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Background: Maternal satisfaction must be assessed in order to reflect the quality of care, which is considered an outcome of healthcare services. It can also be used to contrast and compare satisfaction with various care models or service configuration or to assess overtime changes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Malay version Women's Views of Birth Postnatal Satisfaction Questionnaire (WOMBPNSQ) based on the Rasch scale model of labour satisfaction.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Postpartum women were identified from a tertiary hospital and evaluated at 1-month postnatal period using WOMBLSQ. The Rasch model was used to investigate the reliability, unidimensionality, item and person misfits and distribution map.Results: A total of 195 women were involved. The Rasch analysis revealed that the 30 items had a high level of reliability at 0.99 and item separation at 9.02. It has a low level of reliability at 0.45 and persons separation at 0.90. All the items are considered fit. Five people have most misfitting response strings based on item IPS_Q15, 'I was given little advice on contraception following the birth of my baby', but extremely trivial differences were found in the parameter estimates after refitting the model. The more difficult item to endorse satisfaction is item CA_Q17 'I was given little advice on contraception following the birth of my baby'.Conclusions: The WOMBLSQ tested in postpartum women proved to have high item reliability index but with an adequate sample. The analysis shows that the 30 items target the right form of respondents, have similar latent characteristics of postpartum women and a shared sense of satisfaction. For future improvement, more difficult items endorsing satisfaction should be created, and the common items in which satisfaction is expected should be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the effect of Ashwagandha extract on sleep. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Google Scholars, World Health Organization Trials Portal, ClinicalTrials.gov, Clinical Trial Registry of India, and AYUSH Research Portal for all appropriate trials. Randomized controlled trials that examined the effect of Ashwagandha extract versus placebo on sleep in human participants 18 years old and above were considered. Two authors independently read all trials and independently extracted all relevant data. The primary outcomes were sleep quantity and sleep quality. The secondary outcomes were mental alertness on rising, anxiety level, and quality of life. Results: A total of five randomized controlled trials containing 400 participants were analyzed. Ashwagandha extract exhibited a small but significant effect on overall sleep (Standardized Mean Difference -0.59; 95% Confidence Interval -0.75 to -0.42; I2 = 62%). The effects on sleep were more prominent in the subgroup of adults diagnosed with insomnia, treatment dosage ≥600 mg/day, and treatment duration ≥8 weeks. Ashwagandha extract was also found to improve mental alertness on rising and anxiety level, but no significant effect on quality of life. No serious side effects were reported. Conclusion: Ashwagandha extract appears to has a beneficial effect in improving sleep in adults. However, data on the serious adverse effects of Ashwagandha extract are limited, and more safety data would be needed to assess whether it would be safe for long-term use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearable technology offers a prospective solution to the increasing demand for activity monitoring in pervasive healthcare. Feature extraction and selection are crucial steps in activity recognition since it determines the accuracy of activity classification. However, existing feature extraction and selection methods involve manual feature engineering, which is time-consuming, laborious and prone to error. Therefore, this paper proposes an unsupervised feature learning method that automatically extracts and selects the features without human intervention. Specifically, the proposed method jointly trains a convolutional denoising autoencoder with a convolutional neural network to learn the underlying features and produces a compact feature representation of the data. This allows not only more accurate and discriminative features to be extracted but also reduces the computational cost and improves generalization of the classification models. The proposed method was evaluated and compared with deep learning convolutional neural networks on a public dataset. Results have shown that the proposed method can learn a salient feature representation and subsequently recognize the activities with an accuracy of 0.934 and perform comparably well to the convolutional neural networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare providers are vulnerable in the fight against COVID-19 and may experience significant psychological and mental health consequences. This study aimed to compare the levels of depressive symptoms among frontline and non-frontline healthcare providers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in two government hospitals managing COVID-19-related cases in Kelantan, Malaysia from May to July 2020 to identify and compared depressive symptoms levels of frontline and non-frontline healthcare providers. Convenient sampling was applied in the selection of eligible participants and those diagnosed as having any psychiatric illnesses were excluded. The self-administered questionnaires for the Malay versions of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to measure depressive symptoms score and the Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey to measure social support score as an important confounder. A descriptive analysis, independent t-test and ANCOVA were performed using SPSS version 26. Results: A total of 306 respondents from healthcare providers were recruited which 160 were frontline healthcare providers and 146 were non-frontline healthcare providers. The level of depressive symptoms (HADS score >8) was 27.5% for the frontline healthcare providers and 37.7% for the non-frontline healthcare providers. The mean depressive symptoms score for the non-frontline healthcare providers was 0.75 points higher than that of the frontline healthcare providers after adjusting for gender, duration of employment and social support. Conclusion: Non-frontline healthcare providers are also experiencing psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic even though they do not have direct contact with COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A woman's perception of risk affects her decisions about seeking obstetric care and following prescribed regimens of care. This study explored the perceptions of high-risk pregnancy among women with high-risk factors.Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in the Morang district, Nepal. A phenomenological approach was used. In-depth interviews were conducted with 14 participants. Postpartum women with one risk factor for high-risk pregnancy who non-adhere to referral hospital birth were selected purposively. Thematic analysis was done to generate themes and categories.Findings: Two main themes emerged in this study: (i) knowledge and understanding of risk and (ii) normalizing and non-acceptance of risk. The participants had inadequate knowledge of risk in pregnancy and childbirth. Their information source was their personal experiences of risk, witnessing their close relatives, and community incidents. The participants perceived pregnancy as a normal event and did not consider themselves as at risk. They tended to deny risk and perceived that everything was fine with their pregnancy.Conclusions: The findings of this study provide a glimpse into how women perceived risk and the reasons that lead them to deny the risks and gave home birth. In the presence of risk factors in pregnancy, some women were not convinced that they were at risk. An antenatal check-up should be utilized as a platform to educate women, explore their intentions, and encourage safer births. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical thermoelectric effect is capable of generating Seebeck and conductivity from a temperature gradient through redox reaction at the electrode. Conventional spin Seebeck effect (SSE) is the generation of spin voltage by solid coupling magnetic thin film in presence of magnetic field and temperature gradient. In this study, we demonstrate an enhancement of a magnetic free SSE of Fe (II) reverse spin‐crossover in electrolyte using 1% PMMA polymer additive in form of polymer electrolyte. The reverse spin effect of Fe (II) complex, which is confirmed by SQUID magnetometer analysis and DFT simulation, is able to produce magnetic free SSE in solution. A unique electrochemical behavior is found in form of SSE Fe (II) polymer electrolyte that is elucidated using cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and UV‐Vis analysis. The polymer electrolyte that possesses strong spin Seebeck produces a maximum Seebeck coefficient and conductivity of 124 % and 233 % higher than that weak SSE and conventional liquid electrolyte. The spin Seebeck produces a high number of carrier density through fast diffusion at high spin state, and the opposite charge properties trend at low spin state. Cryo‐TEM analysis had shown that the generation of spin Seeebeck effect of the Fe (II) complex in solution also involves reverse spherical micelles formation. Thus, this study highlights the finding of a rare magnetic free spin Seebeck generation in polymer electrolyte that having potential for waste heat recycles, heat sensors, and thermal switches applications upon development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intralymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT) is a potential treatment option for allergic rhinitis (AR). We aimed to determine the efficacy (primary outcomes) and safety (secondary outcomes) of ILIT in treating patients with AR. Methods: An electronic literature search was performed using MEDLINE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials CENTRAL (from their inception to December 2020). A random‐effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019126271). Results: We retrieved a total of 285 articles, of which 11 satisfied our inclusion criteria. There were 452 participants with age ranged from 15 to 58 years old. Intralymphatic immunotherapy was given in three doses with intervals of four weeks between doses in 10 trials. One trial gave three and six doses with an interval of two weeks. Both primary and secondary outcomes showed no difference between ILIT and placebo for all trials. There was no difference in the combined symptoms and medication score (SMD ‐0.51, 95% CI −1.31 to 0.28), symptoms score (SMD −0.27, 95% CI −0.91 to 0.38), medication score (SMD −6.56, 95% CI −21.48 to 8.37), rescue medication (RR 12.32, 95% CI 0.72–211.79) and the overall improvement score (MD −0.07, 95% CI −2.28 to 2.14) between ILIT and placebo. No major adverse events noted. Conclusions: Intralymphatic immunotherapy possibly has a role in the treatment of AR patients. This review found it is safe but not effective, which could be contributed by the high variation amongst the trials. Future trials should involve larger numbers of participants and report standardized administration of ILIT and outcome measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the transport of a chemically reacting nanofluid in a porous medium between two rotary disks with Cattaneo-Christov's heat flux. The non--linear ordinary differential system formed under Vonn Karman transformation of a non-linear partial differential system is solved via a shooting method with MATLAB bvp4c. The nanofluid thermodynamics profiles with variation in physical properties of thermal relaxation time, thermal radiation, porosity, and chemical reaction are observed. Axial, radial, and tangential velocities are found to be increasing functions of porous medium. A decrease in the fluid temperature is perceived as thermal radiation and thermal relaxation increase since more heat can be transported to neighboring surroundings. The concentration is enhanced with intensified Cattaneo-Christov's thermal relaxation but it oscillates with reacting chemicals. The rotary disks bound the oscillating nanofluid from downward to upward directions and vice versa. The axial velocity represents the change in force due to porosity and radial stretching of the disks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Chili is one of the most important and high‐value vegetable crops worldwide. However, pest and disease infections are among the main limiting factors in chili cultivation. These diseases cannot be eradicated but can be handled and monitored to mitigate the damage. Hence, the use of an automated identification system based on images will promote quick identification of chili disease. The features extracted from the images are of utmost importance to develop such an accurate identification system. RESULTS: In this research, chili pest and disease features extracted using the traditional approach were compared with features extracted using a deep‐learning‐based approach. A total of 974 chili leaf images were collected, which consisted of five types of diseases, two types of pest infestations, and a healthy type. Six traditional feature‐based approaches and six deep‐learning feature‐based approaches were used to extract significant pests and disease features from the chili leaf images. The extracted features were fed into three machine learning classifiers, namely a support vector machine (SVM), a random forest (RF), and an artificial neural network (ANN) for the identification task. The results showed that deep learning feature‐based approaches performed better than the traditional feature‐based approaches. The best accuracy of 92.10% was obtained with the SVM classifier. CONCLUSION: A deep‐learning feature‐based approach could capture the details and characteristics between different types of chili pests and diseases even though they possessed similar visual patterns and symptoms. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The participation of women in entrepreneurship plays a significant role in economic development especially in reducing unemployment, increasing production and consumption, achieving gender equality, social and cultural reforms. One of the dominant areas for women is batik and songket entrepreneurs who are synonymous with women on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Studies have identified three key elements that contribute to the development of this craft entrepreneur, viz. attitude, business inheritance and religious value culture. Qualitative design methods based on case studies and in-depth interviews were used in this study on 12 informants in the state of Kelantan and Terengganu in Malaysia. The findings show that there are three main factors that cause the formation of women handicraft entrepreneurs, namely attitude, family heritage and religious values. Hence, all the factors that make up a female handicraft entrepreneur in Malaysia are discussed in this article. The findings imply that increasing women entrepreneurs in handicrafts can raise the quality of handicraft products into becoming the best tourism products in the East Coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rate of neonatal mortality has declined but lesser than the infant mortality rate and remains a major public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries. There is an urgent need to focus on newborn care, especially during the first 24 h after birth and the early neonatal period. Neonatal near miss (NNM) is an emerging concept similar to that of maternal near miss. NNM events occur three to eight times more often than neonatal deaths. The objective of this study was to establish the prevalence of NNM and identify its associated factors.Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Koshi Hospital, Morang district, Nepal. Neonates and their mothers of unspecified maternal age and gestational age were enrolled. Key inclusion criteria were pragmatic and management markers of NNM and admission of newborn infants to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Koshi Hospital. Non-Nepali citizens were excluded. Consecutive sampling was used until the required sample size of 1,000 newborn infants was reached. Simple and multiple logistic regression was performed using SPSS® version 24.0.Results: One thousand respondents were recruited. The prevalence of NNM was 79 per 1,000 live births. Severe maternal morbidity (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.52; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.07-9.84) and no formal education (aOR 2.16; 95% CI 1.12-4.14) had a positive association with NNM, while multiparity (aOR 0.52; 95% CI 0.32-0.86) and caesarean section (aOR 0.44; 95% CI 0.19-0.99) had negative associations with NNM.Conclusions: Maternal characteristics and complications were associated with NNM. Healthcare providers should be aware of the impact of obstetric factors on newborn health and provide earlier interventions to pregnant women, thus increasing survival chances of newborns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, frontline healthcare providers who are engaged in the direct diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients face a high risk of infection yet receive inadequate protection from contamination and minimal support to cope with overwork, frustration, and exhaustion. These problems have created significant psychological and mental health