A 27-year-old patient with ameloblastoma of the mandible
underwent anterior mandibulectomy and reconstruction with
left fibula osteocutaneous flap. The bone was shaped at the
lower limb before cutting the pedicle. Vascularised free fibula flap provides a good alternative to other bone grafts in mandible reconstruction as it is relatively easy to perform, carries a low complication rate, and mandibular shaping with intact pedicle cuts down on ischaemic as well as total operative time.
In recent years image acquisition in close range photogrammetry relies on digital sensors such as digital cameras, video cameras, CCD cameras etc that are not specifically designed for photogrammetry. This study is performed to evaluate the compatibility of the digital metric camera and non-metric camera for the purpose of mapping meandering flume, using close range photogrammetric technique and further, to determine the accuracy that could be achieved using such a technique. The meandering flume provides an opportunity to conduct an experimental study in a controlled environment. In this study, the digital images of the whole meandering flume were acquired using a compact digital camera - Nikon Coolpix S560, a Single Lens Reflex (SLR) Nikon D60 and also a metric digital camera Rollei D30. A series of digital images were acquired to cover the whole meandering flume. Secondary data of ground control points (GCP) and check points (CP), established using the Total Station technique, was used. The digital camera was calibrated and the recovered camera calibration parameters were then used in the processing of digital images. In processing the digital images, digital photogrammetric software was used for processes such as aerial triangulation, stereo compilation, generation of digital elevation model (DEM) and generation of orthophoto. The whole process was successfully performed and the output produced in the form of orthophoto. The research output is then evaluated for planimetry and vertical accuracy using root mean square error (RMSE). Based on the analysis, sub-meter accuracy is obtained. It can be concluded that the differences between the different types of digital camera are small . As a conclusion, this study proves that close range photogrammetry technique can be used for mapping meandering flume using both the metric digital camera and non-metric digital camera.
Polishing of dental ceramics has become an increasingly important procedure in restorative dentistry as allceramic restorations, which require post-cementation occlusal adjustment, are gaining in popularity. There are numerous studies in both dental and ceramic literature on polishing of dental ceramics and the effects of polishing on their mechanical properties. However, lack of standardization in polishing parameters, precludes comparison among these studies. A clear understanding is lacking of the relative roles and interdependence of handpiece speed, abrasive characteristic, and polishing load. This paper will discuss the mechanism of polishing and review the literature on polishing and its effect on the mechanical properties of ceramic restorations.
Bunga rafflesia cantleyi Solms-Laubach merupakan salah satu jenis tumbuhan liar boleh ditemui di hutan tanah rendah di Semenanjung Malaysia dan digunakan secara meluas dalam ubatan tradisional. Objektif utama dalam kajian ini adalah untuk menguji keberkesanan ekstrak tumbuhan ini sebagai agen aktiviti antibakteria. rafflesia cantleyi Solms-Laubach diesktrak dengan menggunakan tiga kaedah pengekstrakkan berperingkat iaitu petroleum eter (PE) diikuti dengan etil asetat (EA) dan berakhir dengan etanol. Kesemua ekstrak ini kemudiannya diuji terhadap beberapa bakteria ujian iaitu Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 dan Salmonella typhimurium dengan menggunakan kaedah resapan telaga. Hasil keputusan menunjukkan ekstrak etil asetat dan etanol mempunyai kesan perencatan bakteria yang baik, manakala ekstrak petroleum eter langsung tidak menunjukkan sebarang aktiviti antibakteria. Hasil kajian juga mendapati bahawa ekstrak etil asetat lebih ketara merencat kesemua bakteria yang diuji berbanding dengan ekstrak ethanol. Dua ujian lain yang dijalankan iaitu ujian penentuan nilai kepekatan perencatan minimum (MIC) dan nilai kepekatan minimum bakterisidal (MBC) didapati menyokong keputusan ujian kaedah resapan telaga di mana nilai MIC yang diperoleh bagi ekstrak etil asetat adalah lebih rendah iaitu dalam julat 6.25 hingga 12.5 mg/ml dan nilai MBC pula dalam julat 25.0 hingga 50.0 mg/ml berbanding ekstrak etanol dengan nilai MIC yang lebih besar iaitu dalam julat 25.0 hingga 50.0 mg/ml dan nilai MBCnya adalah 100.0 mg/ml.
