Malaysian Journal of Science Health & Technology

Preparation and Mass Loss Study of Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose Carbon Aerogel Prepared from Non-Hazardous Material

2023-06-13T09:30:05+08:00

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is a derivative of cellulose that shares its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and renewability while being soluble in water and some organic solvents. It is due to these characteristics that the aerogel produced from CMC will share these advantages. In this study, we produced CMC carbon aerogel from different concentrations of CMC aerogels (1%, 2%, 3%, 4%) and under different carbonisation temperatures (300 °C, 400 °C, 500 °C, 600 °C, 700 °C and 800 °C) for a period of 1 hour and 2 hours. The prepared CMC carbon aerogel samples were then analysed based on the difference in mass loss, which differed according to the varying experimental parameters. In temperatures varying from 300 °C to 600 °C, there was a decrease in mass loss as the concentration was increased due to the physical properties of the CMC aerogel. At higher temperatures of 700 °C and 800 °C, the mass loss at higher concentrations of CMC increased due to the completed decomposition and carbonisation of CMC aerogel.

A Review on the Extraction of Silica Nanoparticles from Poaceae Family via Sol-Gel

2024-02-01T09:58:31+08:00

One of the valuable inorganic multifunctional chemical substances is silica, which can be found in crystalline, gel, and amorphous forms. On the crust of the earth, silica is the most complex and abundant family of materials, and it has been used extensively in ceramics, adhesives, detergents, dental materials, electronics, pharmaceutical items, and chromatography column packing. Several kinds of research have fascinated the recycling of agricultural wastes using extraction for useful products such as silica, lignin, adsorbents, cellulose, biofuels, silicon, carbon, and inhibitors. In this review article, we report most of the silica nanoparticles extracted from the Poaceae family since they accumulate significant amounts of silica, and most of them are easily found in Malaysia. This study investigates the significant amount of extracting silica nanoparticles from the Poaceae family via green technology sol-gel technique as pure silica can be produced with the potential to manage the size of the particle, size of distribution, and morphology via the reaction parameters in systematic monitoring. This technique can also produce pure silica using a low-energy method. Subsequently, the key chemical compounds that existed in silica nanoparticles are characterized and identified using FTIR analysis. According to this article, most of the Poaceae family species are considered to gain a high purity of above 90% of silica based on the quantification results. The Poaceae family is recognized for having high silicon concentrations. However, the concentration varies depending on the species.

Facile Preparation of Gold Nanoparticles Silica Composite Film Embedded in Anodized Aluminium Oxide-Glass Substrate

2024-04-05T22:19:42+08:00

Thin film based on gold nanoparticles or AuNPs is typically used as catalyst in the industrial processes due to their high stability and good reusability. In this work, a thin AuNPs-silica composite film was fabricated firstly from sol-gel method by mixing gold pyrazolate complex to a medium comprised of ethanol, deionized water, and hydrochloric acid followed by addition of tetrabutyl orthosilicate as silica source. Next, 70 microliters of the sol-gel solution were spin-coated on several type of substrates such as glass, anodized aluminium oxide or AAO, and combination of both to yield gold complex-silica composite film. It was found that gold complex-silica composite film fabricated on combination of both AAO-glass substrate gave the best quality based on its surface thickness, layer uniformity and film brittleness. Later, the film was selected and subjected to thermal hydrogen reduction at 210 degrees Celsius for 2 hours to facilitate the formation of gold nanoparticles to give AuNPs-silica in AAO-glass film. Before the heat treatment, the light-brownish colour of the original gold complex-silica in AAO-glass film in daylight will appear as a pinkish red film under UV light, suggesting the interaction between gold atoms and supported by its luminescence spectrum at 692 nm. Upon heat treatment, the resulting AuNPs-silica in AAO-glass film gave a deep-red colour indicating the successful formation of AuNPs. The presence of AuNPs in the film was further confirmed based on the absorption peak at 545 nm, X-ray diffraction pattern at 38.20 degrees for d₁₁₁ plane in wide-angle region, transmission electron microscopy images showing a small and sphere shape particles as well as its elemental composition in energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Moreover, scanning electron microscope images also suggested that the AAO pores is fully filled with the composite and is in accordance with its surface roughness study via atomic force microscopy analysis.

