Search

Studies have shown the prevalence of mental health and obesity among adolescents is at increasing trend due to urbanisation and changes in lifestyle. This study is to investigate the level of stress and its impact on eating behaviour among Malaysian adolescents. A total of 797 multi-ethnic Malaysian secondary school student participated in this cross-sectional study. Data was collected two weeks prior to final year examination. A validated Cohen Perceived Stress Scale questionnaire was used to assess the stress level with subsample analysis of 261 participants' saliva cortisol level. A validated Child Eating Behaviour questionnaire was used to explore eating behaviours. There were 29.1% adolescents having high stress with the mean saliva cortisol 3.8 nmol/L. A positive correlation was observed between perceived stress and emotional overeating; stronger among urban (r = 0.32), female (r = 0.31), underweight (r = 0.34) and moderately stressed adolescents (r = 0.24). In addition, a positive correlation was found between perceived stress and food responsiveness; strongest among Malay (r = 0.23), male (r = 0.24), underweight (r = 0.30) and adolescents with high perceived stress (r = 0.24). The perceived stress level prior to exam period affects the emotional eating and external eating patterns of adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The various benefits of biofuels versus fossil fuels due to recent global challenges and issues are the best approach toward low-cost economic production of renewable energy. This study is trying to obtain economic catalysts with easy fabrication technology. The synthesized catalysts were obtained using calcium oxide/nanoclay catalysts by an initial ion-exchange reaction of calcium oxide and nanoclays (montmorillonite). These catalysts have been synthesized for the first time by being stirred for 5 h at a temperature of 80 °C, and the colloidal supernatant is obtained and kept in an ultrasonic bath for 20 min. The solution was filtered, washed several times, the residual mixture on filter paper was dried in the oven at 50 °C for few hours, and the powder was calcined for 8 h in a furnace at 600 °C. After identification and characterization, using XRD, BET, and SEM, the results approved the formation of a new nanostructure in synthesized catalysts, which were suitable to be used in biodiesel production from waste oils with high free fatty acids content. The results of this study indicate that the catalysts production process is not complicated, and methyl ester production rates in all biodiesel samples were more than 97% (97.1–98.8%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Shisha smoking has re-emerged in the Middle East in the last two decades and has spread rapidly in these communities. Information about shisha smoking in adolescents in Sudan is deficient. Hence, the aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of shisha smoking among adolescents and determine the associated factors.Methods: This study is a school based cross sectional study among secondary school students in Khartoum State - Sudan that targets both male and female students aged 14-17 years. A total of 3387 students from 29 public and private schools were selected by multi stage random sampling. The participants completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire which was based on Arabic version of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS).Results: The response rate was 100% in schools and among participants, 57.3% were females and 51.6% were from public schools. The overall prevalence of those who had ever smoked shisha was 13.4%, and among male students the prevalence was 16.8%, while it was 10.9% in females. The associated factors were poor academic performance OR 2.90 CI 95% (1.21-6.94), friends smoking shisha OR 2.39 CI 95% (1.65-3.45), friends smoking cigarettes OR 2.76 CI 95% (1.90-4.01), peer pressure to smoke shisha OR 13.76 CI 95% (7.86-24.07) and unexpectedly restriction of selling shisha to minors OR 2.21 CI 95% (1.28-3.82).Conclusion: The prevalence of those who had ever smoked shisha is among the lowest in Middle East region; therefore, regular surveillance system is needed. A well-structured peer based comprehensive tobacco control programmes that are supported by strict and rigorous anti-tobacco regulations which control both commercial and social resources of tobacco are needed to contain this issue among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Despite its notable role in the exacerbation of urban climate, Urban Heat Island (UHI) was poorly addressed, communicated and integrated into local urban policies of many developing countries. Such scenario often queried the level of UHI understanding amongst the key players who were involved in urban policy formulation. Hence, a qualitative study using Focus Group Discussions (FGD) was designed to investigate the awareness and knowledge level of stakeholders such as policy makers and practitioners in Greater Kuala Lumpur (GKL), an expanding socio-economic hub of a developing tropical country. The findings demonstrated a variable lack of awareness and knowledge about the concept of UHI, its status in GKL as well as organizational engagement in adaptation and mitigation initiatives among the study participants. Essentially, policy makers illustrated a facile awareness and knowledge towards UHI issues whereas practitioners displayed a more robust portfolio of factual understanding regarding the corresponding issues. In line with