Acute appendicitis is one of the most common differential diagnoses for acute abdominal pain made by emergency doctors. Suspected cases require surgical referral for observation or definitive intervention to prevent complications. A high index of suspicion and good clinical skills with the aid of scoring systems allows early decision making, which includes optimal pain control. The objective of this study was to identify the pain score and is relationship to the cut-off points of the Alvarado scoring system so that justifies early surgical referral or discharge for suspected acute appendicitis from the Emergency Department of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). This was a cross sectional study of acute abdominal pain from June 2007 to September 2008. All patients who fulfilled the criteria and consented to the study were assessed for Alvarado score, verbal numerical pain score (VNRS) and their subsequent management. Patients with an Alvarado score of ≥7 were likely to have acute appendicitis (80.1% sensitivity and 52.63% specificity) and those with the score of ≤3 were unlikely to have acute appendicitis. The median pain score was 7.00 (IQR: 5.00-8.50) but 72.5% did not receive any analgesia. There was no direct relationship between the pain score with Alvarado score. Oligoanalgesia in patients with acute appendicitis still exist in Emergency Department of UKMMC.
Tumour surgery for locally extensive malignant neoplasms of the extremity will sometimes result in extensive composite soft tissue defect. Local flaps are usually inadequate to cover these large defects. More than one tissue flap might be required to cover any exposed neurovascular structures, bone or prosthesis. We present two cases where two composite flaps were simultaneously used to cover extensive surgical defects after ablative tumour resections in the extremity. These resulted in uncomplicated wound healing and limb salvage.
The incidence of benzodiazepine paradoxical reaction is uncommon. It may be implicated with crime as will be described in this case report. Method: We report a 37 year-old schizophrenia patient who was detained by the authority under Section 392/397 of Penal Code assaulting a lady using sharp weapon. He had history of illicit substance abuse and benzodiazepine dependence with significant history of aggression associated with benzodiazepine. Just prior to the incident, he took a significant amount of various types of benzodiazepine and suffered from amnesia of that event. During the time of the offense, he was in remission as far as schizophrenia is concerned. Result: He was under the forensic psychiatric care and observation at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta (HBUK). He developed withdrawal symptoms of benzodiazepine in the ward. Conclusion: He was found by the expert team to be under the influence of benzodiazepine during the offence. The role of benzodiazepine and relevant factors leading to aggression will be discussed in this manuscript.
Indialite or α-cordierite was synthesized by glass crystallization method using mainly talc and kaolin and with small amount of MgO, Al2O3, SiO2 to compensate the chemical formulation of non-stoihiometric compositions of cordierite. (3MgO.1.5Al2O3.5SiO2). B2O3, P2O5 and CaO was also added to decrease the melting and sintering temperature of cordierite. The glasses were pelletized and sintered from 850 o C up to 1050 o C. Phase compositions of both heat treated glass was quantified by X-ray powder diffraction data by the Rietveld method using TOPAS Ver 3 software. Result shows that about 60wt% of α cordierite has successfully crystallized at 850 o C. Beside secondary phases (forsterite) which come from initial raw materials, phases from grinding media were also presents in the sample. The contamination was considered high since it has reacted with existence phases to form a new phase at higher temperature. Without any contamination from grinding it was expected to obtain more than 90wt% α cordierite using the same composition.