Physicochemical Properties and Nutritional Composition of Chicken Patties with Grey Oyster Mushroom Stems

2023-07-14T10:22:56+08:00

The application of plant-based waste materials as functional food ingredients in meat products has gained popularity owing to their nutritional richness and contributions to the circular economy and environmental protection. As such, mushroom stems are one of the potential ingredients to be used in muscle products as a meat alternative, as they mimic the texture of meat. Therefore, this study aims to determine the physicochemical properties and nutritional composition of chicken patties with grey oyster mushroom stems. In this study, five formulations of chicken patties were prepared with different ratios of chicken meat to the grey oyster mushroom stem: control (65%:0%), A (55%:10%), B (45%:20%), C (35%:30%), and D (25%:40%). The chicken patties were analysed for cooking characteristics, physicochemical properties, and nutritional composition. Results found that the grey oyster mushroom stem-based patties recorded higher (P<0.05) cooking yield and moisture retention as compared to the control. The addition of grey oyster mushroom stems increased (P<0.05) the lightness (L*) due to the white colour of the grey oyster mushroom stems. No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed in all formulations of patties' hardness, chewiness, springiness, and cohesiveness attributes, but the increment of grey oyster mushroom stems in chicken patties decreased the value of all these attributes. Nutritional composition of chicken patty of formulation D (40% grey oyster mushroom stems) recorded significantly the highest (P<0.05) moisture and crude fibre compared to other formulations. In addition, the energy content of chicken patties significantly decreased (P<0.05) proportionally with increasing levels of grey oyster mushroom stems. This study indicated that grey oyster mushroom waste is a promising meat alternative ingredient that has great potential to be used in attaining meat products with enhanced nutritional and sustainability profiles in the current sector.

Production of Vanillin from Pineapple Peels Using Alkaline Hydrolysis and Microbial Fermentation

2024-04-05T22:22:07+08:00

Vanillin is one of the most commonly utilized aromatic flavoring chemicals in the food and cosmetics industries. It is derived from natural sources, making it more expensive than synthetic vanillin, and it constitutes less than one percent of the annual market demand. Pineapple peel stands out as a valuable source for extracting ferulic acid, which in turn is utilized in the synthesis of vanillin. As a result, researchers are exploring alternative methods for producing vanillin, such as biotechnological production from ferulic acid. In this study, the capability of pineapple peels as a substrate for the microbial fermentation of ferulic acid by Aspergillus niger to produce vanillin in a single step was investigated. The biotransformation of ferulic acid from pineapple peel by alkaline hydrolysis was optimized using different concentrations of NaOH. Further, the detection and quantification of vanillin and ferulic acid were carried out using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method. Through HPLC analysis, the amount of vanillin concentration produced from the supernatant culture was 1.47±0.24 µg/ml from 1.0 M NaOH concentration and 2.83±0.44 µg/ml from 2.0 M NaOH concentration. From this study, 57.09±1.84 µg/ml and 83.84±4.01 µg/ml of ferulic acid were produced from the 1.0 M NaOH and 2.0M NaOH, respectively. In addition, using the TBA technique, vanillin concentrations were calculated, resulting in 12.92 ± 0.54 µg/ml and 15.38 ± 0.77 µg/ml from 1.0 M and 2.0 M NaOH concentrations, respectively. Briefly, the pineapple peel has been discovered as a good source for vanillin production using Aspergillus niger in the fermentation method.

Headache with Isolated Sixth Cranial Nerve Palsy in an Overweight Woman: A Case of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

2024-04-05T22:20:54+08:00

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), also known as pseudotumour cerebri, has an estimated incidence of 1 to 2 in 100,000 people per year. IIH commonly affects obese young women, where its pathogenesis, however, is not clearly understood. Patients present to the emergency department with a wide array of presentations. In light of this, we present a case of isolated sixth cranial nerve palsy in a non-obese young woman due to IIH in which brain imaging studies showed no abnormality; however, lumbar puncture reveals an opening pressure of more than 50 cmH2O. This case would help to alert physicians to consider IIH as one of the differential diagnoses when encountering such cases, as an uncommon presentation in the non-obese patient, and prompt referral is important to avoid unnecessary delay in the treatment of IIH.

Free Gingival Graft: A Viable Surgical Option for Treating Mandibular Anterior Thin Gingival Phenotype and Gingival Recession

2024-04-05T22:21:18+08:00

Thin gingival phenotype and thin labial plate bone morphotype predispose lower anterior teeth to gingival recession. Free gingival graft has become one of the periodontal plastic surgeries of choice in dealing with aesthetic demand, impaired hygiene care, and dentin hypersensitivity secondary to the gingival recession. The prognosis of free gingival graft as a single augmentation procedure for root coverage is usually good and predictable with proper post-surgery care and maintenance. In this case report, a 28-year-old female patient having gingival recession that was associated with interproximal attachment loss less than to the buccal site, limited keratinised tissues, and thin gingival phenotype in relation to teeth 31 and 41 that was treated using autogenous graft which harvested from hard palate mucosa with satisfactory postoperative results.

