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Waste cooking oil (WCO) from various sources were evaluated as low-cost carbon feedstock to produce poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-(R)-3-hydroxyhexanoate] [P(3HB-co-3HHx)] copolymer, which is a type of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). Different Cupriavidus necator transformants harbouring phaCBP−M−CPF4 were employed as PHA-producing organisms in one-stage cultivation in shake flasks. Biological and chemical recovery of PHA were evaluated. C. necator Re2058/pHT1-CBP−M−CPF4 was able to achieve a cell dry weight (CDW) of 8.5 g/L, PHA content of 75.5 wt% and PHA concentration of 6.4 g/L from 1% (v/v) WCO. The weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the synthesized PHA obtained from the same strain was 1440 kDa. The CDW, PHA content and concentration acquired using WCO are comparable to those using fresh oils as carbon substrates. The copolymer produced from distinct sources of WCO and different extraction methods did not have significant differences in molecular weights and thermal properties. Mealworms can perform biological recovery of PHA from cells fed with WCO from distinct sources. This study suggests that WCO from any source can be used as carbon source for bacteria to produce PHA. WCO can be a sustainable alternative for the more expensive fresh oils, and the synthesized PHA can be biologically recovered by mealworms. A combination approach of utilising low-cost substrate such as WCO, high-performance PHA producer including C. necator transformants and biological recovery to extract PHA is beneficial in biosynthesis of PHA copolymer, since this can make PHA production more economical and can improve the ability of PHA to compete with conventional petrochemical plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the upstream oil and gas industry has faced unprecedented challenges in terms of low prices. Given the volatility and uncertainty around oil prices, it is critical for the sector to exercise capital constraints and manage costs effectively to ensure its future success. In response to the difficulties with cost overruns, oil and gas operators have implemented various strategies and measures, such as cost reduction, project prioritisation, project delays and streamlining the supply chain and contracts. However, these approaches do not provide a sustainable or cost-effective solution in the long term. Previous research on project cost overruns has shown that internal factors, particularly project data integration, are the main cause of poor project performance and cost overruns. However, no approaches or technologies have been proposed to improve cost management or control cost overruns. This paper aims to review the features and functions of 5D BIM that could improve the integration of project data throughout the lifecycle and provide a solution for cost management in Malaysia's oil and gas upstream projects. The methodology adopted in this study ensures a rigorous and systematic approach in reviewing the literature on cost management issues, cost overruns and the role of 5D BIM. Consequently, BIM streamlines cost estimating, saves time by automating data entry and producing accurate estimates, increases productivity and promotes better collaboration within the project team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional geotechnical investigation method using borehole drilling and sampling was usually performed for subsurface exploration. However, it is -time-consuming, invasive and requires the closing of railway lanes that disrupts the train service. To avoid this problem, a geophysical method is an alternative that can be proposed to assess the conditions of the soil subgrade under the railway track. Electrical resistivity is one of the geophysical methods that study the nature of the electricity flow in the soil by injecting the electric current into the soil and measuring the generated potential difference. The field investigation was conducted at two different locations using electrical resistivity methods to identify the properties of the soil. Two railway track site locations selected were Pinang Tunggal, Pulau Pinang (KM 23), and Alor Setar, Kedah (250 m from the station in the north direction). ABEM Terrameter LS was used in field work that applied two configurations of an array, the Wenner and Schlumberger arrays, to infer the subsurface soil layer. The results concluded that the apparent resistivity data need to be inverted into an actual resistivity data set using Resistivity 2D Inversion (RES2DINV) software. The analysis found that the soil properties are both classified as soft soil with electrical resistivity values ranging from 0 - 100 Ω-m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slope failures always occur in Malaysia especially during the monsoon seasons between October and January every year causing fatalities and damages to properties. The main factors causing the slope failure to occur are reduction of the shear strength parameters and loss of negative suction due to saturation of the slope. The objective of this study is to determine the effective shear strength parameters of the soil taken at slope failure using consolidation drain (CD) shear box and also to determine the factor of safety using SLOPE/W software. The soil samples were tested under submerged condition. The minimum value of effective shear strength parameters obtained from the CD shear box tests were c' = ° kN/m2 and ϕ' = 47.3° while the maximum value of c' = 3°.2 kN/m2 and ϕ' = 35.6 °. The FOS varied from °.377 to °.749 with minimum value of factor of safety was °.377. When using SLOPE/W software on a stable slope cross section having minimum value of effective shear strength parameters, the minimum value of factor of safety was less than 1 indicating that the slope had already failed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identifying patients with BRCA mutations is clinically important to inform on the potential response to treatment and for risk management of patients and their relatives. However, traditional referral routes may not meet clinical needs, and therefore, mainstreaming cancer genetics has been shown to be effective in some high-income and high health-literacy settings. To date, no study has reported on the feasibility of mainstreaming in low-income and middle-income settings, where the service considerations and health literacy could detrimentally affect the feasibility of mainstreaming., Methods: The Mainstreaming Genetic Counselling for Ovarian Cancer Patients (MaGiC) study is a prospective, two-arm observational study comparing oncologist-led and genetics-led counselling. This study included 790 multiethnic patients with ovarian cancer from 23 sites in Malaysia. We compared the impact of different method of delivery of genetic counselling on the uptake of genetic testing and assessed the feasibility, knowledge and satisfaction of patients with ovarian cancer., Results: Oncologists were satisfied with the mainstreaming experience, with 95% indicating a desire to incorporate testing into their clinical practice. The uptake of genetic testing was similar in the mainstreaming and genetics arm (80% and 79%, respectively). Patient satisfaction was high, whereas decision conflict and psychological impact were low in both arms of the study. Notably, decisional conflict, although lower than threshold, was higher for the mainstreaming group compared with the genetics arm. Overall, 13.5% of patients had a pathogenic variant in BRCA1 or BRCA2, and there was no difference between psychosocial measures for carriers in both arms., Conclusion: The MaGiC study demonstrates that mainstreaming cancer genetics is feasible in low-resource and middle-resource Asian setting and increased coverage for genetic testing., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)