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Abstract Background Research and academic institutions use various delivery channels to deliver Research Integrity (RI) education in their communities. Yet there is no consensus on the best delivery method and the effectiveness of these channels in inculcating a positive RI culture varies across institutions. Hence, this study aimed to understand the preferences of the research community in Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. Methods An online survey was conducted on NTU research community to understand their experience with, and preference for each RI education mode offered in NTU. The RI education modes surveyed in the general ranking question are Data Management Plan (DMP) workshops, Epigeum e-Learning, Compass e-newsletter (email), and NTU policy on Research Integrity and Responsible Conduct of Research. There were 242 responses, comprising 50% research students, 32.2% research staff and 17.8% faculty members. Non-parametric statistical techniques were used to analyse preferences across different RI education modes and within sub-groups (i.e., fields, age, native language, roles in research community). Results More than 92% of respondents subscribed to the importance of RI education, but with different preferences for education modes. With respect to RI education in NTU, Compass e-newsletters were ranked the lowest (p

Background: This review identifies the predictors of late mortality and heart transplantation that remain relevant in the contemporary population of patients with a Fontan circulation, focusing on the potential impact of post-Fontan morbidities on the late outlook of these patients. Methods and Results: A total of 1561 patients who had survived the Fontan operation in Australia or New Zealand from 1975 to 2018 were included in this review. Over a median duration of 11.4 years, there was a total of 117 deaths (7%) and 32 heart transplantations (2%). Freedom from death and heart transplantation at 10, 20 and 35 years post Fontan surgery were 94% (95% CI 93–95%), 87% (95 %CI 85–90%) and 66% (95 %CI 57–78%) respectively. Being male, having an atriopulmonary Fontan, pre-Fontan atrioventricular valve intervention, or prolonged pleural effusions post Fontan were predictive of late death or heart transplantation. However, time-dependent variables such as the development of atrial arrhythmia, protein/losing enteropathy or late ventricular dysfunction were stronger predictors of the same outcome. Patients who developed a time-dependent risk factor had a freedom from death and heart transplantation rate of 54% (95 %CI 43–66) at 15 years and 44% (95 %CI 33–57) at 25 years post Fontan. However, 95% (95 %CI 91–99) of patients without any of the identified risk factors were free from death or heart transplantation rate at 25 years post Fontan. Conclusion: In conclusion, the occurrence of post-operative complications such as PLE, arrhythmia and ventricular dysfunction will likely precede the late demise of these patients.

The Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams containing Expanded Polystyrene Beads (EPS) and Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) as sand and cement replacement with a percentage between 10% and 30%were studied in terms of load-deflection behaviour. RC beam's size was 1000×150×150 mm and simply supported at spaced 750 mm apart. The 10% of POFA without EPS shows a slight increase which is 0.26% higher than normal concrete in compressive strength. The ultimate load and flexural performance of RC beams with EPS and POFA exhibited a decreasing trend. All beams' ultimate load exceeds the design value. The cracks of the RC beam may be classified as vertical flexural cracks, and some of the cracks can be classified as shear cracks based on the crack angle. As the percentage of EPS and POFA increases above 20% for all specimens, cracking starts to change to shear cracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Liver transplant is a life‐saving therapy that can restore quality life for several pediatric liver diseases. However, it is not available to all children who need one. Expertise in medical and surgical management is heterogeneous, and allocation policies are not optimally serving children. Technical variant grafts from both living and deceased donors are underutilized. Methods: Several national efforts in pediatric liver transplant to improve access to and outcomes from liver transplant for children have been instituted and include adjustments to allocation policies, UNOS‐sponsored collaborative improvement projects, and the emergence of national learning networks to study ongoing challenges in the field the Surgical Working group of the Starzl Network for Excellence in Pediatric Transplantation (SNEPT) discusses key issues and proposes potential solutions to eliminate the persistent wait list mortality that pediatric patients face. Results: A discussion of the factors impacting pediatric patients' access to liver transplant is undertaken, along with a proposal of several measures to ensure equitable access to life‐saving liver transplant. Conclusions: Pediatric liver transplant wait list mortality can and should be eliminated. Several measures, including collaborative efforts among centers, could be leveraged to acheive this goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the characteristics of empty fruit bunch (EFB) using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and shows its potential as a renewable energy sources. A set of data were collected from the thermal reaction and plotted in mass or percentage of the initial mass against either temperature or time, respectively. In the thermogravimetric analysis, mass, temperature and time were considered as base measurements and important data for derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) curve were analysed while many additional measures could be derived from these three base measurements. It was observed that heating rate of 8.5°C/min and air flow rate of 85mL/min provided a maximum weight loss rate of 0.209%/°C at the temperature of 313.5°C and the derivative weight peak of -0.1895mg/°C at 292°C. The time taken to reach the maximum temperature of 899.9°C was 46.74 minutes, and ΔT endo-up reflected minimum point of -0.2°C at 15.82 minutes and maximum ΔT endo-up of 888°C at 42 minutes. Heat flow endo-up also showed that the minimum heat flow was 15.39mW at 15.85 minutes and reaching the peak heat flow endo-up of 47.73mW at 43.27 minutes.

The isolation and quantification of ethanolamine containing lipids from animal tissues may expose neutral lipid extracts to acidic or basic conditions during chromatographic separations or derivatization chemistry. While investigating the acid- and base-catalyzed production of anandamide in chromatographic fractions of rat brain extracts not containing anandamide, we observed that O,N-acyl migrations are facile. O,N-acyl migrations are well documented in synthetic organic chemistry literature, but are not well described or recognized with regard to methods in lipid isolation or lipid enzyme studies. We report here the synthesis and characterization of O- and N-acyl (palmitoyl- or arachidonoyl-)ethanolamines. Their rearrangements in base and acid are quantified by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The rearrangements proceed through a cyclic intermediate that is also formed during chemical reactions commonly used for derivatization of acylethanolamines for gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The isolation and characterization of N- or O-acylethanolamines and their enzymatic formation requires awareness and consideration of the proclivity of these compounds to chemically rearrange.—Markey, S. P., T. Dudding, and T-C. L. Wang. Base- and acid-catalyzed interconversions of O-acyl- and N-acyl-ethanolamines: a cautionary note for lipid analyses. J. Lipid Res. 2000. 41: 657–662.

Nowadays emissions of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels have become a serious environmental problem. Besides, an ever-growing demand for energy sources, which is in dissonance with a limited supply of fossil fuels, has also become another related concern. Subsequently, alternative energy sources have received dramatic attention in an effort to reduce the usage of fossil fuels and increase its share in the future energy production. This paper is, therefore, aimed at investigating the potential usage of Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) as renewable energy sources through the gasification process. In this study, a downdraft gasifier was used to investigate the effect of process parameters on gas composition produced from gasification of EFB. The output concentrations and input parameters of EFB were studied using a response surface methodology with central composite design (CCD). The results showed that the optimal output conditions were at 4.7 L/min airflow rate and 363°C temperature for CO; 1.3 L/min airflow rate and 363°C temperature for CO2; 1.3 L/min airflow rate and 726.42°C for CH4; 1.3 L/min airflow rate and 900°C for H2 and 1.3 L/min airflow rate and 900°C for H2/CO. It can be concluded that production of syngas from EFB using downdraft gasifiers is promising to enhance green energy supplies in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]