Association of a Provisional New emm Type Opacity Factor-Negative Group A Streptococci Strain ST4529 with Septicemia

R.R. Rantty,M. Eshaghi,A.M. Ali,F. Jamal,K. Yusoff The Microbiological Society of Korea 2001 The journal of microbiology Vol.39 No.3

Group A Streptococcus strain ST4529 is a provisional new ems type which has been recently reported in Malaysia (Jomal, et al. 1999. Energ. Infect . Dis. 5,10-14). This strain was found to be opacity factor (OF) negative with a Tl phenotype. Usually, OF negative strains with T1 phenotypes are associated with acute rheumatic fever. However, strain ST4529 was isolated from the blood of a patient with septicemia. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of the mature hypervariable N-terminus of ST4529 showed only 43% identity with that of M5, the closest matched OF negative strain with a T1 phenotype. Thus, ST4529 most probably encodes a new serospecifically unique M protein which is associated with septicemia rather than pharyngitis infections. The strains with these phenotypes are very important because their sequences should be considered for developing any anti-streptococcal vaccines.

Physical properties of aqueous mixtures of N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) and ionic liquids

R. Yusoff,A. Shamiri,M.K. Aroua,A. Ahmady,M.S. Shafeeyan,W.S. Lee,S.L. Lim,S.N.M. Burhanuddin 한국공업화학회 2014 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.20 No.5

In the present study, experiments have been conducted to measure the surface tension and heat capacity of aqueous mixtures of N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) and ionic liquids (ILs) at atmospheric pressure. Two types of ILs, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF4] and 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium dicyanamide [bmim][DCA]) were used in these experiments. The surface tension was found to decrease with increasing temperature and ionic liquid concentration. Furthermore, the heat capacity of the mixtures increases with decreasing ionic-liquid concentration and increasing temperature. Linear equations were used to correlate the measured surface tension values, quadratic equations were applied to correlate the heat capacity at different compositions and temperatures.

Organic photovoltaics with V₂O₅ anode and ZnO nanoparticles cathode buffer layers

Mohd Yusoff, Abd.R.b.,Kim, H.P.,Jang, J. Elsevier Science 2013 Organic electronics Vol.14 No.3

We report the hybrid inorganic-organic photovoltaics incorporating vanadium pentoxide (V<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>5</SUB>) as hole and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) as electron extraction layers. This device demonstrates high open circuit voltage of about 0.89V with considerably high short-circuit current density of 10.13mA/cm<SUP>2</SUP> along with fill factor of about 61.03%. Combining all these parameters, the power conversion efficiency is 5.53% which is higher compared to that (3.6%) of the cell without ZnO NPs.

Implementation of Child Rights in the Children’s Homes in Malaysia

Pathmanathan R. Nalasami,Siti Hajar Abu Bakar,Jal Zabdi Yusoff,Haris Abd. Wahab,Noralina Omar,M. Rezaul Islam 한국사회복지학회 2015 Asian Social Work and Policy Review Vol.9 No.3

The objective of this study was to examine the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in the Children Homes under the Social Welfare Department (SWD) in Malaysia. Data was collected from 402 registered children who were staying in six Children Homes across the country. This study employed self-report surveys where multiple data collection methods, such as face-to-face structured interviews, key informant interviews (KIIs), and documentation survey, were used. The study found that the SWD failed to comply with most of the commitments of CRC in Children Homes at its implementation level, and it is still needs based. The findings of this study present important guidelines for government and policy makers in improving child welfare services in the Children Homes in Malaysia

Plasmon enhanced organic devices utilizing highly ordered nanoimprinted gold nanodisks and nitrogen doped graphene

Mat Teridi, Mohd Asri,Sookhakian, Mehran,Basirun, Wan Jefrey,Zakaria, R.,Schneider, Fabio Kurt,da Silva, Wilson Jose,Kim, Jaeyeon,Lee, Seung Joo,Kim, Hyeong Pil,Mohd Yusoff, Abd. Rashid bin,Jang, Jin The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015 Nanoscale Vol.7 No.16