National Urbanization Policy's (NUP) aspiration to optimize urban developments that provide high quality of life, this study sheds some light on the exigency for UHI awareness creation and capacity building among the policy makers. This study also provides impactful prepositions for the articulation of necessary actions towards evidence-based urban policy formulation in future. Highlights • UHI is poorly addressed, communicated and integrated into local urban policies. • Results demonstrated a variable lack of awareness and knowledge towards UHI amongst the stakeholders. • Impactful insights and recommendations for awareness creation and evidence-based urban policy formulation are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Gas emission during combustion of mixed tropical wood, bamboo, oil palm trunk, acacia, and rubber wood have been investigated by using TG–MS in presence of oxygen as well as FTIR. The weight decreasing profiles and the gas formation rates of oil palm trunk was significantly different among the samples although their elemental composition was almost the same from biomass samples. It was found that H2O is the main product formed for all samples. The evolving rates of the gaseous products during the combustion and infrared spectrums such as CO, H2O, CO2, CH4 and COOH+ were found. The DTG curves spectrums for biomass present four overlapping peaks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Dengue fever is one of the most important viral infections transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Accurate identification of cases and treatment of dengue patients at the early stages can reduce medical complications and dengue mortality rate. This survey aims to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) among physicians in dengue diagnosis and treatment. This study was conducted among physicians in Turkey as one nonendemic country and Bangladesh, India, and Malaysia as three dengue-endemic countries. The dosing frequencies, maximum doses, and contraindications in dengue fever were examined. The results found that physicians from Bangladesh, India, and Malaysia have higher KAP scores in dengue diagnosis and treatment compared to physicians in Turkey. This may be due to a lack of physician's exposure to a dengue patient as Turkey is considered a nonendemic country. This assessment may help establish a guideline for intervention strategies among physicians to have successful treatment outcomes and reduce dengue mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate aerobic biodegradation of semi-aerobic leachate with and without powdered activated carbon (PAC) addition. The experiment involved operating two 16L laboratory-scale activated sludge reactors in parallel at room temperature and adjusted to pH 6.5±0.5. One of the reactors was supplemented with PAC of 75–150μm size to observe its effect on semi-aerobic leachate biodegradation. Three hydraulic retention times (0.92, 1.57 and 2.22 d) and influent COD concentrations (750, 1800 and 2850mg/L) were applied in a factorial design for this study. The results showed enhanced reactor performance due to PAC addition with higher COD, colour and ammoniacal nitrogen removals. The PAC augmented reactor also had higher concentrations of NO2-N and NO3-N consequent of greater degree of nitrification. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective To explore university students' understanding on sexual abuse and their perceptions on sexual abuse victims. Methods A total of 14 focus group discussions were conducted and stratified into three different ethnic groups (Malay, Chinese and Indian). Participants were female undergraduate students ( n  = 75) from a public university in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Results Findings revealed ethnic variations in the understanding of sexual abuse. Although many considered sexual abuse to necessarily involve sexual intercourse, Chinese and Indians had a better understanding and were more broad minded towards what constituted sexual abuse. Malay participants were more conservative and emphasized on relifious ways to define sexual abuse. Majority of participants considered that females and children are more likely to be victim of sexual abuse. A person's improper dress code, being too attractive in appearance, mixing with the opposite sex, lack of awareness, disabilities, environmental and family factors predisposes a person to sexual abuse. Conclusion There were ethnic disparities in understanding the meaning of sexual abuse and perception of sexual abuse victim. Malays held more conservative opinions compared to Chinese and Indians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban heat islands (UHIs) are negatively impacting the quality of the urban environment and outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) levels, which have raised concerns regarding their impact on urban health and well-being. Understanding of OTC level is crucial, particularly in tropical cities with year-round high temperatures and humidity. A study was conducted in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia, to determine the OTC level in a selected urban area through microclimate measurements and questionnaire surveys with 1157 respondents. Over half of the urban dwellers reported thermal discomfort, with a high perceived OTC level, indicating strong thermal adaptive behaviours among the urban dwellers despite the physiological stress. Confounding factors such as urban morphology, land cover and