Effect of maleated compatibiliser (PBS-g-MA) addition on the flexural properties and water absorption of poly(butylene succinate)/kenaf bast fibre composites

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) composites with 30 wt.% loading of kenaf bast fibre (KBF) were compatibilised with 5 wt.% maleated PBS (PBS-g-MA). The maleic anhydride (MA) concentration in the compatibiliser was either 3, 5, 7 or 10 phr. In general, the compatibilised composites showed better flexural properties than the un-compatibilised composite. The highest increment in the flexural strength and modulus of 12.7 and 8.9%, respectively, were obtained with the addition of PBS-g-MA with MA concentration of 5 phr. Compatibilised and un-compatibilised PBS/KBF composites were immersed in distilled water for 90 days. The absorption of water by all the composites was observed to follow Fick’s law. The equilibrium moisture content, Mm, of the composites with PBS-g-MA at 3, 5 and 7 phr of MA concentrations was lower than that of the un-compatibilised composite due to improved fiber-matrix interfacial adhesion and reduction of voids content. Both un-compatibilised and compatibilised composites showed dimensional instability after the water absorption. This was probably due to the degradation of the fibre-matrix interfacial adhesion and fibre integrity. The flexural properties of these composites decreased after the water absorption. After re-drying only some of the flexural properties were recovered from plasticizing effect of water

Water Absorption And Tensile Properties Of Kenaf Bast Fiber- Plasticized Poly(Lactic Acid) Biocomposites.

Abstract - Increasing awareness on the environmental safety coupled with new rules and regulations has forced manufacturers to consider biodegradable materials for their products.The aim of this work was to investigate tensile properties and water absorption behavior of biocomposites from kenaf bast fiber and poly(lactic acid).The composites were prepared by Haake internal mixer and compression molding

DREAM and C-fos proteins expression after treatment with Malaysian Mitragyna speciosa

The herb plant Mitragyna speciosa (MS) is indigenous in swampy region of Southeast Asia and its traditionally used as a medicine for various illnesses. Recent researches suggested that MS has analgesic effect and it has sedative and stimulant effects depended on given dose. The study aimed to investigate the histopathological changes and expression of both C-fos and DREAM that could be caused by MS extract. Dawley's Sprague rats were orally given the extract at three doses (10, 30, 100 mg/kg) for three weeks and restraint for two hours in restrainer device. The histopthological effects were assessed microscopically, and the C-fos and DREAM expression were evaluated via immunoblot. For the histopathological examination there were no significant changes among (testes, and brain), but kidney showed hypereamia at 30 and 100 mg/kg of nonstress and glumerulus shrunked at 30 mg/kg of stress rats, and for liver there was only slight hymeraemia at 30 of stress and 100 mg/kg of nonstress groups. The immunoblot results for proteins expression showed that; C-fos was expressed in prefrontal (PFC) was significantly increased (p<0.05) at dose 10 mg/kg in both stressed and non-stressed, while it decreased in hippocampus at 100 mg/kg in stressed, and did not show changes in non-stressed rats. DREAM expressed deacrese in PFC at 10 mg/kg in stressed animals, while in hippocampus DREAM expression level was raised significantly at 100 mg/kg in both stressed and non-stressed groups. Thus study showed that MS does not cause histopathological changes, but c-Fos and DREAM showed different expression in targeted areas

Potassium bromide as space holder for titanium foam preparation

Titanium (Ti) alloy foam was prepared by using potassium bromide (KBr) as space holder with percentage between 20 to 40 wt.%. In this work, the potential of KBr as a new space holder was determined. The Ti alloy powder and space holder were first manually mixed before being compacted using hydraulic hand press. The green compacts were then sintered at temperature of 1160°C, 1200°C and 1240°C in a tube furnace. The microstructure of the Ti alloy foams were observed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). It was revealed that the porosity content in the Ti foam was in the range of 16% to 31% and density in the range of 1.5 g/cm3 to 2.6 g/cm3. Moreover, the pore size of the titanium alloy foam is in the range of 187μm to 303μm. Although the sintering temperatures were found incapable of promoting overall densification to the Ti alloy foam, 1200°C was denoted to be the maximal temperature for promoting maximal porosity to the Ti alloy foam. Nonetheless, KBr was proven to be suitable as space holder for Ti foam preparation as referred to its stability and insolubility in the Ti alloy

Adolescent to Adolescent Transformation Program- Nurturing, Enhancing and Promoting Adolescents' Healthy Habit (ATAP-NEPAH): Curbing Social Problems Among Adolescents in Kelantan Through Peer-To-Peer Health Education

The objectives of ATAP-NEPAH are to enhance and nurture healthy habits among adolescents as well as to empower adolescents in inculcating these healthy habits among them. Health education through peer-to-peer approach is used to instill the knowledge on important areas such as sexual and reproductive health, smoking, substance abuse, illegal street racing (rempit) and mental health. Specific modules were developed by experts (lecturers) in multidisciplinary fields in collaboration with Malaysian Association for Adolescent Health (MAAH), National Population and Family Development Board (NPFDB), Reproductive Health Association of Kelantan (REHAK) and Rhaudatus Sakinah Kelantan. The trained Medical Students Facilitator Team (MSFT) of USM became trainers to secondary one school students. The selected school students were trained by the medical students to become peer educators to their juniors and peers. There was improvement in the readiness level of peer educators, knowledge and attitude towards healthy habits and risky behaviors of other school students after the intervention

Study on Handing Process and Quality Degradation of Oil Palm Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB)

The main objective of this study is to determine the relationship between quality of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) and handling processes. The study employs exploratory and descriptive design, with quantitative approach and purposive sampling using self-administrated questionnaires, were obtained from 30 smallholder respondents from the Southern Region, Peninsular Malaysia. The study reveals that there was a convincing relationship between quality of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) and handling processes. The main handling process factors influencing quality of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) were harvesting activity and handling at the plantation area. As a result, it can be deduced that the handling process factors variable explains 82.80% of the variance that reflects the quality of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB). The overall findings reveal that the handling process factors do play a significant role in the quality of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB)