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Fulltext Healthy Eating Determinants: A Study among Malaysian Young Adults

Mamun AA, Hayat N, Zainol NRB

Foods, 2020 Jul 23;9(8).
PMID: 32717851 DOI: 10.3390/foods9080974

This study aimed to examine the effect of health consciousness, knowledge about healthy food, attitudes toward healthy food, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control on the intention to consume healthy food, which subsequently affects the consumption of healthy food among Malaysian young adults. The current study also examined the moderating effect of perceived barriers on the association between intention to consume healthy food and the consumption of healthy food. This study adopted a cross-sectional design and collected quantitative data from 1651 Malaysian young adults (between the age of 18 and 40 years) by sharing a Google form link through social media. The findings reveal that health consciousness, knowledge about healthy food, attitude toward healthy food, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control had a significant positive effect on the intention to consume healthy food. Findings also show that the intention to consume healthy food has a significant positive effect on the consumption of healthy food among Malaysian young adults. Furthermore, the findings reveal the positive and significant mediating effect of the intention to consume healthy food and the significant moderating effect of perceived barriers on the association between the intention to consume healthy food and the consumption of healthy food. The multi-group analysis revealed that the effect of perceived barriers on the consumption of healthy food and the moderating effect of perceived barriers were significantly higher among urban respondents. Health and agriculture policymakers should focus on the attributes of healthy eating practices and their health benefits to promote the mass adoption of healthy food among Malaysian young adults.
Microbulbifer aggregans sp. nov., isolated from estuarine sediment from a mangrove forest

Moh TH, Furusawa G, Amirul AA

Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 2017 Oct;67(10):4089-4094.
PMID: 28905698 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.002258

A novel, rod-shaped, Gram-stain-negative, halophilic and non-motile bacterium, designated CCB-MM1T, was isolated from a sample of estuarine sediment collected from Matang Mangrove Forest, Malaysia. The cells possessed a rod-coccus cell cycle in association with growth phase and formed aggregates. Strain CCB-MM1T was both catalase and oxidase positive, and able to degrade starch. Optimum growth occurred at 30 °C and pH 7.0 in the presence of 2-3 % (w/v) NaCl. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain CCB-MM1T showed 98.12, 97.46 and 97.33 % sequence similarity with Microbulbifer rhizosphaerae Cs16bT, Microbulbifer maritimus TF-17T and Microbulbifergwangyangensis GY2T respectively. Strain CCB-MM1T and M. rhizosphaerae Cs16bT formed a cluster in the phylogenetic tree. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C17 : 1 ω9c and iso-C15 : 0, and the total polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphoaminolipid, two unidentified lipids, an unidentified glycolipid and an unidentified aminolipid. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-8 and the genomic DNA G+C content of the strain was 58.9 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic, phenotypic and genotypic data presented here, strain CCB-MM1T represents a novel species of the genus Microbulbifer, for which the name Microbulbiferaggregans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CCB-MM1T (=LMG 29920T=JCM 31875T).
Fulltext Editorial: Effective occupational health and safety management in advancing global agri-food sustainability

Bhowmik S, Mamun AA, Nordin N

Front Public Health, 2024;12:1438907.
PMID: 39071146 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1438907
Fulltext A Virtual Pet Serious Game in Motivating Children with Cancer in Treatment and Self-Care: A Conceptual Design

Carmen Chai Wang Er, Lau Bee Theng, Abdullah Al Mahmud, Mark Tee Kit Tsun

Malaysian Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2020;26(2):6-19.
MyJurnal

