Structural performance of expanded polystyrene lightweight concrete (EPS - LWC) wall panel with square opening / Syed Nurfahmi Effendi Syed Abdul Malik

The load bearing wall is common construction for tall building. The lightweight expanded polystyrene wall panel was establishing in this study in order to develop as the load bearing wall. This study provide the expanded polystyrene lightweight concrete (EPS - LWC ) wall panel with square opening at the centre of wall panel. The objective of this study is to determine the ultimate axial load and maximum deflection of expanded polystyrene light weight concrete (EPS - LWC) wall panel. At the same time, this study also to evaluate crack behaviour of expanded polystyrene light weight concrete (EPS - LWC) wall panel with square opening. The material using to establish lightweight concrete wall panel are steel fibre and expanded polystyrene beads. The using of steel fiber is to minimize the major and minor crack around the opening. For the expanded polystyrene beads (EPS), it’s using to replace the coarse and fine aggregate to ensure the lightweight wall panel is establish. In this study were conducted two samples which are EPS - LWC wall panel with and without opening. The sample of EPS - LWC wall panel without opening is a control sample to compare with EPS - LWC wall panel with square opening. The result further confirm that the ultimate load of EPS - LWC without opening was 771 kN higher than EPS - LWC with square opening which is 428 kN. The deflection profile was not compliance the Euler’s rule because the wall was experience the maximum deflection at 1350 mm from the base of wall panel

Kesetiaan Kepada Organisasi dan kaitannya Dengan Kualiti Kehidupan Kerja di Kalangan Pembantu Pelancong di Pusat Penerangan Pelancongan Tourism Malaysia Kuala Lumpur

The study is conducted with an objective to examine the level of loyalty and commitment by the tourist assistant to their organisation. Besides that its also intends to experiment the correlation between the demographic factors which consits an elements of sexual, age, marital status, academic qualification, length of service and the quality of work life elements such as career expansion, benefit gains, rewards from organisation, opportunity obtains from job function and competition to career development from outside scope of work, have influence respondents sense of loyalty to the organisation. Respondents of the study are permanent and temporary tourist assistants that based in Kuala Lumpur. Five tourist information centres namely Pusat Penerangan Pelancongan Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra, Pusat Penerangan Pelancongan Plaza Putra, Pusat Penerangan Pelancongan Jalan Ampang, Pusat Penerangan Pelancongan Stesen Keretapi Kuala Lumpur and Pusat Penerangan Pelancongan Balai Ketibaan KLlA involved in the study. The area of the study is selected based on the popularity of Kuala Lumpur as a tourist attraction. Qualitative method applies in this study. All datas are collected via interviews with respective respondents and later manually process. Out of the thirty respondents, twelve respondents are permanent staffs whereas the other eighteen staffs are in temporary job employment. Three respondents are males whereas the balance of twenty seven respondents are females. Results of the study shown that temporary job status as a tourist assistant is the main element that a full loyalty cannot be extended to organisation. As such an element of career development is significant to this context of study. However others elements as above have also play an important role when measurement of loyalty is concerned

Characterization of ash derived from combustion of paper mill waste sludge: Comparison with municipal solid waste incinerator ash

Fly ash derived from incineration of Malaysian paper mill waste sludge (PMWS) was physically and chemically characterized in order to determine its potential toxicity as well as its application as cement replacement material. The results were compared with results obtained from similar characterization on Malaysian municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) bottom ash. Principal analyses conducted include particle size distribution, elemental analysis, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) as well as thermogravimetric, x-ray diffractometry and FTIR analyses. TCLP result indicated that both the PMWS and MSWI ashes should not be classified as hazardous wastes in terms of heavy metal leachability, since leachable copper, cadmium, lead and nickel concentrations were detected below the stipulated leachability limits. Both ashes could be reused as cement replacement materials since both contained SiO2 which is one of the main building components in cement and concrete utilizations. Nonetheless, PMWS ash could be more suitable as a cement replacement material as compared to MSWI ash, as the former had significantly smaller particle size distribution and lower organic content

Recycling of Injection Equipment in Pakistan

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is high in the general population in Pakistan, ranging from 2% to 6%. Reuse of injection equipment in the absence of sterilization is common, particularly in healthcare facilities that serve low-income populations. Studies have identified unsafe injection practices as a major route of transmission of HCV in Pakistan. Changing the behavior of injection providers so that they would use new freshly opened disposable syringes would improve injection safety in Pakistan. However, frequent reports of recycling of injection equipment in the local media question the safety of apparently new syringes. Clinical laboratories are one of the major sources of production of used syringes. To evaluate the resale of used syringes, we followed the course of used syringes from their initial use to their final destinatio

Hepatitis B Virus Gene Mutations in Liver Diseases: A Report from New Delhi

The study was designed to characterize the surface, core promoter, precore/core region sequences for the presence of mutations in hepatitis B virus (HBV) associated with different liver diseases.567 HBV associated patients with different liver diseases were enrolled in this study. All samples were analyzed for HBV surface, core promoter, precore/core region mutations and genotypes using PCR and direct sequencing.HBV genotype D (72.8%) was the predominant type followed by genotype A (27.2%). The serum viral load of HBV was highest in HBsAg carriers group and lowest in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. 17.9% patients with cirrhosis and 24.6% hepatocellular carcinoma cases were ADV-resistant with rtA181T/V mutations in the S-gene. A1896T was found more frequently in fulminant hepatic failure compared to acute viral hepatitis patients (p = 0.038). T1753V mutation was significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis of liver (34.6%) than in chronic hepatitis (18.9%) and hepatocellular carcinoma patients (21.2%; p = 0.001). T1762/A1764 mutation was observed in all the groups. C1914G core gene mutation was associated with the hepatocellular carcinoma (32.2%) compared to other groups. HBV genotype D predominated in comparison to genotype A. An increased frequency of precore mutation and BCP double mutations amongst the population studied was also observed.Mutations such as T1762/A1764, T1753V and C1914G were usually associated with advanced forms of liver disease and had an increased risk of HCC. The nucleotide variability in the basal core promoter and precore regions possibly plays a role in the progression of HBV disease. Prospective studies on the sequence variations of the preC/C region of the HBV genome and the molecular mechanisms in relation to progression of liver disease would aid in better understanding of the biological significance of HBV strains in India