The State of Health Supplements Consumption in Malaysia

2024-04-05T22:20:30+08:00

The demand for health supplements (HS) has skyrocketed in Malaysia and around the world in recent years. The demand for supplements keeps rising as more people show an interest in maintaining their health. Vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, and herbal supplements (botanicals) are popular health items. These medications are available over the counter and often come in pills, powder, or liquid form. The endemic effect of COVID-19 anticipates that people will look outside of vaccines for HSs to support their body’s immune system. The study investigates the Malaysian public’s awareness, consumption, and perception or belief about HSs, especially the antecedents to the reason for consuming HS. Purposive sampling and snowball methods were used to solicit data from the Malaysian public by employing a self-administered questionnaire in this cross-sectional online survey. Note that 478 responses were received, but 418 were usable (yielding an 87.45% response rate). The key findings demonstrated a statistically significant chi-square where there are positive associations between the antecedents of Malaysians consuming HS, including country of origin, the Internet, liquid form of HS, and loss of body fat, with a strong magnitude of association. The findings in this study provide a valuable indicator for scientists, researchers, producers, sellers, and marketers to identify the marketability of their invented HS products.

A Policy Examination of Covid-19 Impact on the Radiology Department Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): The Malaysian Experience

2024-04-05T22:20:06+08:00

The purpose of this paper is to review the new management policy in medical imaging of the Covid-19 post-pandemic transition. This paper discussed the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) introduced by the Ministry of Health (MoH) Malaysia to prevent and control intrahospital transmissions of Covid-19. A conceptual framework is proposed to highlight the key areas in the national SOP for preventing Covid-19 intrahospital transmissions in the radiology department. The key areas were classified into four categories: planned requests (patient appointments), (ii) open-access management (walk-in patient workflow and the triage system), (iii) direct contact (during radiology procedures), and (iv) exit policy and disinfection (post imaging conduct). The paper ends with a summary of diagnostic imaging classifications based on chest radiographs (CXR) and Computed Tomography (CT) images of suspected and confirmed Covid-19 patients. The Covid-19 SOP for the radiology department by the MoH was found to retain most of the patient quarantine and isolation guidelines by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and incorporated several international policies on patient triage and disinfection of radiological equipment. The majority of the SOP is also sustained, like the SOP during the pandemic, except for the SOP that has been proven to be insignificant by recent research. The Covid-19 SOP for the radiology department plays an important role in reducing the intrahospital spread of Covid-19, with some areas needing improvement. Health workers in the radiology department should continue implementing the Covid-19 SOP and increase their knowledge in identifying Covid-19 signs on radiographic images to help safeguard themselves and the patients from intrahospital transmissions.

The Planning Process of the “WISE ASSIST” Daily Living System for Senior Citizens

2023-12-02T20:17:58+08:00

This paper presents the planning process for a mobile application for senior citizens called Wise Assist. According to the World Health Organization, Malaysia will become an aged country, and it has been reported that one in six people will be over 60 years of age by 2030. Along with this prediction, there are several suggestions expressed by the Deputy Minister of Women’s, Family, and Community Development to develop initiatives and innovative ideas that can contribute to the welfare and enrich the lives of the elderly in Malaysia. Therefore, this research aims to develop a mobile application that provides services to help caregivers ensure that senior citizens receive proper age care and allow them to perform their daily tasks easily. Although many applications are developed nowadays, the main issue is targeted at senior citizens. In this case, they are one of the groups that need attention because although modern information technology products are affecting the younger generation’s lifestyle, they have a much smaller impact on senior citizens. In general, although this application will be used by caregivers, in a broader context, it will have a large impact on the lives of senior citizens. For example, caregivers can book a companion for senior citizens whenever they need one, such as going to an appointment for dialysis or other medical appointment purposes. This application mainly targets caregivers or family members who have difficulty or issues in accompanying senior citizens for medical checkups whenever they have other schedules that conflict with the date of the appointment by booking an assistant who will accompany senior citizens at home while they are not available. Therefore, it is highly recommended that caregivers use this application to ensure that senior citizens receive proper health care.

SQL Injection Detection using Machine Learning: A Review

2024-04-05T22:21:42+08:00

SQL injection attacks are critical security vulnerability exploitation in web applications, posing risks to data, if successfully executed, allowing attackers to gain unauthorised access to sensitive data. Due to the absence of a standardised structure, traditional signature-based detection methods face challenges in effectively detecting SQL injection attacks. To overcome this challenge, machine learning (ML) algorithms have emerged as a promising approach for detecting SQL injection attacks. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review on the utilisation of ML techniques for SQL injection detection. The review covers various aspects, including dataset collection, feature extraction, training, and testing, with different ML algorithms. The studies included in the review demonstrate high levels of accuracy in detecting attacks and reducing false positives.