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Since it may rehabilitate phenol without creating secondary waste, the liquid membrane Polymer Inclusion Membrane (PIM) technique has recently been the focus of several investigations. This study employed the PIM approach to phenol transport utilizing the carrier Poly-Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether (Poly-BADGE) at 1:1 and 3:1 polyeugenol to BADGE ratios. Numerous phenol transport parameters were investigated, including the impact of pH on the phenol source phase, the concentration on the sodium hydroxide receiving phase, membrane thickness, and the time of the phenol transport process using the PIM technology. Dissolving the carrier, polyvinyl chloride, and dibenzyl ether in tetrahydrofuran solvent produced an elastic and porous PIM. UV-Vis Spectrophotometer was then used, along with the addition of a 4-amino antipyrine reagent, to ascertain the phenol content following transport. The wavelength at which absorbance was measured was 460 nm. The findings from the research suggest that, given optimal conditions such as a source phase 5.5 pH, a receiving phase concentration of 0.10 M sodium hydroxide, a membrane thickness of T54 type PIM membrane, and a transport time of 24 hours phenol can be effectively transported using PIM with Poly-BADGE carriers at ratios of 1:1 and 3:1, achieving transport efficiencies of 57.31% and 85.30%, respectively. The BADGE was examined using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) before and after transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) still exhibit dominant contribution to the economy. SMEs manage to absorb greater labor force and to survive the economic crisis. Various efforts to empower SMEs have been less successful. Financing constraint, low quality of human resources, and limited marketing competence have been the typical problems of SMEs that harm SMEs' performance. Despite these problems, SMEs still manage to survive. METHODS: Using the sampling method of stratified random sampling with area strata, this study generates 203 small business units as the sample. The research was conducted by using accidental sampling. The quantitative and qualitative data are from primary and secondary sources. The data was collected by using observation, interview, and in-depth interview. The variables in this research was analyzed by using path analysis. FINDINGS: Social capital positively affect SMEs' financing as indicated by the significance value of 0.000 (< α= 5%). The stronger social capital of SMEs implied greater access of external financing sources. Social capital, and SMEs' financing positively affect SMEs' performance with 1% confidence level, and human resources positively affect SMEs' performance with 6% confidence level. The finding shown the stronger social capital and human resources increases SMEs performance. CONCLUSION: The results show that social capital and SMEs' financing positively affect SMEs' performance, and human resources positively affect SMEs' performance. The results imply that stronger social capital and human resources increases SMEs performance. Social capital facilitates access to finance, marketing, production, and information. The results shows that human resources affect SMEs' performance. Social capital and human resources positively affect SMEs' financing. Similarly, social capital, human resources, and financing positively affect SMEs' performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In thalassemia patients, routine transfusion is one of the given therapies, but this can lead to accumulation of iron which possibly leads to liver fibrosis. Serum ferritin levels are used to evaluate iron over load and correlate with liver iron concentration. Assessment of liver fibrosis, biopsy remains a gold standard, but the method is invasive. However, today many noninvasive methods are developed simple, one of which is the AST to platelet ratio index (APRI). Objectives: To analyze the association of serum ferritin levels and AST to platelet ratio index scores in thalassemia patients who received the chronic transfusion. Methods: Thalassemia patients who have had routine transfusions for more than 5 months or more than 10 bags regularly and no splenectomy has ever been performed. Serum ferritin levels were measured by the Enzyme-Linked Fluorescence Assay method, APRI scores were calculated using the formula (AST/threshold on normal AST value) x 100]/platelet count (109/L). Statistical analysis of the relationship between serum ferritin and APRI score by using Spearman correlation test (p <0.05). Results: Most of the subjects were male (66.67%) and gained thalassemia beta major (61.11%) by age 26.14 ± 7.39 years. The results of measurement of serum ferritin 5011.49 ± 2595.33 ng/ml and APRI score 1.16 ± 1.10. Statistical analysis showed that there was a weak and significant positive correlation between serum ferritin level and APRI score in thalassemia patients with chronic transfusion (r = 0.355; p = 0.033). Conclussion: In this study, APRI scores have not been used to assess the presence of liver fibrosis that caused by elevated serum ferritin level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]