Johnson noise of CdX-P3HT nanocomposite

Johnson noise for nanocomposite thin films has been analyzed to study its potential and reliability as an element for electronic devices. Nanocomposite thin films face many challenges such as dispersion of nanoparticles in the matrix that hamper it suitability, competency and performance for potential devices. In this paper, the Johnson noise and current density-voltage has been measured for thin films fabricated through two different methods. The first type of nanocomposite is CdS or CdSe nanoparticles were impregnated in conjugated polymer, P3HT through gas exposure. The second type is by physically mixing CdS or CdSe quantum dots into P3HT. Both nanocomposites employ Langmuir layer as the basis of the film. The Johnson noise for both types of thin films are relatively small, less than 1× 10 -27 A 2 /Hz for frequency more than 10 Hz, regardless of quantum dots or nanoparticles loading. The JV results show nanoparticles impregnated inside the P3HT have better electrical performance. Thus, the nanocomposites fabricated through gas exposure have better potential to be utilized in electronic devices

Proteinase 3-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positive necrotizing vasculitis induced by ciprofloxacin

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener’s), microscopic polyangitis, and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis are commonly grouped together as antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-positive vasculitides. Many drugs and infections can induce serologic positivity for ANCA, while a few can precipitate overt ANCA-positive vasculitis. Although fluoroquinolones have been reported to cause ANCA-negative leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV), fluoroquinolones are not known to induce proteinase 3-ANCA (PR3-ANCA)-positive vasculitis. Here, we present the case of a middle-aged man who developed severe headache, purpura on legs and numbness in hands and feet after taking ofloxacin for 5 days. Subsequently, he was diagnosed with ANCA-negative LCV and treated with steroids and immunosuppressants. Thirteen years later, he inadvertently received intravenous ciprofloxacin and developed severe headache and epistaxis. Serologic testing at that time revealed elevated titers of PR3-ANCA. Biopsy of nasal septum revealed a mixed mononuclear and polymorphonuclear infiltrate without evidence of granuloma formation. He was treated with steroids and immunosuppressive therapy. Over the next several years, he remained stable with residual hearing loss and nasal septal deformity. This case provides the first evidence for a PR3-ANCA-positive necrotizing vasculitis induced by ciprofloxacin

Characteristics and Preliminary Study of Ceramic Concretes

One of the most adaptable and frequently used building materials in the world is concrete. It is flexible in terms of size and shape, sturdy, long-lasting, low-maintenance, fireproof, and easy to use. However, further research is needed to increase the durability and sustainability of this material since concrete technology is still in developing industry. Therefore, it's crucial to comprehend how microstructure and characteristics interact in terms of how they affect concrete's strength, dimensional stability, and durability. The findings of this research are crucial in identifying the properties and characteristics of the ceramic concrete used for bridge construction or others. Advanced research to ascertain the hardness and physical qualities and features of ceramic concrete material is required. Thus, it will help to produce a reliable data for engineer to refer for their future works or project. To ascertain its hardness and physical characteristics, research has been conducted on ceramic concrete for several types of grades. In the current study, the ceramic concrete was tested through the physical and Vickers-hardness tests. The X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) on samples were performed to observe the phases and morphology of the ceramic concrete, respectively. For results of physical testing, the density and water absorption correlate to each other by the denser of the sample, the lower of water absorption and the porosity level of the ceramic concrete. Based on the Vickers micro hardness test, it can be seen that longer curing days affected the hardness, where the concretes of grade 30 and 40 at 28 curing days had better hardness value. Next, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) on samples shown almost same microstructure, while the dominant phase of all ceramic concrete grades was SiO2 by the XRD analysis. In summary, better properties of ceramic concretes were indicated at 28 curing days for both grades of ceramic concretes

Kajian penggunaan internet di kalangan pelajar Universiti Teknologi MARA (Zon Utara) / Mahadi Mahmood ... [et al.]

Kewujudan Internet telah banyak menukar corak kehidupan masyarakat masa kini. Internet telah membolehkan manusia berinteraksi dan mengakses maklumat dengan lebih cepat samada maklumat yang berguna atau pun maklumat yang boleh merosakkan kehidupan masyarakat itu sendiri. Di dalam bidang pendidikan, ledakan maklumat di dalam Internet ditambah dengan kemudahan mengakses maklumat melalui Internet yang semakin mudah menyebabkan penggunaannya semakin hari semakin popular di kalangan pelajar. Penggunaan Internet telah banyak membantu para pelajar dalam menyiapkan sesuatu tugasan dalam bidang pengajian mereka disamping sebagai suatu alat untuk mereka berkomunikasi diantara satu sama lain dengan lebih cepat dan murah. Kajian "Penggunaan Internet Di Kalangan Pelajar UiTM Zon Utara" ini dilakukan dengan matlamat untuk melihat sejauhmana prasarana Internet yang telah disediakan oleh pihak pengurusan UiTM dimanfaatkan sepenuhnya oleh para pelajar dalam bidang pengajian masing-masing. Disamping itu kajian ini juga dapat melihat trend penggunaan Internet di kalangan pelajar samada lebih menjurus kepada aktiviti-aktiviti akademik atau pun lebih kepada rekreasi dan juga penyalahgunaan