Evaluation of the surface roughness and dimensional accuracy of low-cost 3D-printed parts made of PLA-aluminum.

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is currently used in several fields, such as architecture, manufacturing, and medical applications. FDM was initially developed to produce and create prototypes, but the expense appears excessive for producing final products. Nevertheless, in this day and age, engineers have developed a low-cost 3D printer. One of the major issues with low-cost 3D printers is the low dimensional accuracy and high tolerances of the printed products. Herein, different printing parameters, i.e., layer thickness, printing speed, and raster angle, need to be investigated to enhance the surface roughness of the parts produced using FDM. Thus, the present study focuses on investigating the performance of the surface finish produced by FDM by manipulating different parameters such as layer thickness, printing speed, and raster angle. Taguchi's method, based on the L9 array for experimental design, was employed to elucidate the response variables. The sample model was developed following ISO standards, utilizing polylactic acid (PLA)-aluminum as the filament material. The analysis of variance results indicated that the layer thickness and raster angle significantly affect the surface roughness of the printed parts, with statistical P-values of 0.016 and 0.039, respectively. This enables an easy selection of the optimal printing parameters to achieve the desired surface roughness. The dimensional accuracy of the fabricated part was also evaluated. Thirteen dimensions of the part features were analyzed, and the results showed that the FDM machine exhibited good accuracy for most of the shapes, with a deviation below 5%.

Design of a pyrolysis system and the characterisation data of biochar produced from coconut shells, carambola pruning, and mango pruning using a low-temperature slow pyrolysis process.

Biochar production is an effective approach to managing abundant agricultural wastes. Pruning wastes from trimming the branches of trees such as carambola and mango, as well as coconut shells, are among the agricultural wastes that have reutilisation potential, which would simultaneously reduce the space required for disposal. In this study, the potential use of these wastes by converting them into biochar was investigated. The data presented in this study highlight the design of a pyrolysis system for a low-temperature slow pyrolysis process, as well as the characterisation data of the biochar produced using this system. The data collected included the elemental composition, porosity, as well as surface and adsorption characteristics of the biochar. These data indicate that the biochar produced had certain qualities that would enable its use for specific agricultural and industrial purposes. Meanwhile, the design indicated that it could facilitate small farms with specific outputs. In brief, these data can be used as references for developing a small-scale system for agricultural waste management using different types of crops.

Molecular, Metabolic, and Nutritional Changes after Metabolic Surgery in Obese Diabetic Patients (MoMen): A Protocol for a Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Metabolic surgery is an essential option in the treatment of obese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Despite its known advantages, this surgery still needs to be introduced in Malaysia. In this prospective study, the pathophysiological mechanisms at the molecular level will be studied and the metabolomics pathways of diabetes remission will be explored. The present study aims to evaluate the changes in the anthropometric measurements, body composition, phase angle, diet intake, biochemistry parameters, adipokines, microRNA, and metabolomics, both pre- and post-surgery, among obese diabetic patients in Malaysia. This is a multicenter prospective cohort study that will involve obese patients (n = 102) with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥25 kg/m2 (Asian BMI categories: WHO/IASO/IOTF, 2000) who will undergo metabolic surgery. They will be categorized into three groups: non-diabetes, prediabetes, and diabetes. Their body composition will be measured using a bioimpedance analyzer (BIA). The phase angle (PhA) data will be analyzed. Venous blood will be collected from each patient for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipids, liver, renal profile, hormones, adipokines, and molecular and metabolomics analyses. The serum microRNA will be measured. A gene expression study of the adipose tissue of different groups will be conducted to compare the groups. The relationship between the 1HNMR-metabolic fingerprint and the patients' lifestyles and dietary practices will be determined. The factors responsible for the excellent remission of T2D will be explored in this study.

Efficacy and Safety of Morinda citrifolia L. (Noni) as a Potential Anticancer Agent.

Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and therefore there has been interest in discovering the phytoconstituents of medicinal plants exhibiting anticancer activities. Morinda citrifolia L., commonly known as Noni, has shown anticancer properties in in vitro, in vivo, and in clinical studies. A systematic review was conducted to collate scientific evidence on the anticancer properties of M. citrifolia using pre-determined keywords on 5 electronic databases: MEDLINE, CENTRAL, LILACS, Web of Science, and EBSCOHost. A total of 51 clinical and preclinical studies comprising 41 efficacy and 10 safety studies were included in this review. Our findings showed that M. citrifolia demonstrated various anticancer properties in different cancer models, via multiple mechanisms including antitumor, antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, antiangiogenesis, antimigratory, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities. M. citrifolia is deemed to be a potentially valuable medicinal plant in the treatment of cancer through its many intrinsic pathways. More well-designed and reported preclinical efficacy and safety studies are needed to allow for better translation into future clinical studies which could further substantiate the role of M. citriflolia in cancer treatment.

