTi) value are above the standard limit recommended by ACGIH, three measured areas recorded noise level above the standard limit recommended by Factories and Machineries (Noise Exposure) 1989, while there was no measured area recorded lighting reading below the standard limit recommended by MS ISO 8995:2005. Result from questionnaire found that the majority of the workers did not feel comfortable towards the heat and noise level in their workplace while most of the respondents felt comfortable towards lighting level in their workplace. Mean of WBGTi reading and lighting reading have a significant difference (p<0.05) between half of those measured areas. Mean of noise reading also has a significant difference (p<0.05) between those measured areas. This study also found that there was a relationship between level of health, emotion during working, level of safety, quality and productivity of work and. Conclusion : This study shows that the physical factors influenced the level of comfort during working among Casting Shop workers

Short imidazolium chains effectively clear fungal biofilm in keratitis treatment

Fungal keratitis is a leading cause of ocular morbidity throughout the world. However, current therapies against fungal keratitis are often ineffective. Herein, we have developed the amphiphilic main-chain imidazolium polymer (PIM-45) and oligomer (IBN-1) materials that can efficiently inhibit the growth of fungi with low minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) values and clear the fungal biofilm, while displaying minimal hemolysis. In vivo keratitis treatment indicates that topical solutions of these polyimidazolium salts (PIMSs) are safe and as effective as that of amphotericin B, the most commonly used agent for the treatment of Candida albicans (C. albicans) keratitis. Compared to the costly and unstable amphotericin B and fluconazole, PIM-45 and IBN-1 are easy to prepare, inexpensive and stable. They can be stored in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solutions with long shelf life for routine topical use

Azimuth and elevation factors correction for single station lightning electromagnetic field sensor

This study aims to find the location of lightning return strokes using a single station electromagnetic field sensor with the implementation of magnetic field Factor B correction to best match with a reliable lightning strike location reference from TNB Research (TNBR) that uses Vaisala lightning detector with ±500m tolerance. A parallel plate antenna was used to measure the electric fields while two orthogonal loop antennas were used to measure the magnetic fields from thunderstorms in Melaka. Based on the type of Cloud-to-Ground flash and its recorded magnetic field peak amplitude polarities, the general direction of the lightning source could be determined in four quadrants divided equally between the cardinal directions. Measurement of return stroke peak amplitudes from electromagnetic field waveforms, distance between lightning measurement station and lightning strike was determined. Factor B corrections varied between 53M to 69M where the separation distance between compared strikes averaged 3.22 km. From the varied Factor B, it was averaged to 60.1M that yield a separation distance between the same compared strikes between 0.75 to 15.02 km. From all the strikes compared, the average separation distance between compared strikes was 7.64 km. It was determined that the accuracy of our lightning measurement system lightning location were between 7.14 and 8.14 km