The combined metabolic and thermoregulatory demands experienced during exercise in the heat impose an exceptional stress on the circulatory system. To date, much of what is known about circulatory stress during exercise in the heat has focused on primarily dry environment (~ 40% rh)
with limited studies carried in higher humidity (> 60% rh) conditions. This study was designed to investigate the influence of humid condition on circulatory responses during prolonged intense running exercise among elite runners. On separate days, 11 male elite runners ran for 60 minutes at
an intensity of 70% max across three different humidity levels of HH (71% rh), NH (43% rh) and LH (26.2% rh) with the ambient temperature set at 300C. Thermal stress was found to increase during exercise in the HH condition as both Tre and Tsk steadily rise across time. Circulatory stress markedly increased during exercise in higher humidity levels. Heart rate was significantly higher in the HH condition with its level increasing to 92% of HRmax. The upwards drift in HR was significantly higher in HH within the last ten minutes of exercise. Contrary, stroke volume recorded a
steady decline during exercise with a significantly lower SV in the HH as compared with the NH and LH. Results implicate rising humidity level will impose greater circulatory stress during prolonged intense exercise. The consequence from this circulatory stress will result in limited ability for an athlete to sustain his exercise capacity when HR reaches maximal level.
A chemical modifier (acrylic acid) was used to improve the thermal properties of polypropylene/ ethylene propylene diene terpolymer/calcium carbonate (PP/EPDM/CaCO3) composites. Treated
and untreated PP/EPDM composites were filled by CaCO3 at 0, 20 and 40% wt. The composites
were prepared using Z-blade mixer machine at 180oC and 50 rpm of rotor speed. Thermogravimetric
analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods were used to analyze the thermal properties of the composites. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the total weight loss of PP/EPDM/CaCO3 composites decreased with the increasing filler loading for the treated and untreated composites. Meanwhile, the presence of acrylic acid was found to have increased the thermal stability and crystallinity of PP/EPDM/CaCO3
.
The purpose of this study was to characterize, differentiate and correlate visual field and brain activation in visual cortex
for normal, glaucoma suspect (GS) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) participants using Standard Automated
Perimetry (SAP) and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) respectively. The fMRI scans and SAP test were both
carried out in Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM). Two types of black-and-white checkerboard
pattern were displayed to the participants during the fMRI scans. The fMRI data were analyzed using WFU pickatlas
toolbox targeting visual cortex area. The results showed that there was no significant difference in number of activated
voxel between the three groups in visual cortex (BA 17, 18 and 19) while viewing all the given stimuli (p > 0.05). The
pattern standard deviation (PSD) of SAP for visual field also revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in all groups of
participants. However, negative correlation between PSD and fMRI activation was observed. The PSD values increased with
a decrease in fMRI activation. With reference to visual field analysis, the results suggest that glaucomatous neuropathy of
POAG patients has led to a gradual decrease in visual cortex activation and a gradual increase in PSD.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Ficus deltoidea (F. deltoidea) as an antioral ulcer on animal models. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were sedated with Nembutal through intraperitoneal route; oral ulcer models were made by applying 99.5% of glacial acetic acid moistened paper disc on rat buccal mucosa. Four groups of these rats were treated respectively with: no treatment (group 1: negative control); Triamcinolone acetonide (group 2: positive control); 250 mg kg-1 F. deltoidea extract (group 3: experimental); 500 mg kg-1 F. deltoidea extract (group 4: experimental) for 10 consecutive days, respectively. On days 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10, the ulcers size was assessed. Data was analysed statistically by using SPSS. The negative control rats exhibited buccal mucosa injury whereas treatment with F. deltoidea and Triamcinolone acetonide resulted in significantly reduced size of oral ulcer. The percentage of inhibitory area of oral ulcer was more prominent in 500 mg kg-1 F. deltoidea extract than 250 mg kg-1. Meanwhile, in vivo study showed that F. deltoidea extract not toxic up to 1000 mg kg-1. The present findings suggest that F. deltoidea extract effectively accelerates oral ulcer healing process, and could therefore be developed as a therapeutic agent for healing oral ulcer.
