Oral cancer and precancer research in Malaysia - the database and tissue resource bank

Introduction: Uncoordinated data collection by different research groups prompted the initiation of Malaysian oral cancer Research Initiative (MOCRI) group. Objectives: To coordinate and standardize data and tissue collection and storage, develop a minimum dataset on risk factors, intervention techniques and quality of life of oral cancer patients. Materials and Methods: A computer software programme is currently being developed to accommodate multi-centre data collection and research activities in eight hospitals. The complete dataset includes parameters on sociodemographic, clinical, pathological, quality of life measures, details of treatment methods, vital status and dietary intake. Tissues are being collected, stored and catalogued as fresh and formalin-fixed tissues for future use in satellite researches. The networking in tissue and data collection includes the establishment of oral cancer cell-lines. These tissues are being planned for studies on genetic profile, genetic polymorphism, diagnostic and prognostic markers. Results: Tissues and data on 115 oral cancers, 9 leukoplakia and 13 lichen planus has been collected since 2003. Preliminary data from 2004 were analysed for 58 cancer patients. Majority of them are more than 60 years old (65.5%) with a mean age of 63.3. Twenty-four (41.4%) were males, 34 (58.6%) females with the majority of them being Indians (56.9%) followed by Chinese and Malays (15.5% each), Indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak (12.1%). Eighteen (31%) respondents were smokers, 17 (29.3%) alcohol drinkers and 31 (53.4%) betel quid chewers. Five patients have had histories of family cancers where 3 included immediate family members with head and neck cancers. For the quality of life measure, only 30.2% felt that their daily activities were disrupted despite having advanced cancers. Satellite researches are in progress on genetic polymorphism and tumour markers. One oral cancer cell-line has been established. Conclusion: The establishment of oral cancer database and tissue bank in encouraging and supports on-going satellite researches. This record was migrated from the OpenDepot repository service in June, 2017 before shutting down

A genetic algorithm approach to VLSI macro cell non-slicing floorplans using binary tree

This paper proposes an optimization approach for macro-cell placement which minimizes the chip area size. A binary tree method for non-slicing tree construction process is utilized for the placement and area optimization of macro-cell layout in very large scaled integrated (VLSI) design. Three different types of genetic algorithms: simple genetic algorithm (SGA), steady-state algorithm (SSGA) and adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA) are employed in order to examine their performances in converging to their global minimums. Experimental results on Microelectronics Center of North Carolina (MCNC) benchmark problems show that the developed algorithm achieves an acceptable performance quality to the slicing floorplan. Furthermore, the robustness of genetic algorithm also has been investigated in order to validate the performance stability in achieving the optimal solution for every runtime. This algorithm demonstrates that SSGA converges to the optimal result faster than SGA and AGA. Besides that, SSGA also outperforms SGA and AGA in terms of robustnes

Review on Malaysia tax performance: rates and land tax

Rates and land tax are the most important tax in contributing to the finance sustainability and function of a government either at the State or Local authority level of Malaysia. The aim of this paper is to review the comparison on revenue performance from property tax in Malaysia between rates and land tax, in order to boom understanding about property tax as a whole, based on the review of literature references to local and foreign publications. The references include annual report of various authorities, the auditor’s report on the financial, article in newspapers and reviews of previous research works as well as related journals. The findings revealed that there are several roles of local and state authority whereas the efficiency of the authorities in performing their role is largely dependent on their ability to effectively collect revenues from all sources available particularly rates and land tax. Since, for most local authorities’ large proportion of their revenue comes from rates, while for state authorities’ large proportion of their revenue comes from land tax, failure to collect rates and land tax efficiently may result in revenue shortages. The inability to collect taxes effectively make more dependent on grants provided by the states and federal authorities

Oral mucosal lesions in Malay quid and non-quid chewers in Kelantan

The Malaysian nationwide survey on oral mucosal lesions (OML) in 1993/94 showed a low prevalence of OML in particular oral cancer and precancer (OPC) among Malays as compared to the Indians and the Indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak. A low prevalence of quid chewing habit was also noted in the Malays in that survey. The present study was conducted to investigate whether the low prevalence of OPC in the Malays was attributed to the low prevalence of quid users among the Malays and/or whether the quid contents used were different. Two examiners were trained prior to the survey. The interexaminer consistency of diagnosing the presence or absence of lesions was 91.3%. An interview on their oral habits was also done. The mean age of 276 subjects examined was 61.1± 10.1 years. There were 23.6% men and 76.4% women. Among the subjects interviewed, 41.7% were smokers and 37.7% were quid chewers. The prevalence of OML was 20.3% while OPC was found in only 1.4% of the subjects examined. Among the quid chewers and non-quid chewers, the prevalence of OML was found to be 35.6% and 11% respectively. However the prevalence of OPC (only leukoplakia and lichen planus were detected; cancer, erythroplakia and oral submucous fibrosis were absent) was equally low in both groups (1.9% among quid chewers and 1.2% among non-quid chewers). Such low prevalence of OPC among Malay quid chewers differed from reported higher prevalences of OPC in the Malaysian Indians and the Indigenous people of Sarawak. A further analysis of the quid contents showed a low usage of tobacco (3.8%) in the quid mixtures chewed by these subjects as compared to the quid mixtures reportedly used by the Indian and the Indigenous people Sarawak. It is concluded that the lack of tobacco in the quid mixtures used by the Malays may be related to the low prevalence of OPC in Malay quid chewers. This record was migrated from the OpenDepot repository service in June, 2017 before shutting down