concerns for frontline healthcare providers. This study aimed to compare the levels of vicarious traumatization between frontline and non-frontline healthcare providers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: All the subjects who met the inclusion criteria were recruited for this comparative cross-sectional study, which was conducted from May to July 2020 in two hospitals in Kelantan, Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire, namely, the Malay-version Vicarious Traumatization Questionnaire and the Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey were utilized. A descriptive analysis, independent t-test, and analysis of covariance were performed using SPSS Statistics version 26. Results: A total of 160 frontline and 146 non-frontline healthcare providers were recruited. Vicarious traumatization was significantly higher among the non-frontline healthcare providers (estimated marginal mean [95% CI]: 79.7 [75.12, 84.30]) compared to the frontline healthcare providers (estimated marginal mean [95% CI]: 74.3 [68.26, 80.37]) after adjusting for sex, duration of employment, and social support. Conclusion: The level of vicarious traumatization was higher among non-frontline compared to frontline healthcare providers. However, the level of severity may differ from person to person, depending on how they handle their physical, psychological, and mental health. Hence, support from various resources, such as colleagues, family, the general public, and the government, may play an essential role in the mental health of healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots (QDs) with different size, 2.5 and 3.2 nm, were successfully deposited on mesoporous titanium dioxide (TiO2) (Degussa-P25) nanostructures by electrophoretic deposition method (EPD) at the applied voltage 100 V for 120 s deposition time. In this study, the morphology of CdSe films deposited by EPD and the performance of the film when assembled into a solar cell were investigated. From the field emission scanning electron microscopy cross-section, the thickness of the CdSe nanoparticles with size 2.5 nm films were 3.4 and 3.0 μ m for CdSe 3.2 nm nanoparticles film. The structure of 2.5 nm is denser than compare of 3.2 nm CdSe nanoparticles. From UV visible spectroscopy, the band gap calculated for 2.5 nm CdSe nanoparticles is 2.28 eV and for 3.2 nm is 2.12 eV. Photovoltaic characterization was performed under an illumination of 100 mW cm−2. A photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 1.81% was obtained for 2.5 nm CdSe and 2.1% was obtained for 3.2 nm CdSe nanoparticles. This result shows that the photovoltaic efficiency is dependent on CdSe nanoparticle size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Dietary patterns (DP) and its relationship with academic performance especially among schoolchildren have received significant attention in nutritional epidemiology studies. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the determinants of academic success among Malay teenagers in Terengganu, Malaysia. Methods: Habitual dietary intakes were obtained using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, anthropometry data were measured by trained researchers and information on academic performance were gathered from the school registrar’s office. The method of reduced rank regression was employed in order to determine the dietary patterns (DPs) and multivariable linear regression models were employed to examine the relationships between DP and academic performance. Results: Of the 375 study participants, half of the sample were female (50.1%), with 61.9% having a normal BMI. The main DP identified in this study was “high sugar, high sodium and high saturated fatty acid (SFA)”. The models showed that there were significant inverse associations between the DP with Science marks (β=-1.87; 95%CI:-0.39,-3.36; p=0.013) and the combination of Mathematics and Science marks (β=-3.49; 95%CI:-0.45,6.52; p=0.024). Findings showed that a ‘high sugar, sodium and SFA’ DP could negatively impact the academic performance of adolescents, particularly in STEM-related subjects. Conclusion: These could serve as a basis for developing nutritional education among adolescents to enhance academic performance for a better future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a widely accepted scientific advancement in clinical settings that helps achieve better, safer, and more cost-effective healthcare. However, presently, validated instruments to evaluate healthcare professionals' attitude and practices toward implementing EBM are not widely available. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of a newly developed knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) questionnaire on EBM for use among healthcare professionals. Methods: The Noor Evidence-Based Medicine Questionnaire was tested among physicians in a government hospital between July and August 2018. Exploratory factor analysis and internal consistency reliability-based Cronbach's alpha statistic were conducted. Results: The questionnaire was distributed among 94 physicians, and 90 responded (response rate of 95.7%). The initial number of items in the KAP domains of the Noor Evidence-Based Medicine Questionnaire were 15, 17, and 13, respectively; however, two items in the practice domain with communalities <0.25 and factor loadings <0.4 were removed. The factor structure accounted for 52.33%, 66.29%, and 55.39% of data variance in the KAP domains, respectively. Cronbach's alpha values were 0.81, 0.81, and 0.84 for KAP domains, respectively, indicating high reliability. Conclusions: This questionnaire can be used to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour of healthcare professionals toward EBM. Future testing of this questionnaire among other medical personnel groups will help expand the scope of this tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What are the roles and limitations of domestic election monitoring organizations (DEMOs) in Malaysia, which lie at the midpoint of the democracy/autocracy continuum? Although DEMOs have been active in Malaysia since GE 1990, until the 10 series of by-elections held after the historic 2018 General Election (GE 2018), they were not as prominent as legitimate third parties compared to DEMOs in several other Southeast Asian countries. This article identifies three factors that play a key role in influencing the operation of DEMOs in Malaysia: the dual character of the Malaysian electoral system, the polarisation of civil society and political complexion of DEMOs. Although the post-2018 General Election saw the Election Commission diversify the involvement of DEMOs, it ironically created a convergence among pro-Pakatan Harapan DEMOs. The findings also suggest that the three crucial factors in developing election monitoring involvement of civil society, democracy assistance and a combination of grievances and the structure of political opportunities did not play a complementary role in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute obstructive uropathy is associated with significant morbidity among patients with any condition that leads to urinary tract obstruction. Immediate urinary diversion is necessary to prevent further damage to the kidneys. In many centres, the two main treatment options include percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) and retrograde ureteral stenting (RUS). The purpose of this study if to compare the efficacy and safety of PCN and RUS for the treatment of acute obstructive uropathy. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, the World Health Organisation International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and ClinicalTrials.gov. We also searched the reference lists of included studies to identify any additional trials. We included randomised controlled trials and controlled clinical trials comparing the outcomes of clinical improvement (septic parameters), hospitalisation duration, quality of life, urinary-related symptoms, failure rates, post-procedural pain [measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS)] and analgesics use. We conducted statistical analyses using random effects models and expressed the results as risk ratio (RR) and risk difference (RD) for dichotomous outcomes and mean difference (MD) for continuous outcomes, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Seven trials were identified that included 667 patients. Meta-analysis of the data revealed no difference in the two methods in improvement of septic parameters, quality of life, failure rates, post-procedural pain (VAS), or analgesics use. Patients receiving PCN had lower rates of haematuria and dysuria post-operatively and longer hospitalisation duration than those receiving RUS. PCN and RUS are effective for the decompression of an obstructed urinary system, with no significant difference in most outcomes. However, PCN is preferable to RUS because of its reduced impact on the patient's post-operative quality of life due to haematuria and dysuria, although it is associated with slightly longer hospitalisation duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The under-utilized legume Mucuna bracteata is a potential biomass resource in Malaysia. A 24-month study was conducted under 10-year-old mature oil palm trees to determine the effects of several harvesting frequencies of M. bracteata on the legume biomass and soil properties. