The environmental impact of natural fiber composites through life cycle assessment analysis

Growing awareness worldwide toward sustainability has spurred many initiatives to search and apply more environmentally friendly solutions in daily activities. One of the solutions highly investigated currently is for the application of natural fiber composites (NFCs) as a substitution material especially to synthetic composites and other traditional engineering materials. NFC offers many advantages in terms of environmental performance such as renewability, recyclability, and biodegradability, in addition to lower raw material costs and lightweight property. In this chapter, the sustainability performance of natural fiber composites is explained based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis, a methodology formulated to assess the potential environmental impact of products throughout all of their life cycle stages. Among the discussions included are the LCA analysis methodology and collection of research on LCA analysis conducted for natural fiber composites. In addition, a case study on the application of LCA analysis to evaluate the potential environmental impact of automotive products made from natural fiber composites is also included. Eco-indicator 99 method was applied as an impact assessment method in the simplified LCA analysis, based on cradle-to-grave approach. The case study showed that the use of NFCs in hybrid form to produce automotive anti-roll bar components resulted in a lower eco-indicator score, compared to current use of spring steel material. The case study also showcased how the LCA methodology is able to help product designers in performing simplified LCA analysis to assess products' environmental impact holistically throughout their life cycle stages

Optimal planning of renewable energy-integrated electricity generation schemes with CO2 reduction target

This paper presents a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model that was developed for the optimalplanning of electricitygenerationschemes for a nation to meet a specified CO2 emission target. The model was developed and implemented in General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) for the fleet of electricitygeneration in Peninsular Malaysia. In order to reduce the CO2 emissions by 50% from current CO2 emission level, the optimizer selected a scheme which includes Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC), Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC), nuclear and biomass from landfill gas and palm oil residues. It was predicted that Malaysia has potential to generate up to nine percent of electricity from renewableenergy (RE) based on the available sources of RE in Malaysia

A study of complex network using hyperbolic triangle group

Complex network representing many real-world systems in nature and society have some common structural properties such as power-law degree distribution, small average path length and strong clustering coefficient. Recent research has hinted that networks that have an underlying hyperbolic geometry are able to capture these properties. In this research, we focused on constructing the complex networks using abstract mathematical structures constructed by tessellating the hyperbolic triangle group on the hyperbolic plane. We report here how we can use Mathematica to generate corresponding tessellation from the group generators using linear fractional transformations. We then develop a programme to extract and visualize the network hidden in the tessellation for several hyperbolic triangle groups

Analysis of Professional Competence of Bahasa Teachers of Senior High School in Jeneponto Regency after Certification

Abstract This study was conducted in State Senior High School at Jeneponto which aims: (1) to describe and analyze the implementation of the professional competence of Bahasa teachers of State Senior High School in Jeneponto regency after certification; (2) to describe and analyze the results of competency tests of Bahasa teacher of State Senior High School in Jeneponto; (3) to describe and analyze the results of the national exam (UN) of Bahasa subject in the last 5 years after certification of Bahasa teacher of State Senior High School in Jeneponto; and (4) to describe and analyze the development of appropriate models in improving the professional competency of Bahasa teachers of State Senior High School in Jeneponto after certification. This type of research used in this research is mixerd because this study combines three types of research, namely qualitative research, quantitative research, and expostfacto research. The results showed that: (1) the professional competence of Bahasa teachers of State Senior High School in Jeneponto after certification have not been implemented optimally; (2) the results of competency tests of Bahasa teacher in Jeneponto after certification is in the middle category; (3) the results of the national exam data analysis of Bahasa subjects in State Senior High School at Jeneponto in the last 5 years shows that the national test scores fluctuated generally; and (4) the right model of coaching professional competence of Bahasa teachers of State Senior High School in Jeneponto after certification is MGMP model

Food for mood: relevance of nutritional omega-3 fatty acids for depression and anxiety

The central nervous system (CNS) has the highest concentration of lipids in the organism after adipose tissue. Among these lipids, the brain is particularly enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) represented by the omega-6 (omega 6) and omega-3 (omega 3) series. These PUFAs include arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), respectively. PUFAs have received substantial attention as being relevant to many brain diseases, including anxiety and depression. This review addresses an important question in the area of nutritional neuroscience regarding the importance of omega 3 PUFAs in the prevention and/or treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases, mainly depression and anxiety. In particular, it focuses on clinical and experimental data linking dietary intake of omega 3 PUFAs and depression or anxiety. In particular, we will discuss recent experimental data highlighting how omega 3 PUFAs can modulate neurobiological processes involved in the pathophysiology of anxiety and depression. Potential mechanisms involved in the neuroprotective and corrective activity of omega 3 PUFAs in the brain are discussed, in particular the sensing activity of free fatty acid receptors and the activity of the PUFAs-derived endocannabinoid system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

The IDENTIFY study: the investigation and detection of urological neoplasia in patients referred with suspected urinary tract cancer - a multicentre observational study

