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Abstract Purpose This study aimed to identify the current practices and challenges faced by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in managing dysphagia among head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) in Malaysia. Method A sequential, mixed-method study design was utilized in this research. Quantitative data were collected using a survey among 65 SLPs from 34 government hospitals throughout Malaysia. Additionally, 10 SLPs were selected using maximum variation sampling and interviewed for this study. Results The survey showed that only 7.8% of SLPs conducted therapy on all patients before RT. Moreover, the frequency of therapy during and after RT has significant relationships with the variable of time to provide intervention [χ 2 (3, 63) = 13.93, p = 0.004; χ 2 (3, 64) = 12.58, p = 0.007]. This study also revealed varying responses from SLPs regarding the frequency and intensity of performing home therapy programs for patients undergoing RT. Furthermore, SLP practices were divided based on the type of treatments for patients who did not experience dysphagia or mild dysphagia upon the completion of RT. Nevertheless, this study had a high agreement on the type of treatment given to patients who had completed the RT. Qualitative results showed that SLPs faced challenges in terms of a lack of awareness of their role, the establishment of multidisciplinary teams, insufficient SLPs, and inadequate equipment for assessment. Conclusion The study findings indicated a low standard of care in managing dysphagia among head and neck cancer patients undergoing RT and urgently call for improvements toward evidence-based practices.

Food manufacturing generates a considerable amount of leftovers. Garbage disposal could cause environmental and ecological issues. Nevertheless, it is often possible to convert waste into high-value usable goods. Researchers have combed through natural wastes and discovered substances that could be re-utilised to address the issues. One of the materials discovered in marine waste is chitin, which could be transformed into chitosan. Chitosan is a natural biopolymer derived from chitin, which is non-toxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible. Therefore, chitosan has a wide range of possible applications. Moreover, chitosan has been widely acknowledged to be an effective biomaterial in a variety of ways. This review aims to examine more closely the primary sources of chitosan, extraction methods, and applications.

This paper presents the study of steady two-dimensional mixed convection boundary layer flow and heat transfer of a Jeffrey fluid over a stretched sheet immersed in a porous medium in the presence of a transverse magnetic field. The governing partial differential equations are reduced to nonlinear ordinary differential equations with the aid of similarity transformation, which are then solved numerically using an implicit finite difference scheme. The effects of some of the embedded parameters, such as Deborah number β, magnetic parameter M, mixed convection parameter λ, porosity parameter γ and Prandtl number Pr, on the flow and heat transfer characteristics, are given in forms of tables and graphs.

In this paper, a new reliable analytical technique has been introduced based on the Harmonic Balance Method (HBM) to determine higher-order approximate solutions of the strongly nonlinear cubic-quintic Duffing oscillator. The application of the HBM leads to very complicated sets of nonlinear algebraic equations. In this technique, the high-order nonlinear algebraic equations are approximated in the form of a power series solution, and this solution produces desired results even for small as well as large amplitudes of oscillation. Moreover, a suitable truncation formula is found in which the solution measures better results than existing results and it saves a lot of calculation. It is highly noteworthy that using the proposed technique, the third-order approximate solutions gives an excellent agreement as compared with the numerical solutions (considered to be exact). The proposed technique is applied to the strongly nonlinear cubic-quintic Duffing oscillator to reveals its novelty, reliability and wider applicability. Keywords: Approximate frequency, Harmonic balance method, Cubic-quintic Duffing oscillator, Analytical solutions, Truncation principle

The creation of an effective therapeutic serious game (TSG) is highly dependent upon its design and the fundamental knowledge of the users. Furthermore, the TSG is designed for a purpose to the users by incorporating the needs of the users in all design components. Although numerous studies have been conducted on guidelines for designing serious games, to date, studies on the specific TSG’s design guidelines for stimulating the cognitive ability of children with speech and language delay (CSLD) has yet to be comprehensively studied. Therefore, this study focuses on the set of design guidelines for the development of TSG for CSLD, specifically on cognitive stimulation. The TSG design guidelines in this paper are derived through the study of relevant literature, and best practices gained from interviews with experts in the area of speech pathology. These guidelines would be useful for researchers and game designers to design TSG for CSLD focusing on cognitive stimulation.