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) for the biomass and a two-factorial RCBD for the soil properties. The treatments were the harvesting frequencies, which were once every two, four, six, and twelve months. The control treatment was without harvest. There were significant effects on the legume's cumulative biomass, standing biomass, leaf area, nutrient contents, and total nutrient harvested for N, Ca, Mg, and cellulose content. Generally, the more frequent the harvest, the more biomass was obtained, but the more legume standing biomass and leaf area were reduced. Despite the reduction in legume growth and leaf area in the field, harvesting the legume did not affect any of the soil physicochemical properties. The biomass N, Ca, and Mg contents and nutrient harvested were also affected by harvesting. This was due to the production of relatively more young shoots after harvesting, which would remove most of the aboveground plant parts. The cellulose content in the legume also increased for the same reasons. Results showed that harvesting M. bracteata once every six months was an acceptable compromise between collecting large amounts of legume biomass and having a reduced legume growth recovery and leaf area in the field, but yet not detrimentally affecting the soil properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The early identification of pregnant women at risk of developing complications at birth is fundamental to antenatal care and an important strategy in preventing maternal death. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of high-risk pregnancies and explore the association between risk stratification and severe maternal morbidity. Methods: This hospital-based prospective cohort study included 346 pregnant women between 28–32 gestational weeks who were followed up after childbirth at Koshi Hospital in Nepal. The Malaysian antenatal risk stratification approach, which applies four color codes, was used: red and yellow denote high-risk women, while green and white indicate low-risk women based on maternal past and present medical and obstetric risk factors. The World Health Organization criteria were used to identify women with severe maternal morbidity. Multivariate confirmatory logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust for possible confounders (age and mode of birth) and explore the association between risk stratification and severe maternal morbidity. Results: The prevalence of high-risk pregnancies was 14.4%. Based on the color-coded risk stratification, 7.5% of the women were categorized red, 6.9% yellow, 72.0% green, and 13.6% white. The women with high-risk pregnancies were 4.2 times more likely to develop severe maternal morbidity conditions during childbirth. Conclusions: Although smaller in percentage, the chances of severe maternal morbidity among high-risk pregnancies were higher than those of low-risk pregnancies. This risk scoring approach shows the potential to predict severe maternal morbidity if routine screening is implemented at antenatal care services. Notwithstanding, unpredictable severe maternal morbidity events also occur among low-risk pregnant women, thus all pregnant women require vigilance and quality obstetrics care but high-risk pregnant women require specialized care and referral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypyrrole (PPy) has been widely used as a sensing material in many studies as PPy gives out noticeable reactions towards varieties of vapours of acids, bases, alcohols, alkanes, and chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulants. However, due to dispersion and mechanical properties limitation, PPy in nanoparticles (PPy NPs) has been introduced. The combinations between PPy NPs and nanosized metal oxide have shown promising improvement in the sensitivity of a sensor due to the larger total surface area of detection. In this study, the potential of PPy NPs and polypyrrole-iron oxyhydroxide (PFFs) nanocomposite as sensing materials in detecting the CWA simulant, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), is investigated. PPy NPs and modified PFFs nanocomposite were successfully synthesised using chemical oxidative polymerisation. The formation of PPy NPs and the effect of iron-oxyhydroxide (FeOOH) on the chemical interaction, morphology, and size of PPy NPs were investigated using attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). ATR-FTIR analysis showed that the modified PFFs nanocomposite was successfully produced through the presence of a sharp –OH peak. The size of the prepared PPy NPs and PFFs nanocomposite was observed in the range of 50 to 70 nm and 110 to 160 nm, respectively, through TEM analysis. The electrochemical behaviour of PPy NPs and PFFs nanocomposite towards DMMP was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) where, in the presence of DMMP, PPy NPs and PFFs nanocomposite showed 24% and 21% current signal reduction, respectively. This suggests that both PPy NPs and PFFs nanocomposite are able to discriminate an electrical signal both with and without the presence of DMMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypyrrole (PPy) has been widely used as a sensing material in many studies as PPy gives out noticeable reactions towards varieties of vapours of acids, bases, alcohols, alkanes, and chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulants. However, due to dispersion and mechanical properties limitation, PPy in nanoparticles (PPy NPs) has been introduced. The combinations between PPy NPs and nanosized metal oxide have shown promising improvement in the sensitivity of a sensor due to the larger total surface area of detection. In this study, the potential of PPy NPs and polypyrrole-iron oxyhydroxide (PFFs) nanocomposite as sensing materials in detecting the CWA simulant, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), is investigated. PPy NPs and modified PFFs nanocomposite were successfully synthesised using chemical oxidative polymerisation. The formation of PPy NPs and the effect of iron-oxyhydroxide (FeOOH) on the chemical interaction, morphology, and size of PPy NPs were investigated using attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). ATR-FTIR analysis showed that the modified PFFs nanocomposite was successfully produced through the presence of a sharp –OH peak. The size of the prepared PPy NPs and PFFs nanocomposite was observed in the range of 50 to 70 nm and 110 to 160 nm, respectively, through TEM analysis. The electrochemical behaviour of PPy NPs and PFFs nanocomposite towards DMMP was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) where, in the presence of DMMP, PPy NPs and PFFs nanocomposite showed 24% and 21% current signal reduction, respectively. This suggests that both PPy NPs and PFFs nanocomposite are able to discriminate an electrical signal both with and without the presence of DMMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In treating allergic rhinitis, montelukast has the potential to be used as an alternative or addition to an oral antihistamine or intranasal corticosteroid. Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of montelukast in treating allergic rhinitis. Methods: An electronic literature search was performed using the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, and MEDLINE from 1966 to 21 January 2019. The eligibility criteria were randomized controlled trials comparing montelukast with placebo or other standard treatments. The primary outcomes assessed were daytime nasal symptom score (DNS) and night-time nasal symptom score (NNS). The secondary outcomes assessed were composite nasal symptom score (CSS), daytime eyes symptom score (DES), and rhinoconjunctivitis quality-of-life questionnaires (RQLQ). The meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3 software based on the random-effects model. Results: Fifteen studies of 10387 participants met the inclusion criteria. Montelukast was more effective than placebo in improving DNS (mean difference [MD] − 0.