human activity patterns also influence the OTC level in the tropical city. The findings emphasize the need for interventions to improve the urban environment and promote better outdoor thermal comfort for city dwellers through measures such as green infrastructure, UHI mitigation and increasing public awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to explore the differences in (1) the perception of severity towards ZIKV infection and dengue fever, and (2) mosquito control practices before and after the ZIKV outbreak were declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Data were collected between Feb to May 2016 using a computer-assisted telephone interviewing system. The median scale score for perceived severity of ZIKV was 3 (interquartile range [IQR] 1-5) versus 4 (IQR 3-5) for dengue (P < 0.001). The scores for mosquito control practices before and after ZIKV was declared a PHEIC were similar, at 4 (IQR 3-5). Multivariate analysis revealed that participants with a higher score for perception of severity of ZIKV were more likely to report greater mosquito control practices after the declaration of the PHEIC (OR 1.822 [95% CI 1.107-2.998]). The emerging ZIKV pandemic requires concerted efforts to enhance mosquito control practices among the Malaysian public. Efforts to improve public mosquito control practices should focus on enhancing the perception of the severity of ZIKV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is a colloidal suspension with 2–4% suspended solids. About 50% of the suspended solids are cellulosic compounds, which are not degraded in the typical biological treatment systems. Chemical (polymer-induced coagulation) and physical (settling) pretreatment methods were examined to remove the suspended solids in this study. A novel physicochemical treatment with high water recovery and sludge compressibility including three cationic polyacrylamides (C-PAM; as coagulant) and three anionic polyacrylamides (A-PAM; as flocculant) with different molecular weights and charge densities was used. The coagulants used were biodegradable. The combination of a C-PAM (Chemfloc1515C) with medium molecular weight and charge density and an A-PAM (Chemfloc 430A) with high molecular weight and charge density at doses of 300 and 50 mg/dm3showed the best total suspended solids (TSS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal (96.4 and 70.9%, respectively). The optimal condition was found at pH 5, rapid mixing at 150 rpm for 1 min, and slow mixing at 40 rpm for 30 s. As a conclusion, the physiochemical pretreatment using biodegradable coagulants was a promising alternative to effectively separate TSS (96.4%) with high water recovery (76%). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The disposal of discarded disposable diapers (D3) is a critical eco-technological problem that is exacerbated by the exponential increase in global consumption each year. Global production of D3 is increasing exponentially and approximately 20 billion used diapers are sent to landfills each year, generating more than 3.5 million tonnes of diaper waste that requires almost 500 years to be fully decomposed. The disposal of D3 has resulted in significant environmental issues and public health hazards. The objective of this study was to provide a systematic review and in-depth discussion of the strategies, challenges, and recent breakthroughs in addressing the problems resulting from the generation and disposal of D3. A systematic literature search was conducted using three electronic databases (Google Scholar, Scopus, and ScienceDirect). Four peer-reviewed studies were selected from the 2287 articles found. Thermochemical technology is claimed to be suitable for the treatment and recycling of used diapers, especially with regard to the use of potentially safer and cleaner technologies with minimal costs. It was established that pyrolysis of D3 could yield useful end products with a wide range of applications, hence providing a future research direction to improve the efficiency of these processes in recycling this waste. • Production of D3 is increasing exponentially and approximately 20 billion used diapers are sent to landfills each year. • The temperature setting for the thermochemical procedure of D3 depends on the technique applied (200 – 900 ℃). • Chemical activation slightly enhanced lead removal from 96.2% to 98.2% (KOH) – 99.8% (ZnCl 2). • Reaction conditions (temperature, pressure, and time) are critical impact D3 biochar yield and product quality in pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To provide an overview of the three major deadly coronaviruses and identify areas for improvement of future preparedness plans, as well as provide a critical assessment of the risk factors and actionable items for stopping their spread, utilizing lessons learned from the first two deadly coronavirus outbreaks, as well as initial reports from the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic in Wuhan, China.Methods: Utilizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, USA) website, and a comprehensive review of PubMed literature, we obtained information regarding clinical signs and symptoms, treatment and diagnosis, transmission methods, protection methods and risk factors for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and COVID-19. Comparisons between the viruses were made.Results: Inadequate risk assessment regarding the urgency of the situation, and limited reporting on the virus within China has, in part, led to