Objective To evaluate the contemporary prevalence of urinary tract cancer (bladder cancer, upper tract urothelial cancer [UTUC] and renal cancer) in patients referred to secondary care with haematuria, adjusted for established patient risk markers and geographical variation. Patients and Methods This was an international multicentre prospective observational study. We included patients aged ≥16 years, referred to secondary care with suspected urinary tract cancer. Patients with a known or previous urological malignancy were excluded. We estimated the prevalence of bladder cancer, UTUC, renal cancer and prostate cancer; stratified by age, type of haematuria, sex, and smoking. We used a multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression to adjust cancer prevalence for age, type of haematuria, sex, smoking, hospitals, and countries. Results Of the 11 059 patients assessed for eligibility, 10 896 were included from 110 hospitals across 26 countries. The overall adjusted cancer prevalence (n = 2257) was 28.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 22.3–34.1), bladder cancer (n = 1951) 24.7% (95% CI 19.1–30.2), UTUC (n = 128) 1.14% (95% CI 0.77–1.52), renal cancer (n = 107) 1.05% (95% CI 0.80–1.29), and prostate cancer (n = 124) 1.75% (95% CI 1.32–2.18). The odds ratios for patient risk markers in the model for all cancers were: age 1.04 (95% CI 1.03–1.05; P < 0.001), visible haematuria 3.47 (95% CI 2.90–4.15; P < 0.001), male sex 1.30 (95% CI 1.14–1.50; P < 0.001), and smoking 2.70 (95% CI 2.30–3.18; P < 0.001). Conclusions A better understanding of cancer prevalence across an international population is required to inform clinical guidelines. We are the first to report urinary tract cancer prevalence across an international population in patients referred to secondary care, adjusted for patient risk markers and geographical variation. Bladder cancer was the most prevalent disease. Visible haematuria was the strongest predictor for urinary tract cancer

Optimization of biomass usage for electricity generation with carbon dioxide reduction in Malaysia

Electricity and energy sector are identified as the major carbon dioxide emitter. Coal, natural gas, diesel, oil and hydro are the sources to generate electricity in Malaysia. In the 9th Malaysia Plan, government of Malaysia encourage power producer shift from heavy reliance on natural gas and enhance use of biomass. Agriculture residue; palm oil residue, rice processing residue and wood processing residue were considered as fuel sources to generate electricity in this study. An MILP model has been developed to optimize fuel mix and meet CO2 emission target. The model was developed and implemented in General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) for the fleet of electricity generation in Peninsular Malaysia only. In order to reduce the CO2 emissions by 35% from current CO2 emission level, the optimizer has specified to switch from coal to natural gas and biomass from palm oil residues as a fuel. Therefore, agriculture residue is a promising fuel sources for electricity generation at the same time reduce CO2 emissions

Pemanfaatan Cangkang Telur Ayam Sebagai Pupuk Organik diDesa Ombulodata Kabupaten Gorontalo Utara

This service will be addressed to the residents of Ombulodata Village, Kwandang District, North Gorontalo Regency. Several activity programs have been carried out at the location of the activity, namely the Introduction and Processing of Eggshell Waste into Organic Fertilizer, Eggshell Waste Collection, Eggshell Waste Processing into Flour, and Organic Fertilizer Production. The method used in empowering the target partner group is a learning technique in the form of providing theory and simulation to village residents who are target partners and then direct practice with students and villagers. Ombulodata village has the most agricultural land compared to other villages in Kwandang sub-district. the local government provides assistance in the form of more fertilizer to each farmer group. but often insufficient and even damage the plant. Another potential possessed by Ombulodata village is, if you observe the area around Ombulodata village, the availability of land with fruit, chili and tomato plants is quite a lo

Analysis of Professional Competence of Bahasa Teachers of Senior High School in Jeneponto Regency after Certification

This study was conducted in State Senior High School at Jeneponto which aims: (1) to describe and analyze the implementation of the professional competence of Bahasa teachers of State Senior High School in Jeneponto regency after certification; (2) to describe and analyze the results of competency tests of Bahasa teacher of State Senior High School in Jeneponto; (3) to describe and analyze the results of the national exam (UN) of Bahasa subject in the last 5 years after certification of Bahasa teacher of State Senior High School in Jeneponto; and (4) to describe and analyze the development of appropriate models in improving the professional competency of Bahasa teachers of State Senior High School in Jeneponto after certification. This type of research used in this research is mixerd because this study combines three types of research, namely qualitative research, quantitative research, and expostfacto research. The results showed that: (1) the professional competence of Bahasa teachers of State Senior High School in Jeneponto after certification have not been implemented optimally; (2) the results of competency tests of Bahasa teacher in Jeneponto after certification is in the middle category; (3) the results of the national exam data analysis of Bahasa subjects in State Senior High School at Jeneponto in the last 5 years shows that the national test scores fluctuated generally; and (4) the right model of coaching professional competence of Bahasa teachers of State Senior High School in Jeneponto after certification is MGMP model

Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and anthropometric indices among institutionalized elderly people in Kelantan, Malaysia

Elderly people in institutionalized home care might have the risk of getting certain nutrient deficiencies  due  to  lack  of food intake  and  comorbidities.  This  study  was  intended  to investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among institutionalized elderly people and association between anthropometric indices with serum 25(OH)D level. 47 elderly people from Kelantan, age 60 years and above were interviewed for socio-demographic data and anthropometry measurements. The mean serum 25(OH)D level among elderly was 54.9 ± 19.4 nmol/l shows most of the elderly in this study were in hypovitaminosis D status (83%), but none were classified having vitamin D deficiency. In conclusion, vitamin D deficiency was not prevalent among institutionalized elderly in Malaysia and nutritional status has no or less effect on serum 25(OH)D level.Keywords: elderly people; serum vitamin D; serum 25(OH)D; institutionalized elderly peopl