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] − 0.15 to − 0.08; p < 0.001), NNS (MD − 0.09, 95% CI − 0.13 to − 0.05; p < 0.001), CSS (MD − 0.08, 95% CI − 0.11 to − 0.06; p < 0.001), DES (MD − 0.17, 95% CI − 0.33 to − 0.02; p < 0.030), and RQLQ (MD − 0.34, 95% CI − 0.49 to − 0.20; p < 0.001). Oral antihistamine was superior to montelukast in improving DNS (MD 0.08, 95% CI 0.03–0.13; p = 0.002), CSS (MD 0.03, 95% CI − 0.02 to 0.07; p = 0.27), DES (MD 0.06, 95% CI 0–0.12; p = 0.040), and RQLQ (MD 0.03, 95% CI − 0.05 to 0.12; p = 0.430). Montelukast was superior to oral antihistamine in improving NNS (MD -0.03, 95% CI − 0.08 to 0.03; p = 0.330). Intranasal fluticasone spray was superior to montelukast in improving DNS (MD 0.71, 95% CI 0.44–0.99; p < 0.001) and NNS (MD 0.63, 95% CI 0.29–0.97; p < 0.001). Combined montelukast and oral antihistamine was superior to oral antihistamine in improving DNS (MD − 0.15, 95% CI − 0.27 to − 0.03; p = 0.010), NNS (MD − 0.16, 95% CI − 0.28 to − 0.05; p = 0.006), CSS (MD − 0.12, 95% CI − 0.25 to − 0.01; p = 0.070), DES (MD − 0.12, 95% CI − 0.30 to 0.06; p = 0.180), and RQLQ (MD − 0.10, 95% CI − 0.28 to 0.08; p = 0.290). Combined montelukast and OAH was superior to montelukast in improving DNS (MD 0.15, 95% CI 0.08–0.21; p < 0.001), NNS (MD 0.05, 95% CI − 0.09 to 0.19; p = 0.510), CSS (MD 0.1, 95% CI 0.03–0.17; p = 0.007), DES (MD 0.18, 95% CI 0–0.36; p = 0.050), and RQLQ (MD 0.07 95% CI − 0.15 to 0.29; p = 0.530). Conclusions: Montelukast is more effective than placebo in treating the overall symptoms of allergic rhinitis while the combined therapy of montelukast and an oral antihistamine is superior to either montelukast or an oral antihistamine alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the influence of substituting barium (Ba2+) ions on the structural, mechanical and in vitro biological properties of akermanite prepared via high-energy wet planetary ball milling and sintering. The results obtained showed that the properties of the prepared bioceramics are highly dependent on Ba2+ content. It was found that Ba2+ resulted in improved densification (≥90%), and better apatite-forming ability of akermanite ceramic, without altering phase composition. Herein, the enhancement in diametral tensile strength (DTS), Vickers microhardness (H V) and fracture toughness (K IC) for Ba2+-doped akermanite bioceramics are reported for the first time. It was also found that after 21 days of immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) solution, the doped ceramic surface was completely covered with apatite crystals, indicating Ba2+ encouraged apatite crystals deposition. Therefore, Ba2+-doped akermanite bioceramic could be an attractive alternative bioresorbable material for bone tissue engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Multiple Intelligences which was developed by Gardner showed that every human being has multiple intelligences. This showed that each individual has his and her own strength to succeed in life. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the influences of multiple intelligences towards the achievements of Business Studies in Larut, Matang and Selama (LMS), Perak. The survey involved 291 respondents randomly selected from eight secondary schools, which offer Business Studies for form six students in LMS. The instruments used for this study were based on Multiple Intelligences Test by Gardner with eight domains of multiple intelligences namely verbal linguistic intelligence, logic mathematical intelligence, spatial intelligence, kinaesthetic intelligence, musical intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence and naturalistic intelligence. The data gathered were analysed by using regression test. Findings from the study revealed that four domains of multiple intelligences significantly influenced student's achievements in Business Studies namely verbal linguistic intelligence, mathematical logic intelligence, interpersonal intelligence and spatial intelligence. The findings also showed that the other four domains of multiple intelligences were not significant in influencing the achievements of students in Business Studies, namely kinaesthetic intelligence, musical intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence and naturalistic intelligence. Overall, the findings conveyed that multiple intelligences have a positive impact among students in terms of behaviour, motivation and provided students the opportunity to identify their own strength, develop their own potentials, think creatively and critically and enable students to be valuable and excel in their academic achievements. In conclusion, multiple intelligences assist teachers to apply multiple intelligences in various ways to develop students potentials and to enhance academic achievements in Business Studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: At the present time, several plants are largely contributing to the medical field due to its valuable use. Scientific evidence generated with their special inherent compounds gave more confidence to the scientific community. Pongamia pinnata (Linn.) is an Indian native plant and well exploited in Ayurvedic medicinal system. Concurrently, a few pieces of scientific research have been done to prove the therapeutic activity of this medicinal plant. The medicinal properties of this plant are most likely due to its principal active compound, karanjin. As a molecule of interest, karanjin is an antioxidant and also exerts other biological benefits. Karanjin has also been recognized to be used in agricultural and environmental management other than medicinal purposes. Objectives: This review aimed to provide a brief information on the chemical and biological properties of karanjin along with its traditional uses. It is also discusses the scientific evidences available for its various biological properties. Methods: Various databases such as Google, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, Pubmed had been searched and the data was obtained. Results: The chemistry and reported biological properties of karanjin were highlighted. Karanjin revealed antidiabetic, anticancer, antioxidant, gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-Alzheimer's activities, and thus has several possible applications in clinical research. Conclusion: Therefore, further research may help in exploiting its properties and emergent phytopharmaceuticals based on it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed knowledge of the metastable zone width (MSZW) and nucleation kinetics is vital for the design of batch cooling crystallization processes. Factors such as cooling rate and impeller speed affect the MSZW and nucleation kinetics. Crystallization and dissolution temperatures were measured as a function of cooling rate and impeller speed during the batch cooling crystallization of p‐aminobenzoic acid (pABA) from ethanol in a 0.5‐L stirred‐tank crystallizer. The polythermal experimental data were analyzed using the Nyvlt and first principles‐based Kashchiev‐Borissova‐Hammond‐Roberts (KBHR) methods. In all experimental cases, the latter model revealed that the nucleation process of pABA in ethanol was dominated by an instantaneous nucleation mechanism. The Nyvlt and KBHR analyses delivered a range of parameter values associated with a power‐law model describing the nucleation rate as well as the concentration of nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Birth satisfaction represents a complex construct of implicit and profound relevance to a woman's perceived birth experience. It correlates with the childbearing woman's experience of the quality of care received and stress during labor. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Malay language version of the Women's Views of Birth Labour Satisfaction Questionnaire (WOMBLSQ) on labor satisfaction using the Rasch rating scale model.