the rapid spread of COVID-19 throughout mainland China and into proximal and distant countries. Compared with SARS and MERS, COVID-19 has spread more rapidly, due in part to increased globalization and the focus of the epidemic. Wuhan, China is a large hub connecting the North, South, East and West of China via railways and a major international airport. The availability of connecting flights, the timing of the outbreak during the Chinese (Lunar) New Year, and the massive rail transit hub located in Wuhan has enabled the virus to perforate throughout China, and eventually, globally.Conclusions: We conclude that we did not learn from the two prior epidemics of coronavirus and were ill-prepared to deal with the challenges the COVID-19 epidemic has posed. Future research should attempt to address the uses and implications of internet of things (IoT) technologies for mapping the spread of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Improving sludge settleability by high-frequency ultrasound was successfully studied. • The effect of intensity and irradiation mode on the properties of activated sludge was studied. • The upgraded clarifier showed stable performance at high MLSS concentration (8000 mg/l). Abstract In this study, high-frequency ultrasound wave (1.8 MHz) at low intensity was applied to improve activated sludge settleability at high MLSS concentration. The effect of irradiation intensity, sonication mode, MLSS concentration and sample volume on the physical characteristics of sludge in a pilot scale settling column were investigated for optimizing the conditions. The obtained results showed that high-frequency ultrasound decreased the height of sludge (44%) and effluent turbidity (82.2%) and increased sludge settling velocity about 3 times at high biomass concentration. Irradiation intensity of 0.4 w/cm2 and sonication mode with interval times of 10 s showed the best results on the performance of the system at MLSS concentration of 8000 mg/L with a sample volume of 3 L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An early warning system for dengue is meant to predict outbreaks and prevent dengue cases by aiding timely decision making and deployment of interventions. However, only a system which is accepted and utilised by the public would be sustainable in the long run. This study aimed to explore the perception and attitude of the Malaysian public towards a dengue early warning system. The sample consisted of 847 individuals who were 18 years and above and living/working in the Petaling District, an area adjacent to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A questionnaire consisting of personal information and three sub-measures of; i) perception, ii) attitude towards dengue early warning and iii) response towards early warning; was distributed to participants. We found that most of the respondents know about dengue fever (97.1%) and its association with climate factors (90.6%). Most of them wanted to help reduce the number of dengue cases in their area (91.5%). A small percentage of the respondents admitted that they were not willing to be involved in public activities, and 64% of them admitted that they did not check dengue situations or hotspots around their area regularly. Despite the high awareness on the relationship between climate and dengue, about 45% of respondents do not know or are not sure how this can be used to predict dengue. Respondents would like to know more about how climate data can be used to predict a dengue outbreak (92.7%). Providing more information on how climate can influence dengue cases would increase public acceptability and improve response towards climate-based warning system. The most preferred way of communicating early warning was through the television (66.4%). This study shows that the public in Petaling District considers it necessary to have a dengue warning system to be necessary, but more education is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical students' use of online medical journals as a source of information is crucial in the learning pathway to become medical doctors. We conducted a cross-sectional survey study among University medical students between December 2012 and March 2013 to assess their awareness, perceived usefulness, practices, and barriers to seeking information from online academic databases and medical journals. The response rate was 67.53%. The majority of the students knew of the availability of online academic databases and medical journals. The mean score for awareness (4.25 of possible 11.0), perceived usefulness (13.95 of possible 33.0), and practice (10.67 of possible 33.0) were low. The mean barrier score toward using online academic databases and medical journals was 25.41 (of possible 45.0). Multivariate findings showed that significant barriers associated with overall usage of online databases and medical journals were 1) not knowing where or how to locate databases and 2) unsureness of using the Boolean operators. Availability of full text subscriptions was found to be an important factor in using online databases. Study findings highlighted the need to increase awareness of academic databases' availability and increase training on ways to search online academic databases and medical journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biomass concentration of conventional activated sludge (CAS) process due to low sludge sedimentation in clarifiers is limited to 3000 mg/L. In this study, high-frequency ultrasound wave (1.8 MHz) was applied