Pengaruh Metode Self Compacting Concrete (Scc) Terhadap Sifat Mekanis Beton

Dalam dunia konstruksi pekerjaan beton memegang peranan sangat penting, baik pada bangunan struktural maupun non struktural.Dapat dilihat bahwahampir setiap bangunan yang didirikanseperti Perumahan, gedung bertingkat, jembatan, jalan, bendungan dan saluran irigasi serta bangunan lainnya selalu memerlukan adanya pekerjaan betonterutama pada pekerjaan konstruksi beton bertulang. Selama ini pemadatan atau vibrasi dilakukan tidak sesuai dengan prosedur dan dapat menurunkan kualitas beton. Salah satu solusi mengatasi masalah tersebut yaitu dengan penggunaan self compacting concrete.Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui pengaruh penambahan superplasticizerterhadap workabilitybeton self compacting concretedan untuk mengetahui pengaruh metode self compacting concreteterhadap sifat mekanis beton. Penelitian dilakukan di laboratorium struktur dan bahan dengan penggunaan superplasticizertype sika-viscocrete 3115N sebanyak 2% dari berat semen. Pembuatan job mix designdibuat dengan metode SNI. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian superplasticizerdapat meningkatkan workabilitypada beton segar. Hasil pengujian slump cone test pada beton normal sebesar 8 cm, sedangkan hasil slump flowpada beton self compacting concretesebesar 75 cm. Pada penelitian ini didapatkan nilai kuat tekan beton normal sebesar 25,096 Mpa dan nilai kuat tekan beton SCC sebesar 30,264 Mpa dari mutu rencana 25 Mpa dan nilai kuat tarik belah beton normal sebesar 2,343 Mpa atau 9,340% dari nilai kuat tekan dan nilai kuat tarik belah beton SCC sebesar 3,358 Mpa atau 11,09% dari nilai kuat tekan. Berdasarkan data yang didapatkan self compacting concrete memilki workabilitydan sifat mekanis yang lebih baik. In the world of construction, concrete work plays a very important role, both in structural and non-structural buildings. It can be seen that almost every building that is erected such as housing, high rise buildings, bridges, roads, dams and irrigation canals and other buildings always requires concrete work, especially in reinforced concrete construction work. During this time compaction or vibration is done not in accordance with procedures and can reduce the quality of concrete. One solution to overcome this problem is the use of self compacting concrete. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of adding superplasticizer to the workability of self compacting concrete and to determine the effect of the self compacting concrete method on the mechanical properties of concrete. The research was carried out in the structure and material laboratory using 2% sika-viscocrete superplasticizer as much as 2% by weight of cement. Job mix design is made using SNI method. Based on the results of research superplasticizer can increase workability in fresh concrete. The slump cone test results on normal concrete are 8 cm, while the slump flow results on self-compacting concrete are 75 cm. In this study, the compressive strength value of normal concrete was 25.096 MPa and the compressive strength value of SCC concrete was 30.264 MPa from the quality plan of 25 MPa and the value of normal concrete split tensile strength was 2.334 MPa or 9.340% of the compressive strength and SCC concrete compressive strength value. 3.358 MPa or 11.09% of the compressive strength. Based on the data obtained, self compacting concrete has better workability and mechanical propertie

Table Tennis Classes at Junior High Schools Utilizing the TPACK-Based Problem-Based Learning Model

The purpose of the study. Through the application of the TPACK - based PBL model , it can improve learning outcomes in the aspect of table tennis service material skills for junior high school students. Materials and methods. The method used is the Action Research Class method with two cycles, each cycle through the stages of planning, action, observation and reflection. The research subjects were 25 students. The data of this research is the result of learning table tennis service and analyzed by using the percentage technique of Sugiyono's theory. Results. Student learning outcomes in the aspect of skills have increased from cycle one to cycle two. aspects of service learning outcomes at the implementation stage the percentage obtained in the first cycle was only 74.3%, an increase in the second cycle to 97.7%. Likewise, at the final stage of cycle one, it was only 35%. students who complete have increased in the second cycle to 81%. Conclusions. The TPACK-based learning problem model makes learning more meaningful and the learning outcomes of Junior High School students experience classical mastery

Research Paper - Antinociceptive and antiinflammatory effects of Centella asiatica

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Centella asiatica (CA) upon pain (antinociception) and inflammation in rodent models. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The antinociceptive activity of the water extract of CA (10, 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) was studied using acetic acid-induced writhing and hot-plate method in mice. The antiinflammatory activity of CA was studied in rats by prostaglandin E2-induced paw edema. RESULTS: Water extract of CA revealed significant antinociceptive activity with both the models. The activity was statistically similar to aspirin but less potent than morphine. The CA extract also revealed significant antiinflammatory activity. This effect was statistically similar to the non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, mefenamic acid. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the water extract of CA possesses antinociceptive and antiinflammatory activities