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. The translated Malay version of the WOMBLSQ was completed by 200 postpartum women in a tertiary hospital. The Rasch model was applied to investigate the statistics, unidimensionality, item polarity and misfit, person misfit and person item distribution map.Results: The Rasch analysis showed that the 27 items, in nine dimensions, had high item reliability and item separation at 0.98 and 7.65 respectively, while good person reliability and person separation were at 0.78 and 1.90, respectively. Item 6 ('My birth partner/husband couldn't have supported me any better') (outfit MnSq = 1.74, outfit z-std = 6.9, PtMea Corr = - 0.02) and Item 5 ('My birth partner/husband helped me to understand what was going on when I was in labor') (outfit MnSq = 1.65, outfit z-std = 2.9, PtMea Corr = 0.13) are misfit. Item 6 needs to be re-examined for removal or rephrasing, while Item 5 correlates poorly with the construct. Eight persons have the most misfitting response strings based on Item 6 but extremely trivial differences were found in the parameter estimates after refitting the model. Ten items easily endorse satisfaction from the respondents.Conclusion: The WOMBLSQ tested among postpartum women has been shown to have a good person reliability index and a high item reliability index. Items 5 and 6 do not contribute in the construction of scale but not degrading and suggested for refining. The spread of item difficulty should be improved in the future modification of items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This research was planned to search for a potential of modified hydrothermal nanotitania extract in inhibiting the growth of bacteria commonly known in medical field. It is also aims to test this substance against common medical bacteria,Escherichia coli. Materials and methods: In this test, suspension of modified hydrothermal nanotitania extract (together with 0.01%, 0.03% and 0.05% silver) and undoping (positive control contains TiO2 and no silver) were prepared by mixing of TiO2 in Mueller Hinton Broth (MH) agar. The platecontaining the bacteria and TiO2 were observed after 24 hour, 48 hours and 72 hours incubation at 37°C for any growth of bacteria. Results: There was no growth of Escherichia coliin the plates containing the bacteria and modified hydrothermal nanotitania extract except in the control media. Conclusions: The finding suggested the modified hydrothermal nanotitania extractioninterfered the growth of Escherichia coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The interpretations of printed panoramic radiographs film frequently depend on personal judgements analysis by observers. The findings correlations between more than two observers must consider statistical tool which can determine that sometimes the observers will agree or disagree merely by chance. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) generally measures the degree of similarity among individuals within a cluster. Kappa statistic is the most frequently applied statistical analysis for this reason. This study aims to determine the validity of utilising printed panoramic radiographs for assessing dental anomalies and inter-examiner reliability in detecting dental anomalies observed within the panoramic radiographs. Methods: Twenty samples of printed versions of orthopantomogram (OPG) were arbitrarily selected from the AMDI Dental Clinic. Radiographic analyses were conducted twice, Trial 1 and Trial 2, with two-week intervals in between. Ten (10) printed OPG films were used in each session. During both assessments, incidence of dental anomalies was determined. All twenty OPGs were examined and analysed by the principal investigator and two independent examiners according to the inclusion and exclusion criterias. The data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 23. Results: The results of ICC for Trials 1 and 2 were 0.961 and 0.984, respectively. Conclusion: The outcomes demonstrated that the printed OPG films can be used to detect dental anomalies and inter-examiner dependability was in very good assertion for both trials, hence printed OPG films that satisfy the inclusion and exclusion criterias can be utilised for assessing dental anomalies as shown by the reliable ICC values in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alor Setar was the earliest location in Kedah which received the implementation of the domestic water supply plan by the British beginning in 1909. This initiative was due to administrative, economic, health, population and other relevant factors. Thus, the British built several water plants and the projects turned into a water supply module in other locations in the Kedah state. This paper would like to see the role of the British in developing the water supply system in Alor Setar from 1909 to 1957. This research began in 1909 due to the introduction to British advisers in the state of Kedah and ended in 1957 as the year was the final phase of the British domination in Kedah before the independence of the Federation of Malaya on August 31, 1957. This research employed materials and data from the National Archives of Kedah / Perlis, National Archives of Malaysia, University of Malaya Main Library, the Kedah Public Library, Tun Sri Lanang Library of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Kedah Water Company (SADA). The results of the study found that British advisers in Kedah successfully abandoned the water supply module in Alor Setar and succeeded in raising the standard of living of the residents at the stated locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research reports the development of a membrane from milled ball clay for the treatment of nickel from industrial wastewater. The clay was sieved to 50 μm and milled at different times (10, 20, and 30 h). The raw clay, milled clay, and sintered clay were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and particle size distribution (PSD). The milled clays were mixed with a 25 wt% cassava starch, compacted, and fired to a temperature of 1200 °C to produce porous membranes. The fired membranes produced from the milled clay were characterized by multi-point BET and FESEM. In addition, firing characteristics were determined by bulk density, apparent porosity, shrinkage, and flexural strength. Porous membranes produced were subjected to filtration of nickel plating wastewater. The concentration of the nickel in the wastewater and the permeated water was determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). BET and the FESEM results show that the pores in the membranes were mesopores with slit shaped-pore and average pore size in the range 23.65–38.86 nm. The concentration of nickel in the permeate water is found to be in the range 0.73–2.39 mg/l. This low-cost membrane will have an application for the treatment of industrial wastewater containing nickel from electroplating industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular imprinting becomes the most outstanding approach in providing predetermined selectivity to the molecule of interest through the introduction of artificial recognition sites within the polymer matrix. This study presents the fabrication of quercetin-imprinted membranes (QIMs) for selective extraction of quercetin through surface imprinting polymerization method. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane was used as the polymer support for the thermal polymerization process to take place and subsequent removal of quercetin from resultant polymer matrix leaves behind specific cavities that are complementary to the size, shape and functionality of quercetin molecules. QIMs and non-imprinted membranes were synthesized to evaluate and characterize the differences with respect to their morphology, chemical functionality as well as their binding behaviour towards quercetin and other components. The confirmation on the presence of imprinted layer on PVDF membrane was done through FTIR, FESEM and AFM analysis. Modelling of isotherm and kinetic adsorption also was performed to provide detailed insight into the adsorption mechanism of quercetin to the membranes. Membrane selectivity test was carried out using sinensetin and rosmarinic acid as competitive components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Healthcare workers play a crucial role in supporting COVID-19 vaccination as they are the most trusted source of information to the public population. Assessing the healthcare workers' hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccination is pertinent, however, there are limited validated tools to measure their hesitancy on COVID-19 vaccines. This study aims to adapt and validate the first COVID-19 hesitancy scale among healthcare workers in Malaysia. Materials and methods: This study adapted and translated the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS) developed by the WHO SAGE Working Group. The scale underwent a sequential validation process, including back-back translation, content, face, and construct validity for Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The reliability was tested using internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha composite reliability (CR) and average variance extracted (AVE)). Results: The data for EFA and CFA were completed by a separate sample of 125 and 300 HCWs, respectively. The EFA analysis of the C19-VHS-M scale was unidimensional with 10 items. A further CFA analysis revealed a uniform set of nine items with acceptable goodness fit indices (comparative fit index = 0.997, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.995, incremental fit index = 0.997, chi-squared/degree of freedom = 1.352, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.034). The Cronbach's alpha, CR and AVE results were 0.953, 0.95 and 0.70, respectively. Conclusions: The questionnaire was valid and reliable for use in the Malay language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: In every country, an adequate and reliable blood supply can be