to enhance the CAS process performance using high Mixed Liquor Suspended Solid (MLSS) concentration. The study conducted using a pilot scale CAS bioreactor (with and without ultrasound) and their performance for treating a hospital wastewater were compared. Experimental conditions were designed based on a Central Composite Design (CCD). The sets of data analyzed, modeled and optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The effect of MLSS concentration 3000–8000 mg/L and hydraulic retention time (HRT) 2–8 h are considered as operating variables to investigate on process responses. The obtained results showed that high-frequency ultrasound was significantly decreased the sludge volume index (SVI) 50% and effluent turbidity about 88.5% at high MLSS. Also, observed that COD removal of both systems was nearly similar, as the maximum COD removal for sonicated and non-sonicated systems were 92 and 92.5% respectively. However, this study demonstrates that the ultrasound irradiation has not had any negative effect on the microbial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haze is a common phenomenon afflicting Southeast Asia (SEA), including Malaysia, and has occurred almost every year within the last few decades. Haze is associated with high level of air pollutants; it reduces visibility and affects human health in the affected SEA countries. This manuscript aims to review the potential origin, chemical compositions, impacts and mitigation strategies of haze in Malaysia. “Slash and burn” agricultural activities, deforestation and oil palm plantations on peat areas, particularly in Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia were identified as the contributing factors to high intensity combustions that results in transboundary haze in Malaysia. During the southwest monsoon (June to September), the equatorial SEA region experiences a dry season and thus an elevated number of fire events. The prevailing southerly and south-westerly winds allow the cross-boundary transportation of pollutants from the burning areas in Sumatra and Kalimantan in Indonesia, to Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo, respectively. The dry periods caused by the El Niño - Southern Oscillation (ENSO) prolong the duration of poor air quality. The size range of particulate matter (PM) in haze samples indicates that haze is dominated by fine particles. Secondary inorganic aerosols (SIA, such as SO 4 2- and NH 4 + ) and organic substances (such as levoglucosan, LG) were the main composition of PM during haze episodes. Local vehicular emissions and industrial activities also contribute to the amount of pollutants and can introduce toxic material such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Haze episodes have contributed to increasing hospital visits for treatments related to chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, upper respiratory infections, asthma and rhinitis. Respiratory mortality increased 19% due to haze episodes. Children and senior citizens are more likely to suffer the health impacts of haze. The inpatient cost alone from haze episodes was estimated at around USD 91,000 per year in Malaysia. Almost all economic sectors also experienced losses, with the heaviest losses in the agriculture and tourism sectors. This review suggests several ways forward to reduce haze episodes in SEA and Malaysia. These include economic approaches, research collaborations and science-policy interface. Improving forecasting capabilities can help reduce response time to burning events and subsequently reduce its impacts. Lastly, commitment and involvement by individuals, government agencies, and the entrepreneurial private sectors are crucial to reduce biomass burning (BB) and haze episodes in SEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extensive amount of available information on global warming suggests that this issue has become prevalent worldwide. Majority of countries have issued laws and policies in response to this concern by requiring their industrial sectors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as CO 2 . Thus, introducing new and more effective treatment methods, such as biological techniques, is crucial to control the emission of greenhouse gases. Many studies have demonstrated CO 2 fixation using photo-bioreactors and raceway ponds, but a comprehensive review is yet to be published on biological CO 2 fixation. A comprehensive review of CO 2 fixation through biological process is presented in this paper as biological processes are ideal to control both organic and inorganic pollutants. This process can also cover the classification of methods, functional mechanisms, designs, and their operational parameters, which are crucial for efficient CO 2 fixation. This review also suggests the bio-trickling filter process as an appropriate approach in CO 2 fixation to assist in creating a pollution-free environment. Finally, this paper introduces optimum designs, growth rate models, and CO 2 fixation of microalgae, functions, and operations in biological CO 2 fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapidly increasing uptake of e-cigarettes in Malaysia as of late demands a study to identify factors leading to its increased popularity and user intentions to quit smoking e-cigarettes. A convenience sample of e-cigarette smokers visiting e-cigarette retail shops in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur was recruited. The majority of e-cigarette smokers were youth in colleges or universities (39 %), and young professionals and managers (36 %). The main reasons for using e-cigarettes were to help the user quit tobacco cigarettes (88 %), the perception that e-cigarettes are not as intrusive as tobacco cigarettes (85 %) and can be used in public areas (70 %), the perception that e-cigarettes are healthier than tobacco cigarettes (85 %), and its relatively lower cost compared to tobacco cigarettes (65 %). A total of 65.3 % of respondents expressed intentions to quit e-cigarettes. In a multivariate analysis, the respondents who earned monthly income of RM1000 or less were significantly more likely to intend to quit smoking e-cigarettes [OR 1.551; 95 % CI 1.022-2.355; p = 0.015] compared to the respondents who earned a monthly income of more than RM2000. The respondents who disagreed with the statement 'Smoking e-cigs is relatively cheaper compared to tobacco cigarettes' were significantly more likely to intend to quit smoking e-cigarettes [OR 1.548; 95 % CI 1.045-2.293; p = 0.027] compared to respondents who did not agree. e-cigarette preventive interventions should target areas related to the identified main reasons for using e-cigarettes, namely as an aid for quitting tobacco cigarettes, the perception that e-cigarettes are not as intrusive as tobacco cigarettes and can be used in public areas, the idea that e-cigarettes are healthier than tobacco cigarettes, and its relatively lower cost compared to tobacco cigarettes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle size distribution (PSD) has a significant impact on the performance of fluidized bed reactors due to uneven distribution in the segregation and mixing phenomena. This paper develops a new method of digital image processing that investigates the hydrodynamics of an industrial gas phase olefin polymerization reactor and studies the fluidization structure of a wide range of particle size distribution in an industrial gas phase polymerization reactor by means of a CFD-PBM coupled model, where the direct quadrature method of moments (DQMOM) was implemented to solve the population balance model. It was shown that the applied parameter assumptions and closure laws were appropriately chosen to satisfactorily predict the available operational data in terms of pressure drop and bed height. The transient CFD-PBM/DQMOM coupled model and image analysis technique are then implemented extensively to analyze bubble fluidization structure and segregation phenomena at different velocities. The particle segregation indicates that the small bubbles present in the bed are unable to induce vigorous mixing at low superficial gas velocity while particle mixing improves at a velocity above the minimum fluidization velocity. Further, the predicted results show higher axial segregation phenomena when compared to the radial direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The equilibrium adsorption isotherms of carbon dioxide on a commercial granular activated carbon (GAC) and an ammonia-modified GAC (OXA-GAC) were measured using a static volumetric method. CO 2 adsorption measurements were performed at three different temperatures (303, 318, and 333 K), and pressures up to 1 atm. The obtained equilibrium data were fitted to the Freundlich, Sips, and Toth isotherms using a semi-empirical approach to differentiate the contributions of physical and chemical adsorption to the total CO 2 uptake. The isotherm parameters were determined independently for each mechanism by non-linear regression. To evaluate the adequacy of the fit of the isotherm models, two different error functions (i.e., the average relative error and the nonlinear regression coefficient) were calculated. The Toth semi-empirical equilibrium model provided the best fit to the experimental data, with average relative errors of less than 3% observed at all temperatures. The isosteric heats of CO 2 adsorption onto the ammonia-modified adsorbent and onto the untreated adsorbent were determined using the Clausius–Clapeyron equation. The loading dependence of the isosteric enthalpy of CO 2 adsorption over the OXA-GAC reflected an energetic heterogeneity of the adsorbent surface. The initial isosteric heats of adsorption of 70.5 kJ mol −1 and 25.5 kJ mol −1 correspond to the adsorption of CO 2 on the modified and untreated adsorbents, respectively, and these values were in excellent agreement with the zero-coverage heats of adsorption obtained using the temperature-dependent parameters of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world tries to cope with the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and emerging variants of the virus, COVID-19 vaccination has become an even more critical tool toward normalcy. The effectiveness of the vaccination program and specifically vaccine uptake and coverage, however, is a function of an individual's knowledge and individual opinion about the disease and available vaccines. This study investigated the knowledge, attitudes, and resulting community practice(s) associated with the new COVID-19 variants and vaccines in Bangladesh, Colombia, India, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, and the USA. A cross-sectional web-based Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) survey was administered to respondents living in six different countries using a structured and multi-item questionnaire. Survey questions were translated into English, Spanish, and Malay to accommodate the local language in each country. Associations between KAP and a range of explanatory variables