Physiological Changes and Interactions Between Microbiome and the Host During Pregnancy.

In recent years, it has become clear that microbiome play a variety of essential roles in human metabolism, immunity, and overall health and that the composition of these microbiome is influenced by our environment, diet, weight, hormones, and other factors. Indeed, numerous physiological and pathological conditions, including obesity and metabolic syndrome, are associated with changes in our microbiome, referred to as dysbiosis. As a result, it is not surprising that such changes occur during pregnancy, which includes substantial weight gain and significant changes in metabolism and immune defenses. The present review relates physiological changes during pregnancy to alterations in the microbial composition at various sites, including the gut, oral cavity, and vagina. Pregnancy has been linked to such microbial changes, and we believe that, in contrast to certain disease states, these microbial changes are vital for a healthy pregnancy, probably through their influence on the mother's immunological, endocrinological, and metabolic status.

Phytochemical and In Vitro Genotoxicity Studies of Standardized Ficus deltoidea var. kunstleri Aqueous Extract.

The present study was carried out to assess the genotoxicity potential of Ficus deltoidea var. kunstleri aqueous extract (FDAE) using standard in vitro assays. The DNA damage of V79B cells was measured using the alkaline comet assay treated at 0.1 mg/mL (IC10) and 0.3 mg/mL (IC25) of FDAE together with positive and negative controls. For in vitro micronucleus assay, the V79B cells were treated with FDAE at five different concentrations (5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625, and 0.3125 mg/mL) with and without S9 mixture. The bacteria reverse mutation assay of FDAE was performed on Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, 100, 1535, 1537, and Escherichia coli strain WP2uvrA using pre-incubation method in the presence or in the absence of an extrinsic metabolic system (S9 mixture). FDAE at 0.1 and 0.3 mg/mL significantly increased DNA damage in both comet tail and tail moment (p < 0.05). No significant changes were detected in the number of micronucleated cell when compared to control. Tested at the doses up to 5000 µg/plate, the FDAE did not increase the number of revertant colonies for all strains. In conclusion, further investigation needs to be conducted in animal model to confirm the non-genotoxicity activities of FDAE.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activities of wood vinegars from carambola, coconut shells and mango against selected plant pathogenic microorganisms

Aims@#This work aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of three different sources of wood vinegars obtained from pyrolysis of carambola (Averrhoa carambola), coconut shells (Cocos nucifera) and mango (Mangifera indica) and to identify their chemical composition. @*Methodology and results@#Agar well diffusion technique was employed to assay the antifungal activity of the wood vinegars against Fusarium oxysporum, Colletotrichum gleosporoides, and Pestalotiopsis microspora and disc diffusion technique for antibacterial screening against Ralstonia solanacearum. The chemical compositions of these wood vinegars were also analyzed using GC-MS by employing the headspace technique. All wood vinegars exhibited antimicrobial activity against tested pathogens. Wood vinegar from carambola exhibited the most promising antimicrobial effect followed by coconut shells and mango. The GC-MS analysis revealed the wood vinegars from coconut shells, carambola, and mango are different in the chemical composition and active compounds. Major compounds identified in coconut shells are furfural, phenol, benzofuran, acetic acid, hexanal, ethanone, and formic acid. In carambola, the main compounds are furfural, imidazole, 3-pyridinecarboxaldehyde, benzaldehyde, phenol, benzofuran, indene, acetic acid, indazole, naphthalene, cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, palmitamide, palmitic acid, heptadecanenitril, and sterylamide. Meanwhile, the main chemical compounds in the pruning of mango-based vinegar consist of toluene, furfural, imidazole, annulene, benzaldehyde, phenol, carbamic acid, acetic acid, naphthalene, heptadecanenitril, and stearylamide.@*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#It is suggested that wood vinegar from carambola, coconut shells, and mango is a promising antimicrobial agent in plant disease control, showing good potential for inhibition of selected plant pathogenic microorganisms.