assured by a stable base of regular, voluntary, and unpaid blood donors. However, with the strike of COVID-19 around the world, fewer donors have come forward to donate blood since the government's movement control order. Therefore, to ensure the blood supply is always sufficient, this study discussed the Malaysians' motivation and intention to donate blood during the COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The structural focus group discussion was conducted among nine informants. The informants are classified into four groups, which are non, first-time, regular, and lapsed (repeated/occasional) blood donors. RESULTS: It indicated that the regular and lapsed group of blood donors were motivated by the satisfaction of donating blood. Meanwhile, first-time donors are motivated to donate blood because of extrinsic rewards. However, the donors attested that the movement control order restricted their movement to go to the blood transfusion center. On the other hand, the non-donor group admitted that they do intend to donate blood. Still, several factors such as work commitment, location, and fear of being infected by COVID-19, hold them from doing so. CONCLUSIONS: These findings will serve as insights for future blood donation disruption remediation, especially during unexpected situations, as well as the success of the Malaysian blood campaign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ideal pain control approach is typically viewed as titration of analgesia for pain reduction and periodic pain evaluation. However, this method takes time and is not always possible in the crowded Emergency Department. Therefore, an alternative way to improve pain care in the Emergency Department is needed to avoid this unpleasant sensation in the patients. The best solution to tackle this situation is using Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA), in the form of a PCA pump. Study objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis was designated to evaluate the efficacy of PCA morphine in treating acute pain at Emergency Department. Methods: We searched databases Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Medline, and Google Scholar up to February 2022 and identified randomized controlled trials with English language only that compare PCA morphine to IV morphine in treating patients presenting with acute pain at Emergency Department. Results: Eight trials were included in our review, comprising 1490 participants. We compared PCA morphine vs. IV morphine. There were no differences in the pain score between PCA and IV morphine (standard mean difference [SMD] = -0.20, p = 0.25). Further subgroup analyses (origin of the pain, time of assessment and the durations) showed no difference except for the dosages as the PCA morphine reduced the pain compared to IV morphine in low and high dosages but only two studies were involved. However, the analysis showed PCA morphine increased patient satisfaction and reduced the number of patients who required additional analgesia compared to IV morphine (MD 0.12, P < 0.001), (MD 0.47, P < 0.001) respectively. Data obtained in this review pertaining to adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, pruritus, and drowsiness is limited since not all the trials reported the events. Conclusions: PCA morphine do appear to have a beneficial effect on the outcome of patient satisfaction and the number of patients who required additional analgesia. However, further studies targeting a larger sample size is required to increase the certainty of the evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies have reported that the phytochemical content of Mulberry (Morus alba Linn.) is influenced by the area where it grows. On the other hand, the study of the bioactivity and toxicity of mulberry leaves from Brunei Darussalam still needs to be completed. In particular, the investigation regarding the safe dose for Mulberry's application from Brunei Darussalam has yet to be studied. Hence, toxicity information must be considered even though the community has used it for generations. Aim: This study investigated Morus alba ethanolic leaf extract (MAE) to observe the acute toxicity in mice. Methods: In particular, this study utilized 12 female Institute of Cancer Research mice, 8 weeks old, divided into 2 groups: the control group and the MAE group (2,000 mg/kg single dose). Physiology, hematology, biochemistry, and histology were analyzed during the study. Results: The examination result indicated no mortality and behavioral changes throughout the testing period. However, the mice developed mild anemia and leukopenia, followed by decreased numbers of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes. In addition, the mice developed a mild hepatocellular injury, indicated by significant (p < 0.05) elevations of both alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). The histopathological findings of the liver were also consistent with the increment of ALT and AST, indicating mild hepatocellular necrosis through the eosinophilic cytoplasm and pyknosis (p > 0.05). Conclusion: It was evident that a single oral administration of MAE was not lethal for mice (LD50, which was higher than 2,000 mg/kg). However, the administration of high doses of MAE must be carefully considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Von Willebrand disease (WVD) is a common inherited bleeding disorder due to a defect of von Willebrand factor (VWF). VWF is a glycoprotein that crucial for platelet adhesion to the subendothelium after vascular injury. VWD include quantitative defects of VWF, either partial (type 1 with VWF levels < 50 IU/dl) or virtually total (type 3 with undetectable VWF levels) and also qualitative defects of VWF (type 2 variants with discrepant antigenic and functional VWF levels). We report a case of an 11-month-old girl diagnosed with Type 3 VWD presented with mucocutaneous bleeding with von Willebrand factor antigen is < 1 IU/dl and positive family history of VWD. The family study was done and five other family members were also diagnosed with either Type 1 or Type 3 VWD with variable clinical presentations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible bird's nest (EBN) and eggs are sources of high quality protein. The objectives of this study were to compare the amino acid profile between EBN and eggs to determine the differences in nutrition composition and antioxidant properties. Amino acid profile and antioxidant properties (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP) of four samples, raw EBN (EBNraw), EBN hydrolysates (EBNh), commercial chicken egg (Eggcomm) and free range chicken egg (EggFR) were determined and correlated with one another. It was found that EBNraw and EBNh have significantly higher (p<0.05) DPPH and ABTS activities compared to Eggcomm and EggFR, whereas Eggcomm and EggFR have significantly higher (p<0.05) FRAP activities compared to EBNraw and EBNh. Amino acid profile analysis showed that Eggcomm and EggFR have significantly higher (p<0.05) methionine, cysteine, lysine and isoleucine content compared to EBNraw and EBNh. Histidine, proline, phenylalanine and tryptophan in EBN were found to have significant (p<0.01) positive correlation with DPPH and ABTS antioxidant activities assays, while methionine and cysteine in chicken eggs have significant (p<0.01) positive correlation with FRAP activity. In conclusion, both EBN and chicken eggs are good sources of proteins and essential amino acids, but EBN showed higher antioxidant activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Indigenous thermophilic bacteria strains were isolated from oil palm plantation. • No additional carbon sources used in alkali lignin degradation by isolates. • Alkali lignin reduced approximately 50% by Stenotrophomonas sp. S2. • Alkali lignin reduced approximately 20% by B. subtilis S11Y. • Silica bodies of OPEFB was removed after 7 days of incubation. Abstract Previous studies on screening of lignin-degrading bacteria mainly focused on the ligninolytic ability of the isolated bacteria for the utilization of lignin monomers. In this study, we focused on the depolymerization of alkali lignin to prove the ability of the isolated thermophilic bacterial strains to utilize and depolymerize more than a monomer of alkali lignin within 7 days of incubation. Indigenous thermophilic bacterial isolates from the palm oil plantation were used to evaluate the depolymerization and utilization of alkali lignin. The confirmation of the bacterium-mediated depolymerization of oil palm empty fruit bunch was achieved through the removal of silica bodies, as observed with scanning electron microscopy. Stenotrophomonas sp. S2 and Bacillus subtilis S11Y were able to reduce approximately 50% and 20% of alkali lignin at 7 days of incubation without the requirement for additional carbon sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There is a significant increase in the number of divorce cases among Malay Muslim couples over the past years which serves as a strong signal for the government to take initiatives to understand the current situation. A plethora of literature can be found on marriage satisfaction and the quality of the relationship within marriages. However, exploration on contributing factors to long lasting marriages amongst the Malay Muslim community are lacking. This paper aims to share the initial findings in an effort to explore of the strength of relationship in a lasting marriage amongst Malay Muslim couples in Malaysia. Methods: This paper adopted a quantitative approach utilizing the Eternal Love Instrument (c) 2016 which consisted of 171 items, distributed to 350 respondents based on simple random sampling technique. Results: The findings indicated that there are three main considerations in selecting a spouse which were (1) Religion (95.2%); (2) Character (responsible) (96.1%); well mannered (95.8%); and (3) Race (79.3%). Age, looks and type of jobs were the least considered factors amongst the respondents surveyed. The respondents perceived that the strongest element in their relationship was communication (69.6%), followed by tolerance (62.6%) and responsible towards family wellbeing (56.4%). Conclusion: The initial survey has indicated that a lasting marriage is a consequence of having a responsible partner with good religious background. Also, from all these five constructs, these respondents considered their spouses to be highly responsible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) have been widely extolled for the application in managing various solid organic wastes. Owing to the saprophagous nature of BSFL, a rapid valorization of solid organic wastes can be accomplished with the simultaneous production of valuable biochemical compounds derived from larval biomass. In the present works, the mixed waste coconut endosperm (w-CE) and soybean curd residue (SC-r) substrates with increasing protein nutritional constituent were administered to BSFL. The correlations between protein from larval feed substrates and nutritional profiles of BSFL biomasses were ultimately unveiled. The protein from larval feed substrates could be increased by increasing of SC-r portion against w-CE. At the w-CE:SC-r ratio of 3:2, the highest larval total weight gained and growth rate were attained; indicating an optimum protein nutritional constituent in mixed organics (12.4%) that could enhance the BSFL palatability. Further increment of protein nutritional constituent in mixed organics was found acidifying the residual larval feed substrate progressively, undermining the growth of BSFL. By feeding the BSFL with optimum mixed organics, the maximum accumulations of larval lipid and protein could be achieved. Transesterification of extracted lipid had demonstrated high in monounsaturated fatty acids (73%) which was suitable for biodiesel. The BSFL palatability was finally confirmed from the bioconversion viewpoint of mixed organic wastes. Again, achieving the highest bioconversion efficiency of 14% into larval biomass after accounting the metabolic loss of 54%. Therefore, a total of 68% of mixed w-CE and SC-r could be successfully bioconverted. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Bioconversion of mixed solid organic wastes by black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). • Correlation between BSFL nutritional profiles and feed protein constituents. • Simultaneous production of lipid for biodiesel and protein sources from BSFL. • Tuning of BSFL-based biochemical qualities by altering feed protein constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews various power device components of solar-powered aircraft such as photovoltaic (PV) cells, maximum power point tracker (MPPT) and rechargeable batteries. The various power device components were highlighted, and the ones applicable to aircraft were analyzed, based on criteria as efficiency for photovoltaic cells; energy densities about rechargeable batteries; and maximum power point tracker on quick response to achieve maximum power point on I-V curve. Emerging technologies like photovoltaic cells, thin film cell, organic photovoltaic cell, multi-junction cell and silicon quantum dot cell, with the future potential of high efficiencies that can be used in solar-powered aircraft, were all examined. Regarding battery technology, Lithium-air battery (Li-air) was reported as having great opportunities for high energy densities capable of improving the efficiency of the solar-powered aircraft, for the greater prospect of the aviation industry. The design of efficient power device for solar-powered aircraft application is proposed. Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) solar cells were used because of its high energy conversion efficiency of 30 to 40%. A smart and intelligent MPPT Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is chosen because of its efficiency in partial shading and fast response and speed. The Li-air rechargeable battery is proposed because of its theoretical energy density of 11680 Wh/Kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • We propose a pillar-based microfluidic device to separate leukocytes from whole blood high efficiently without clogging. • We could obtain the count and ratio of T and B cells from whole blood and compared the results to those obtained using a flow cytometer. • We achieved 99.8% efficiency in capturing leukocytes using the microfluidic chip, • The ratio of CD3+ and CD19+ had a coefficient of r = 0.9876 and a coefficient of variation of 2.77%, from 1 μL of whole blood sample. Abstract We have designed and evaluated a simple and practical system for CD3+ (T-lymphocyte) and CD19+ (B-lymphocyte) cell counting on-chip using a PDMS microfluidic chip which captures these cells using a pillarbased filtration technique. Conventional pillar-based or membrane-based cell separation methods suffer from the problem of cell clogging, thereby reducing the separating and capturing efficiency of the device. To address these issues, we proposed a unique and simple design of a microfluidic chip with an escape route at the pillar-based cell filtration area in the chip which prevents cell clogging. Currently, the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of immunodeficiency disorder require quantifying the leukocyte population, especially T-lymphocytes and Blymphocytes, in whole blood. We evaluated the performance of our microfluidic chip by obtaining the ratio of T-lymphocytes and Blymphocytes from whole blood and compared the results to those obtained using a flow cytometer. We confirmed that the cell capture area of the microfluidic chip remains clog-free. We achieved 99.8% efficiency in capturing leukocytes using the microfluidic chip, and the ratio of CD3+ and CD19+ had a coefficient of r = 0.9876 and a coefficient of variation (CV) of 2.77%, from 1 μL of whole blood sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study investigated an atomic level of sprawl measurement for Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan by developing a set of Land Use Geospatial Indices (LUGI). The components of LUGI include segregated land use, development planning consistency, urban density, strip and leapfrog development, that have been tested at Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan purposely to examine the urban sprawl phenomenon at the level of alpha cities. It was carried out based on geospatial result of changed detection at earlier stage. The urban sprawl measurement was analyzed according to the six Kuala Lumpur's strategic planning zone (SPZ). The results show that segregation land use and leapfrog indices are the prominent components that identified the sprawl development within most of SPZ in Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan, while the planning consistency, strip development and urban density are recorded as the indicators that less correlation have with sprawl. These measurements also indicate that alpha cities, as Kuala Lumpur, also facing issues on sprawl especially when it relates to land use planning. Finally, it proved that the development of LUGI could provide a decision support to create an effective long-term land use planning policies for sustainable urban landscapes development. Highlights • Response of sustainable urban sprawl measurement through land use geospatial indices was developed. • Segregation land use and leapfrog are triggered urban sprawl at alpha city level. • Multidimensional indicators assessment is effective solution to determine sprawl at atomic level. • Proven the concentration development will avoiding sprawl at any level of urban hierarchies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]