were assessed using univariate and multiple logistic regression. A total of 781 responses were included in the final analysis. The Knowledge score mean was 24 (out of 46), Attitude score 28.9 (out of 55), and Practice score 7.3 (out of 11). Almost 65% of the respondents reported being knowledgeable about COVID-19 variants and vaccination, 55% reported a positive attitude toward available COVID-19 vaccines, and 85% reported engaging in practices that supported COVID-19 vaccination. From the multiple logistic models, we found post-graduate education (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.23–2.74) and an age range 45–54 years (AOR = 5.81, 95% CI: 2.30–14.69) to be significantly associated with reported COVID-19 knowledge. In addition, positive Attitude scores were associated with respondents living in Zimbabwe (AOR = 4.49, 95% CI: 2.04–9.90) and positive Practice scores were found to be associated with people from India (AOR = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.15–11.74) and high school education (AOR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.07–4.38). This study contributes to the identification of socio-demographic factors associated with poor knowledge, attitudes, and practices relating to COVID-19 variants and vaccines. It presents an opportunity for collaboration with diverse communities to address COVID-19 misinformation and common sources of vaccine hesitancy (i.e., knowledge, attitudes, and practices). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has harshly impacted communities globally. This study provides relevant information for creating equitable policy interventions to combat the spread of COVID-19. This study aims to predict the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of the COVID-19 pandemic at a global level to determine control measures and psychosocial problems. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to October 2020 using an online questionnaire. Questionnaires were initially distributed to academicians worldwide. These participants distributed the survey among their social, professional, and personal groups. Responses were collected and analyzed from 67 countries, with a sample size of 3031. Finally, based on the number of respondents, eight countries, including Bangladesh, China, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, the United States, and Zambia were rigorously analyzed. Specifically, questionnaire responses related to COVID-19 accessibility, behavior, knowledge, opinion, psychological health, and susceptibility were collected and analyzed. As per our analysis, age groups were found to be a primary determinant of behavior, knowledge, opinion, psychological health, and susceptibility scores. Gender was the second most influential determinant for all metrics except information about COVID-19 accessibility, for which education was the second most important determinant. Respondent profession was the third most important metric for all scores. Our findings suggest that health authorities must promote health educations, implement related policies to disseminate COVID-19-awareness that can prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognizing and mainstreaming pertinent walkability elements into the university campus planning is crucial to materialise green mandates of the campus, while enhancing social and economic sustainability. In one of such attempts, this transverse study investigated the walking motivations, built environment factors associated with campus walkability and the relative importance of the studied built environment factors in reference to the sociodemographic attributes from the viewpoint of the campus community in a tropical university campus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. An online survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted between May and September 2019. The built environment factors associated with campus walkability were expressed and ranked as adjusted scores (AS). Meanwhile, multivariable logistic regression was deployed to examine the relative importance of the studied built environment factors in reference to the sociodemographic attributes of the campus community. Among 504 total responses acquired, proximity between complementary land uses (90.7%) was reported as the main motivation for walking. On the other hand, street connectivity and accessibility (AS: 97.62%) was described as the most opted built environment factor, followed by land use (AS: 96.76%), pedestrian infrastructure (AS: 94.25%), walking experience (AS: 87.07%), traffic safety (AS: 85.28%) and campus neighbourhood (AS: 59.62%), respectively. Among the sociodemographic attributes, no regular monthly income (OR = 3.162; 95% CI = 1.165–8.379; p < 0.05) and willingness to walk more than 60 min inside the campus per day (OR = 0.418; 95% CI = 0.243–0.720; p < 0.05) were significantly associated with the expression of higher importance towards the reported built environment factors in the multivariate analysis. In brief, the findings of this study were envisaged to elicit valuable empirical evidence for informed interventions and strengthening campus sustainable mobility policies. Unlabelled Image • Proximity between complementary land uses reported as the main walking motivation. • Street connectivity and accessibility was described as the most opted walkability factor. • Income levels and willingness to walk correlated with the reported built environment factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]