Quality of patient-ventilator interaction in
Southeast Asia intensive care
Mechanical ventilation is used in intensive care to treat patients suffering from
respiratory failure, but it can damage the lungs when not optimised. Current
clinical practice lacks a practical method to determine patient-specific ventilation
settings. To address this issue, a decision support system (Clinical Application of
Respiratory Elastance: CARE) is currently being tested in Malaysia. It can be used
in conjunction with readily available bedside data to optimise treatment. This
research is developing a data acquisition system for mechanical ventilators in
hospital intensive care units, and conducting clinical trials to investigate the
quality of patient-ventilator interaction.
Researchers: Dr Chiew Yeong Shiong and Associate Professor Tan Chee Pin
Funding agency: Medical Technologies Centre of Research Excellence (Medtech Core)
Tunable band-edge potential and electronic band
structure for semiconductor photocatalysts for
efficient carbon dioxide photoreduction and
photocatalytic water splitting
Increasing demands for energy have prompted researchers from around the
world to aim to mimic natural photosynthesis by coupling photocatalytic water
splitting and carbon dioxide photoreduction to produce sustainable fuels and, at
the same time, reduce global carbon dioxide levels. Advancements in the
artificial photosynthetic system not only alleviate global climate change, but also
reduce dependency on conventional fossil fuels. However, constructing an
artificial mechanism is a challenging task and requires a highly efficient
photocatalyst that is able to perform both reactions. This study is focussed on
the development of unique two-dimensional semiconductor photocatalysts with
tunable band structure for enhanced carbon dioxide reduction as well as
water splitting.
Mapping the biodiversity
and abundance of Usnea
for environmental
conservation planning
Lichens are serving a critical role as ideal
ecological indicators that reflect the true local
conditions of an area. A cost- and
time-efficient means, these organisms have
been successfully utilised in monitoring air
pollution and climate change in Antarctica.
This research is identifying different species of
the lichen Usnea within Peninsular Malaysia
and mapping geographic patterns based on
their distribution. Assessment of probable
environmental risk of each collection site,
based on the abundance and distribution of
the collected lichens, will also be performed.
Researcher: Krystle Angelique Aguda Santiago
Funding agency: Nagao Natural Environment
Foundation
Researcher: Professor Chai Siang Piao, Dr Chang Wei Sea and a co-researcher from
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Funding agency: Ministry of Education (for Prof Chai’s Malaysia Research Star Award
2017)
AI alloy electrode quartz crystal microbalance for
wearable sensor applications
Recent advancements have catalysed the growth of wearable device
technologies beyond smartwatches or fitness trackers. One such wearable
device is an ultraviolet (UV) sensor capable of measuring UV index and
informing users to protect themselves from excessive sunlight UV exposure.
However, there are several challenges in terms of sensitivity, response time,
repeatability, power consumption, and wide-angle sensing features. Over the
past few years, research on devising acoustic wave-based UV sensors has been
ongoing. In a recent development, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) was
utilised as a UV sensor and demonstrated its suitability for wearable
applications. A wearable UV sensor prototype was developed to overcome some
of the challenges and stands as an example of a wearable device that uses QCM
for sensing applications.
Researchers: Dr Narayanan Ramakrishnan, Dr Tridib Saha and Dr Ajay Achath Mohanam
Funding agency: Piezo Parts Co Ltd, Japan
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