<▼1><▼1><P>High performance organic devices were successfully demonstrated with the presence of highly ordered nanoimprinted Au nanodisks.</P></▼1><▼2><P>High performance organic devices including polymer solar cells (PSCs) and light emitting diodes (PLEDs) were successfully demonstrated with the presence of highly ordered nanoimprinted Au nanodisks (Au NDs) in their solution-processed active/emissive layers, respectively. PSCs and PLEDs were fabricated using a low bandgap polymer and acceptor, nitrogen doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes poly[4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-<I>b</I>:4,5-<I>b</I>′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl][3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl] thieno[3,4-<I>b</I>]-thiophenediyl] (n-MWCNTs:PTB7), and [6,6]-phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) and (4,4-<I>N</I>,<I>N</I>-dicarbazole) biphenyl (CBP) doped with tris(2-phenylpyridine) iridium(iii) (Ir(ppy)3) as active/emissive layers, respectively. We synthesized nitrogen doped graphene and used it as anodic buffer layer in both devices. The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect from Au NDs clearly contributed to the increase in light absorption/emission in the active layers from electromagnetic field enhancement, which originated from the excited LSPR in PSCs and PLEDs. In addition to the high density of LSPR and strong exciton-SP coupling, the electroluminescent (EL) enhancement is ascribed to enhanced spontaneous emission rates. This is due to the plasmonic near-field effect induced by Au NDs. The PSCs and PLEDs exhibited 14.98% (8.08% to 9.29%) under one sun of simulated air mass 1.5 global (AM1.5G) illumination (100 mW cm<SUP>−2</SUP>) and 19.18% (8.24 to 9.82 lm W<SUP>−1</SUP>) enhancement in the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) compared to the control devices without Au NDs.</P></▼2></▼1>

Photomask Effect in Organic Solar Cells With ZnO Cathode Buffer Layer

Hyeong Pil Kim,Mi Sun Ryu,Jun Ho Youn,bin Mohd Yusoff, A. R.,Jin Jang IEEE 2012 IEEE electron device letters Vol.33 No.10

<P>In this letter, we report on the performance of conventional bulk heterojunction organic solar cell (OSC) incorporating a solution-processed zinc oxide (ZnO) spin coated on the photoactive layer regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene):indene-C<SUB>60</SUB> bis adduct. We show a significant improvement in short-circuit current density (<I>J</I><SUB>sc</SUB>) upon an introduction of ZnO, and this is further evidenced by the reduction of <I>J</I><SUB>sc</SUB> leading to a lower PCE in the device without the presence of ZnO. Furthermore, we also examined the “photomask” on the performance of ZnO-based device yielding a decrease in both <I>J</I><SUB>sc</SUB> and open-circuit voltage <I>V</I><SUB>oc</SUB> (of about 13.42% and 0.73%, respectively) but an increase in filling factor. Results demonstrate that ZnO plays an important role in the improvement of OSCs' performance.</P>

Nickel-cobalt oxide/activated carbon composite electrodes for electrochemical capacitors

Sook-Keng Chang,Zulkarnain Zainal,Kar-Ban Tan,Nor Azah Yusof,Wan Mohamad Daud Wan Yusoff,S.R.S. Prabaharan 한국물리학회 2012 Current Applied Physics Vol.12 No.6

Nanostructured synthesis of nickelecobalt oxide/activated carbon composite by adapting a coprecipitation protocol was revealed by transmission electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that nickelecobalt oxide spinel phase was maintained in the pure and composite phases. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic chargeedischarge tests and ac impedance spectroscopy were employed to elucidate the electrochemical properties of the composite electrodes in 1.0 M KCl. The specific capacitance which was the sum of double-layer capacitance of the activated carbon and pseudocapacitance of the metal oxide increased with the composition of nickelecobalt oxide before showing a decrement for heavily-loaded electrodes. Utilisation of nickelecobalt oxide component in the composite with 50 wt. % loading displayed a capacitance value of ~59 F g-1. The prepared composite electrodes exhibited good electrochemical stability. Nanostructured synthesis of nickelecobalt oxide/activated carbon composite by adapting a coprecipitation protocol was revealed by transmission electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that nickelecobalt oxide spinel phase was maintained in the pure and composite phases. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic chargeedischarge tests and ac impedance spectroscopy were employed to elucidate the electrochemical properties of the composite electrodes in 1.0 M KCl. The specific capacitance which was the sum of double-layer capacitance of the activated carbon and pseudocapacitance of the metal oxide increased with the composition of nickelecobalt oxide before showing a decrement for heavily-loaded electrodes. Utilisation of nickelecobalt oxide component in the composite with 50 wt. % loading displayed a capacitance value of ~59 F g-1. The prepared composite electrodes exhibited good electrochemical stability.