The importance of the performance of concrete cannot be neglected since it is the early indicator of its physical and mechanical properties. It became more important when material with different physical properties than normal material such as rubber tire was used as concrete constituent. This paper presented apart of research result conducted on mortar and concrete with crumb rubber. Crumb rubber was replaced at 10%, 15% and 20% as sand replacement by volume. In addition, ordinary Portland cement was added to silica fume at 10% and 15% by weight. The properties measured in this study are air content and workability test. As for workability, superplasticizers were constantly used at 1% dosage for all mortar mixture, and 0.5% to 0.7% for concrete mixture. The air content was set at 4% to 6% and mortar flow test was conducted on a steel plate, shocked 15 times in 15 seconds and concrete slump test was carried out using slump cone equipment. Pressure method was used to measure air content. All mixes were done in a controlled room temperature. Results showed that when CR was added in the mixture segregation was observed in mortar requiring a high dose of superplasticizer to be added to improve the workability while air-modifying agent was used to reduce the mortar air content. In concrete mixture, low dosage of superplasticizers was required for workability and air-entrained agent was injected into the mixture to increase the air content between 4%-6%.
High uncertainties in aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) arise from inaccurate estimation for aerosol optical depth (AOD) as an input parameter into Santa Barbara Discrete Ordinate Radiative Transfer (SBDART) model. Influence of AOD in ARF at the top of atmosphere (TOA) and surface over Kuching from 2011 until 2015 was investigated using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Multi plane regression technique was used to retrieve AOD from MODIS (AODMODIS) by using different statistics (mean and standard deviation (MODISµ±σ) and relative absolute error (MODISRAE) for accuracy assessment in spatial averaging and compared with Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET). The relationship between AODMODIS and AOD from AERONET (AODAERONET) showed R2 value for MODISµ±σ and MODISRAE is 0.906 and 0.932, respectively. AODMODIS over Kuching tends to underestimate AOD during low variations and overestimate AOD when aerosol loading is higher. The retrieval of AODMODIS was used as an input parameter into SBDART for ARF estimation and compared with ARF from AERONET. When using AODMODIS from MODISµ±σ, the ARF at TOA was between -5.95 Wm-2 and 0.89 Wm-2 and at the surface was from -389.7 Wm-2 and -31.4 Wm-2 while for MODISRAE, ARF value at the surface was from -392.3 Wm-2 and -27.3 Wm-2 while at TOA was between -5.89 Wm-2 and 0.98 Wm-2. Average ARF value within the atmosphere for both MODISµ±σ and MODISRAE were 151.6 Wm-2 and 130.4 Wm-2, respectively. There is a poor relationship between the SBDART and AERONET for MODISµ±σ, where R2 is 0.33, while strong relationship is observed for MODISRAE with R2 value at 0.724.
In this present study, enzymatic esterification synthesis of fructose laurate was performed in organic media using lipase from Candida antarctica immobilized on acrylic resin. Screening phase of esterification reaction was done using two commonly used commercial immobilized lipases, in three different solvents, molecular sieve loadings, and reaction time to observe their effect on the yield of fructose laurate. The highest yield was obtained by using ethanol as the solvent, 0.02 g lipase loading, 0.10 g molecular sieves loading, and 24 hr of reaction time. By using response surface methodology (RSM) with central composite design (CCD), it was found that the optimum operational conditions were 40°C, 0.13 g lipase loadings, 200 rpm agitation rate, and without molecular sieve needed for the system. The optimized esterification conditions could give the yield of fructose laurate about 93.21 ± 0.13% with 92.91% confidence level.
Al-20%Mg2Si composite was in situ synthesized and modified by the addition of Ba and Bi;
the microstructure of the resulting composites will be investigated. It is expected that the comodification
with Ba and Bi effectively refined the morphology of Mg2Si which is attributed to the
formation of fine Ba2Bi particles that acted as the heterogeneous nucleation sites for the primary Mg2Si
particles, resulting in a refined distribution of these precipitates. Therefore, the addition of Ba and Bi
can provide a better effect than only the addition of Bi or Ba separately.
