Raising the 3Ps of Sustainable Facilities Management in Singapore – Profession, Perception and Prospection

The purpose of this study is to determine if the target set by Singapore’s Inter-Ministerial Committee for Sustainable Development to have 80% of the buildings at least Green Mark certified by 2030 has any impact on raising the profession, perception and prospection (3Ps) of Sustainable Facilities Management (SFM) in Singapore. The objectives are to understand the tertiary students’ choice of study, determine the core knowledge for SFM, compare the pre-existing 3Ps of Tertiary Students (TS) and FM Practitioners (FMP), propose academic programs, measure the industry support to the proposed academic programs and skill sets and recommend marketing strategies to attract TS to the profession. The results from two surveys (one aimed at TS and the other to FMP) concurred that the target set by the IMCSD has an impact on raising the 3Ps of SFM in Singapore. The analysis further revealed that there were some differing views between TS and FMP on the 3Ps of SFM. Nonetheless, both respondents agreed that government played a pivotal role in generating greater awareness and recognition of SFM professions through effective marketing strategies to attract TS to the industry

Synthesis of novel vanillin derivatives: novel multi-targeted scaffold ligands against Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia worldwide, normally affecting people aged over 65. Due to the multifactorial nature of this disease, a “multi-target-directed ligands” (MTDLs) approach for the treatment of this illness has generated intense research interest in the past few years. Vanillin is a natural antioxidant and it provides a good starting point for the synthesis of new compounds with enhanced antioxidant properties, together with many biological activities, including ß-amyloid peptide aggregating and acetylcholinesterase inhibiting properties. Here we report novel vanillin derivatives, bearing a tacrine or a naphthalimido moiety. All compounds exhibited improved antioxidant properties using DPPH assay, with IC50 as low as 19.5 µM, FRAP and ORAC assays, with activities up to 1.54 and 6.4 Trolox equivalents, respectively. In addition, all compounds synthesized showed inhibitory activity toward acetylcholinesterase enzyme at µmolar concentrations using the Ellman assay. Computational docking studies of selected compounds showed interactions with both the catalytic anionic site and the peripheral anionic site of the enzyme. Furthermore, these compounds inhibited Aβ(1-42) amyloid aggregation using the fluorometric ThT assay, with compound 4 showing comparable inhibitory activity to the positive control, curcumin. At cellular level compound 4 (1 µM)showed significant protective effects of neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line when treated with hydrogen peroxide (400 µM). In our opinion, vanillin derivatives could provide a viable platform for future development of multi-targeted ligands against AD

Students' satisfaction using e-learning as a supplementary tool

E-learning is useful to help students gaining digital and data literacy during their studies particularly in the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0). E-learning which is characterized by time and place flexibility should be utilized as a tool for self-learning. In Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), elearning plays an important role as a supplementary tool for effective web-based learning. The purpose of this study is to examine what are the factors that drive students' satisfaction in e-learning. A total of 194 samples were collected from undergraduate students in UTM using quantitative method. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was utilized for data analysis. The findings showed that delivery method and content have a positive and significant relationship with satisfaction of using e-learning. However, system operations has no impact on students' satisfaction in e-learning. In conclusion, the finding of this study is expected to provide an effective teaching model for general education schools

Analysis towards the current management of limited common property in Malaysia

Strata properties in Malaysia were getting popular especially in the urban areas. As the population density in urban centres are expected to grow continuously, the number of residents for strata properties are expected to rise continuously which help to promote the mix-developments to be developed under a strata scheme. However, there are some issues regarding the unfair management for the common property in mixdevelopment where certain owners have to pay the maintenance fee for common properties which are not enjoyable by them. Therefore, this paper has the objective to examine the current practice of strata management towards limited common property. The enactment of Strata Management Act 2013 and enforcement in 2015 promoted the self-governance for strata scheme in Malaysia. For the current strata property, the scheme will be managed by all strata unit owners where Strata Title Act 1985 and Strata Management Act 2013 provide the framework in establishing the Management Corporation to administer and manage the strata scheme. MC is allowed to establish Subsidiary Management Corporation (Sub-MC) to manage limited common property and the designation of limited common property for different interest of parcel proprietors especially for mixdevelopment properties. Although the frameworks and procedures to establish the subsidiary management corporation were introduced under the Circular of JUPEM in 2017, however the number of establishment for Sub-MC is still low as there is only Sub-MC in Malaysia was proposed to be formed at 1 Mont’ Kiara mixed-use stratified development. Quantitative method and descriptive analysis were used in this research. Result shows that the management body has the knowledge in forming limited common property in their strata scheme. However, the low number in forming limited common property might due to problems in the procedure. Therefore, common pool resource theory was applied to describe the benefit in forming the limited common property

Deep sequencing analysis of mutations resulting from the incorporation of dNTP analogs

Next-generation DNA sequencing technology was used to score >100 000 mutations resulting from exposure of a nucleic acid template to a mutagenic dNTP analog during a single pass of a DNA polymerase. An RNA template of known secondary structure was reverse transcribed in the presence of 8-oxo-dGTP, dPTP or both, followed by forward transcription in the presence of standard NTPs. Each mutagen, whether used alone or in combination, resulted in a highly characteristic mutation profile. Mutations were generated at a mean frequency of 1–2% per eligible nucleotide position, but there was substantial variation in the frequency of mutation at different positions, with a SD close to the mean. This variation was partly due to the identity of the immediately surrounding nucleotides and was not significantly influenced by the secondary structure of the RNA template. Most of the variation appears to result from idiosyncratic features that derive from local sequence context, demonstrating how different genetic sequences have different chemical phenotypes

Fingolimod: therapeutic mechanisms and ocular adverse effects.

Fingolimod is an oral immunomodulating drug used in the management of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). We aim to review the published literature on ocular manifestations of fingolimod therapy and their possible underlying mechanisms. The therapeutic effects of fingolimod are mediated via sphingosine receptors, which are found ubiquitously in various organs, including lymphoid cells, central nervous system, cardiac myocytes, and smooth muscle cells. Fingolimod-associated macular oedema (FAME) is the most common ocular side effect but retinal haemorrhages and retinal vein occlusion can occur. The visual consequences appear to be mild and, in cases of FAME, resolution is often attained with discontinuation of therapy. However, in cases of retinal vein occlusion, discontinuation of fingolimod alone may not be sufficient and intra-vitreal therapy may be required. We also propose a pragmatic service pathway for monitoring patients on fingolimod therapy, which includes stratifying them by risk and visual acuity

IN-browser : a graphical browser for interaction networks

The Interaction Network (IN) is a way of representing the execution of an interaction in a loosely-coupled distributed system. Much work has been put into the development and refinement of command-line programs to record and analyse these INs. This project is aimed at providing a graphical display for INs and access to statistics summarised from the INs. In a broader sense, it aims to provide a greater understanding of INs. A brief discussion of related work is presented. The major design and implementation approaches to the browser, IN-browser, are described, followed by observations drawn from running IN-browser on an IN recorded during the compilation and linking of a simple C program. The usefulness of IN-browser as an analysis tool is discussed