Analysing practice for prosthetic restoration among Major lower Limb Amputees with diabetes:from Northern Borneo Perspective

Diabetes is high in the agenda of public health issues with significant prevalence of diabetic-related amputations. Prosthetic restoration post-amputation is imperative to reduce disability, but its success is influenced by several factors. This study analysed the practice, and the determining factors affecting prosthetic restoration among major lower limb amputees with diabetes in Sabah. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study among 65 major lower limb amputees with diabetes referred for rehabilitation medicine services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital from0 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2017. Demographics data, pre-morbid diseases, levels of amputation and practice on prosthetic restoration (suitability for restoration, duration from prosthetic application to restoration, funding issue) are primary evaluated factors. Results: Forty-nine, fifteen and one amputees had below knee amputation, above knee amputation and hip disarticulation respectively. Forty-three amputees (66.2%) were deemed suitable for prosthetic restoration but only 27 were prosthetically restored, with mean duration from prosthetic application to restoration of 5.92±2.189 months. Having additional pre-morbid diseases did not reduced the likelihood of suitability for prosthetic restoration compared to those only with diabetes (p=0.082). Funding issue is the key factor affecting prosthetic restoration with higher likelihood for restoration among those eligible through governmental agencies funding (p=0.027). Conclusion: In Sabah, low rate of suitability for prosthetic restoration is observed among major lower limb amputees with diabetes. A larger study is warranted to investigate causes of such low rate of suitability for prosthetic restoration among this specific population in the effort to reduce public health burden from major lower limb amputation-related disability

Remanufacturing as a means for achieving low-carbon SMEs in Indonesia

Remanufacturing can reduce the energy intensity and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions significantly and increase the eco-efficiency of product systems by utilizing recovered end-of-life parts. This paper presents the GHG mitigation potential of technically feasible remanufactured alternators in Indonesian small- and medium-sized enterprizes. Life cycle assessment approach and Weibull ++8 software have been used to calculate environmental and quality parameters. Since existing remanufactured alternators have not been found to meet the technical criterion for customers’ satisfaction, a number of alternative remanufacturing strategies have been explored to identify an option that has not only reduced GHG emissions but also has satisfied reliability, durability and warranty period criterion. Three improvement scenarios involving three different remanufacturing strategies were investigated in this case study, and yielded useful insights in order to come up with a technically feasible remanufacturing strategy for reducing a significant amount of GHG emissions. The improvement scenario III, which maximizes the use of used components, was found to offer technically and environmentally feasible remanufacturing solutions. Overall, this research has found that about 7207 t of CO2 -eq GHG emissions and 111.7 TJ embodied energy consumption could potentially be avoided if 10 % of alternators in Indonesian automobile sector are remanufactured using technically feasible remanufacturing strategy

Science in the court: Expert knowledge and forest fires on Indonesia's plantations

In Indonesia, forest fires inside plantation concession areas often become highly-charged and politically-contested events. In the aftermath of major fires, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry typically commissions expert witnesses to collect the evidence needed to bring companies to court and hold them accountable. Companies also assemble their own expert teams to counter the government's allegations. Expert witnesses’ expertise, views, and practices are essential in informing court decisions; however, the work of these expert witnesses is under-researched. Drawing on theories of knowledge politics, this study finds that expert witnesses arrange and interpret scientific evidence—sometimes even contradicting widely accepted scientific understandings—to advance their client's interests. Pro-industry experts have swayed key judicial proceedings, effectively legitimising the commercial plantations sector's problematic land and fire management practices and minimising the industry's accountability for their significant socio-ecological impacts

Pandangan Islam terhadap NFT di Era Digital

In this modern era, everything has started to enter the digital realm. This can make things easier in everyday life considering the digital concept is easy access anywhere and anytime without limits. However, this can be a double-edged sword, instead of making work easier, digital concepts can be detrimental too. Therefore a policy in using and utilizing technological advances is very necessary, in order to maintain security for all users. Lately we often hear the term Non-Fungible Token or NFT for short, NFT is often associated with finance and digital economic systems that can represent a valuable item or asset. In Islam, of course, we have our own views, laws and norms in life, one of which is in economic terms. What is the Islamic view on NFT? Is NFT allowed in Islam? This research will discuss and examine these questions. &nbsp

Tree species that ‘live slow, die older’ enhance tropical peat swamp restoration: Evidence from a systematic review

Funder: Arcus Foundation; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100016681Funder: Darwin InitiativeFunder: European Association of Zoos and Aquaria; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100009167Funder: European Outdoor Conservation Association; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013711Funder: Fundacion BioparcFunder: Ocean Parks Conservation Foundation Hong KongFunder: Orangutan Land TrustFunder: Save the OrangutanFunder: Taronga ZooFunder: The Orangutan ProjectFunder: Ministry of Environment & ForestryFunder: PT Rimba Makmur UtamaAbstract: Degraded tropical peatlands lack tree cover and are often subject to seasonal flooding and repeated burning. These harsh environments for tree seedlings to survive and grow are therefore challenging to revegetate. Knowledge on species performance from previous plantings represents an important evidence base to help guide future tropical peat swamp forest (TPSF) restoration efforts. We conducted a systematic review of the survival and growth of tree species planted in degraded peatlands across Southeast Asia to examine (1) species differences, (2) the impact of seedling and site treatments on survival and growth and (3) the potential use of plant functional traits to predict seedling survival and growth rates. Planted seedling monitoring data were compiled through a systematic review of journal articles, conference proceedings, reports, theses and unpublished datasets. In total, 94 study‐sites were included, spanning three decades from 1988 to 2019, and including 141 indigenous peatland tree and palm species. Accounting for variable planting numbers and monitoring durations, we analysed three measures of survival and growth: (1) final survival weighted by the number of seedlings planted, (2) half‐life, that is, duration until 50% mortality and (3) relative growth rates (RGR) corrected for initial planting height of seedlings. Average final survival was 62% and half‐life was 33 months across all species, sites and treatments. Species differed significantly in survival and half‐life. Seedling and site treatments had small effects with the strongest being higher survival of mycorrhizal fungi inoculated seedlings; lower survival, half‐life and RGR when shading seedlings; and lower RGR and higher survival when fertilising seedlings. Leaf nutrient and wood density traits predicted TPSF species survival, but not half‐life and RGR. RGR and half‐life were negatively correlated, meaning that slower growing species survived for longer. Synthesis and applications. To advance tropical peat swamp reforestation requires expanding the number and replication of species planted and testing treatments by adopting control vs. treatment experimental designs. Species selection should involve slower growing species (e.g. Lophopetalum rigidum, Alstonia spatulata, Madhuca motleyana) that survive for longer and explore screening species based on functional traits associated with nutrient acquisition, flooding tolerance and recovery from fire