The steady two-dimensional MHD mixed convection boundary layer flow and heat transfer of a Jeffrey fluid over an exponentially stretched plate is investigated. The governing partial differential equations are first reduced to nonlinear ordinary differential equations, before being solved numerically using an implicit finite difference scheme. Local similarity solutions are obtained for some embedded parameters, such as Deborah number β, mixed convection parameter λ, Prandtl number Pr and Hartmann number H, are analyzed and discussed.

Girinimbine, a carbazole alkaloid isolated from the stem bark of Murraya koenigii was tested for the in vitro anti-tumour promoting and antioxidant activities. Anti-tumour promoting activity was determined by assaying the capability of this compound to inhibit the expression of early antigen of Epstein-Barr virus (EA-EBV) in Raji cells that was induced by the tumour promoter, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The concentration of this compound that gave an inhibition rate at fifty percent was 6.0 µg/mL and was not cytotoxic to the cells. Immunoblotting analysis of the expression of EA-EBV showed that girinimbine was able to suppress restricted early antigen (EA-R). However, diffused early antigen (EA-D) was partially suppressed when used at 32.0 µg/mL. Girinimbine exhibited a very strong antioxidant activity as compared to a-tocopherol and was able to inhibit superoxide generation in the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced differentiated premyelocytic HL-60 cells more than 95%, when treated with the compound at 5.3 and 26.3 µg/mL, respectively. However girinimbine failed to scavenge the stable diphenyl picryl hydrazyl (DPPH)-free radical.

A phytochemical study of the bark of Alseodaphne perakensis has yielded three aporphine alkaloids: the new compound N-cyanomethylnorboldine (1), and the two known alkaloids N-methyllaurotetanine (2) and norboldine (3). The isolation was achieved by chromatographic techniques and the structural elucidation was performed via spectral methods, notably 1D- and 2D-NMR, UV, IR, and HRFABMS. The vasorelaxation activity of compound 1 has been studied.

In the title compound, C17H17NO2, the phenylene rings are bent with respect to the carbon–carbon double bond [dihedral angle between rings = 39.6 (1)°]. The acetamido group is twisted out of the plane of the aromatic ring [dihedral angle = 44.2 (1)°] in order to form an N–H...O hydrogen bond to the acetamido group of an adjacent molecule, generating a zigzag chain running along the c axis.

In the molecule of pinnatane A, C30H48O3, isolated from the bark of Walsura pinnata Hassk, the four cyclohexane rings adopt chair conformations; the carboxyl and hydroxy substituents occupy axial positions. The cyclohexene ring is envelope-shaped. Adjacent molecules are linked by O—H...O hydrogen bonds into a chain running along the c axis.

In the title compound, C17H17NO2, the phenylene rings are nearly coplanar [dihedral angle 7.3 (1)°]. The acetamido group is twisted out of the plane of the aromatic ring in order to form an N–H...O hydrogen bond to the acetamido group of an adjacent molecule, generating a helical chain running along the b axis.

The C=C double bond in the title substituted stilbene, C18H17Cl2NO3, has a trans arrangement of the aryl substituents. The aromatic ring of the 2-acetylaminophenyl substituent is twisted by 39.9 (3)° with respect to the central C—C=C—C unit and that of the 2,6-dichloro-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl substitutent is twisted by 42.7 (3)°.

Aims: In order for speech-language pathologists to work better together with CBR workers, there is a necessity to understand what they perceive as their training needs for people with communication disability (PWCD). Method: In 2013, a cross-sectional written survey was conducted with 421 Malaysian workers, using convenient sampling and a mixed-method approach. Results: In-depth information on training needs from descriptive analysis of quantitative data and content analysis of qualitative data were obtained and discussed. Conclusion: This study, although not generalizable, builds up the literature on worker training needs in developing countries, and would be of benefit for speech-language pathologists and worker trainers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]