The Relationship Between Thermal Performance, Thermal Comfort And Occupants. A Study Of Thermal Indoor Environment In Selected Students Accommodation In Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang.

Thermal comfort is considered to be a principal requirement that is usually demanded of by occupants of accommodation units

Essential knowledge transfer process model to support disaster management

There is a lack of knowledge transfer modeling that focuses on the essence of the knowledge transfer process. This paper aims to identify the processes that are common and essential in the implementation of knowledge transfer from multiple senders to one receiver using the star topology as the architecture. This study extracts the actual processes involved during the flow of knowledge from the source to the receiver identified from the literature review and existing theories. The processes are identified as: acquire, convert, implement and store (ACIS). The model is illustrated in a case study of flood management in Malaysia. The utilization of the identified essential processes of knowledge transfer will provide stakeholders with a concrete way of transferring knowledge by standardizing the actual process of knowledge transfer. These processes may be applied in various domains that use the star topology as the communication architecture

Labor Utilization and Man to Machine Ratio Study at a Semiconductor Facility

Productivity is manufacturing industry’s main concern. There are many alternatives available for improving productivity. Thus, this study is about improving productivity through identifying current labor utilization before ideal man to machine ratio can be determined using work study methodology. Maynard Operational Sequence Technique (MOST) is the predetermined time standards work measurement tool used to measure operator’s activities in a production line at a semiconductor facility. The aim is to observe the sequence of tasks performed by operators, time these activities and analyze the data using a specially designed template to determine the current utilization of the operator, and propose the ideal man to machine ratio for the company. From this study, the value added and non value added activities can also be determined in order to propose to the management on area to focus to further improve the productivity. The improvements when implemented will enable the company to reduce the operational costs and enable it to achieve competitive advantage among other competitors

Chemopreventive activity of methanol extract of Melastoma malabathricum leaves in DMBA-induced mouse skin carcinogenesis

Background: Melastoma malabathricum L. Smith (family Melastomaceae) is a shrub that has been used by the Malay practitioners of traditional medicine to treat various types of ailments. The present study aimed to determine the chemopreventive activity of methanol extract of M. malabathricum leaves (MEMM) using the standard  7,12-dimethylbenz(á)anthracene (DMBA)/croton oil-induced mouse skincarcinogenesis model.Materials and Methods: In the initiation phase, the mice received a single dose of 100ìl/100 ìg DMBA (group I-V) or 100µl acetone (group VI) topically on the dorsal shaved skin area followed by the promotion phase involving treatment with the respective test solutions (100 ìl of acetone, 10 mg/kg curcumin or MEMM (30, 100 and 300mg/kg)) for 30 min followed by the topical application of tumour promoter (100µl croton oil). Tumors were examined weekly and the experiment lasted for 15 weeks.Results: MEMM and curcumin significantly (p<0.05) reduced the tumour burden, tumour incidence and tumour volume, which were further supported by the histopathological findings.Conclusion: MEMM demonstrated chemoprevention possibly via its  antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and the action of flavonoids like quercitrin.Key words: Melastomaceae; skin cancer; anti-carcinogenic activit

Chemopreventive potential of methanol extract of Dicranopteris linearis leaf on DMBA/croton oil-induced mouse skin carcinogenesis.

The present study was carried out to elucidate the chemopreventive potential of methanol extract of Dicranopteris linearis (MEDL) in a two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis model due to the interrelated inflammation, oxidative stress and tumor promotion pathways. MEDL was prepared in a dose range of 30 to 300 mg/kg body weight. A total of 48 imprinting control region (ICR) female mice (6 to 8 weeks old) were randomly assorted into six groups. To induce skin tumor formation, a single topical application of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) at 100 μg/100 μl was applied to the shaved dorsal region of mice, followed by repetitive administration of 1% croton oil, twice weekly for 15 weeks. Topical application of MEDL, 30 min prior to the croton oil application significantly reduced the tumor incidence to 12.5% in 300 mg/kg MEDL-treated group as compared to 87.5% in carcinogen control. The latency period of tumor formation was increased from sixth week in the carcinogen control to ninth and fifteenth weeks in 100 and 300 mg/kg MEDL-treated groups, respectively. The tumor burden of MEDL-treated groups (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg) were significantly lessen (5.67 ± 1.28, 5.00 ± 1.13, and 1.00 ± 0.13), as compared to carcinogen control (7.86 ± 2.37). The tumor volume was also significantly reduced from 9.00 ± 2.27 mm3 in carcinogen control to 3.70 ± 0.96, 2.39 ± 0.54 and 0.26 ± 0.03 mm3 in 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg MEDL-treated groups, respectively. In conclusion, the MEDL exhibited anti-carcinogenic effect in a dose-dependent manner, indicating its chemopreventive potential, which worth further study

4-Formyl­phenyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-galactopyran­oside

The galactose ring in the title compound, C21H24O11, has a chair conformation with the substituted benzene ring occupying an equatorial position. The crystal packing features C—H⋯O inter­actions that lead to the formation of supra­molecular layers in the ab plane

4-Formyl­phenyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyran­oside

The pyran­oside ring in the title compound, C21H24O11, has a chair conformation with the substituted benzene ring occupying an equatorial position. The crystal packing is dominated by C—H⋯O inter­actions that lead to the formation of supra­molecular layers in the ab plane

A spatiotemporal database prototype for managing volumetric surface management data in virtual GIS

Virtual GIS have the capability to present geographic features in three-dimension. This will contribute to increasing user understanding of phenomena that occurred in certain areas. Virtual GIS need to include temporal element in the system for managing dynamic phenomena to simulate real process. Spatiotemporal database system can be used to manage temporal data or spatial data that involve changes. In this paper, we present the database system of a spatiotemporal database prototype for managing volumetric surface movement; Volumetric Surface Movement Spatiotemporal Data Model that has the ability to store changes of the surface data of a three dimensional object. Formalization of the surface movement phenomena on the volumetric object were defined. This model has been implemented using relational database model which store only the changing points in order to ensure an efficient data management. We have developed a visualization tool with the database system to visualize movement on the surface. The prototype system of this model has been tested and found to be efficien

Synthesis and Liquid Crystals Properties of α-Methylated Galactosides

AbstractDue to the amphiphilicity nature of glycolipids, some are known to exhibits liquid crystals phases both in thermotropic and lyotropic phases. Six different glycolipids have been synthesized using three steps process and their structures have been characterized by 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR in acetylated and deacytelated forms. Their liquid crystals properties were studied using optical polarising microscopy (OPM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The effect of α-methylated tails is comparedwith those of the straight chain glycolipids. The epimeric effect of the hydroxyl group at the C-4 of the sugar group was also commented

Retracted: Effect of waste rubber binder on sintered properties of 316L SS for metallic implant parts

This article was withdrawn and retracted by the Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences and has been removed from AJOL at the request of the journal Editor in Chief and the organisers of the conference at which the articles were presented (www.iccmit.net). Please address any queries to [email protected]