The shelf life of rambutan is often limited due to rapid water loss from the spinterns and browning of the pericarp. An integrated approach, which combined hot water treatment (HWT) (56 °C for 1 min), oxalic acid (OA) dip (10% for 10 min) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), was used to study their effectiveness on the quality of rambutan during storage (10 °C, 90-95% relative humidity). Significant differences were observed in rambutan quality with the combination of MAP + HWT + OA after 20 days of storage. This treatment combination resulted into better retention of firmness and colour (L and a* values) than in the control. Change in the total soluble solid content was significantly delayed however the titratable acidity showed no significant change in comparison to the control at the end of storage.
The collaborative and competitive nature of multi-agent systems (MAS) is visible through the simple social mode of communication that emerges between human-agent interactions or agent-to-agent interactions. A simple mode of communication involves the fundamental actions carried out by individual agents in achieving their desired goal. The sum of these achievements contribute to the overall group goal. Comparatively, the collective intelligence (CI) of a MAS simply means that these agents should work together to produce better solutions than those made possible when using the traditional approach. In designing MAS with CI properties, formalisation of a higher level deliberation process is essential. A high level deliberation process refers to the judgement comprehension of tasks, reasoning and problem solving and planning. In this paper, we propose our Collective Intelligence Model, CIM, which has the potential to control and coordinate a high-level deliberation process of a MAS. CIM is inspired by the emerging processes of controlled discussion, argumentation and negotiation between two or more intelligent human agents. These processes screen and validate the deliberation process through a crossfertilisation approach. The emergent property of the cross-fertilised ideas results in an intelligent solution that solves optimisation-related tasks.
Oral retinoids are among the drugs of choice for pustular psoriasis. Therapy with retinoids, including acitretin, is potent teratogens with other common side effects such as mucocutaneous involvement. Mucocutaneous side effects including dry lips (cheilitis), skin peeling, hair loss (alopecia), dry skin, or rhinitis are dose-related, with cheilitis occurring in more than 75% of patients receiving the highest doses of acitretin (75 mg/day). We report on a 37-year-old woman who developed folliculitis with acitretin which is a rare cutaneous side effect. She presented with eruptions pruritic papules with follicular pattern on anterior thigh and forearms after almost 1 year of treatment with acitretin (50mg OD) for pustular psoriasis. The skin lesion was treated successfully with skin dressing and antibiotic treatment and skin biopsy is suggestive of folliculitis. Several treatments for pustular psoriasis including topical steroids, methotrexate and oral prednisolone were ineffective or not tolerated. Treatment with acitretin which are 50mg OD provided partial resolution of skin lesions. The case is hereby reported because of its rarity and folliculitis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of a popular eruption, especially in patients with high dose acitretin.
The development of SPARK (Sport Play Active and Recreation for Kids) program is an effort to improve physical fitness activities among school children. In addition, the development of this program is planned and systematic activity that will help children express ideas freely, especially in the Physical Education or during Co-curriculum activities. In this study, the validity of the SPARK program is based on the Sidek & Jamaludin (2005) module. The SPARK (Sports Play Active and Recreation for Kids) content creation process begins with the goal and concludes with a draft union. In the initial stages of the content development, researchers determine the purpose and objective of this program. Besides that, Researchers determine the appropriate types of activities are applied to enhance the physical fitness activities for the students. Therefore, the development of the SPARK program is through two phases, namely program construction and validity of content. Therefore, the results of the expert assessment on SPARK (Sport Play Active and Recreation for Kids) program content have a high content legality value of .78. This value can be explained that the SPARK program (Sport Play Active and Recreation for Kids) is highly relevant to the learning and teaching process for Physical Education subjects, co-curricular activities and it is ideal use in this research. In conclusion, the program is expected to provide opportunities for children to undergo natural learning through cognitive social theories that contribute to the learning and teaching process for Physical and Health Education subjects to see the impact on the involvement of children's physical activity.