Childhood cancer is the number one cause of death by illness in children. However, despite being such a deadly disease, survival from childhood cancer is high with cancer treatment. Unfortunately, undergoing cancer treatment can result in many treatments related side-effects. Daily self-care such as maintaining a balanced diet, drinking enough fluids, practicing proper hygiene and getting enough rest, can be effective in lowering the severity of these symptoms. It is found that existing interventions for cancer patients do not target treatment adherence in children. Therefore, the aim of the research is to design an intervention which is able to motivate children to adhere to treatment and encourage daily self-care. To enhance the design of such an intervention, the article explores the potential of virtual pet games as a health intervention, and the use of the Protection Motivation Theory and Social Learning Theory’s observational learning in increasing the intervention’s effectiveness. Finally, the design considerations, game objectives and overall conceptual architecture of the proposed intervention are discussed. A conceptual comparison is also made between the proposed game and existing serious games for cancer patients. Future work is required to develop this design into a working prototype, and to evaluate its effectiveness on improving treatment adherence and promoting daily self-care with childhood cancer patients.
Fulltext Towards the data security and digital evidence based solution in Bangladesh perspective

Ahmed, Shekh Abdullah-Al-Musa, Nik Zulkarnaen Khidzir, Tan,Tse Guan

ZULFAQAR International Journal of Defence Science, Engineering & Technology, 2019;2(1):1-8.
MyJurnal

Data is anything in a form suitable for use with a computer. Data is often distinguished from programs. A program is a set of instructions that detail a task for the computer to perform. In this sense, data is thus everything that is not program code. Generally and in science, data is a gathered body of facts. Data security refers to protective digital privacy measures that are applied to prevent unauthorized access to computers data. Data security also protects data from corruption. However in this article would show a method for encryption text data by java program. It will encrypt is such a way that data could not read in plain text. Whereas Forensic science is a combine science. Scientific Evidence is a part of forensic science. By using the forensic science collecting information and present it on the court. So the meaning of evidence of science representing the understanding of collection information by establishes science. For example to create a DNA profile, following the establish protocol to make a DNA profile. So by testing it thousand times it will give the same result. This is the establish rule of science. When applying this rule in the court then it will call scientific Evidence. In Bangladesh most of the time it is seen that judiciary process is depends on confession based. Justice in the lower court does not depend on Digital forensic rather depend on Confession based. The definition of document is given in Section 3 at Evidence Act, 1872 and it is amended by ICT Act 2006 by Section 87 ,it is said that creating document by electronic is also a document .So any picture or video or audio are electronic document is a document .However for digital evidence based solution in this project using autopsy forensic tools, which will run on Kali Linux Forensic mode. It will generate a report paper and calculates MD5 hash values and confirms the integrity of the data before closing the files. Not all computer offence we can called cybercrime , but if a person created forged certificate or steal computer file , may called it as a Digital Crime .In real space , there are some physical force such as robbery , theft etc. But in Digital crime, there is no physical force, but doing the crime by technology.
Fulltext Stroke patients' adherence to nurses' advice and their quality of life after admittance to Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan

Wisam Nabeel Ibrahim, Sufi Md Nawi, Sinan Mohammed Abdullah Al-Mahmood, Noratikah Othman

International Journal of Care Scholars, 2018;1(1):1-4.
MyJurnal

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify stroke patients’ adherence toward nurses’ advice and quality of life.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a medical ward in Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan, Pahang; it used the Quality of Life Index Stroke Version-III and Medical Outcome Study Measure of Patient Adherence. The data were collected using the purposive sampling method and were analysed using SPSS version 19.

Results: A total of 54 respondents, ranging in age from 50 to 80 years old, (46.3% male and 53.7% female) with 94.4% being Malays. Returned surveys indicated that 50% of the respondents have no formal education. A total of 64.8% patients adhered to the nurss’ advice and the remaining 35.2% were non-adherents. There is a positive correlation between adherence and the quality of life. Male patients demonstrated a better adherence level compared to women (p=0.019). However, there was no association between age, race and education level with adherence.

Conclusion: Healthcare professionals, such as nurses, have substantial roles in ensuring stroke patients adhere to rehabilitation guidelines with a view to maximising quality of life.
Fulltext Knowledge and awareness of hepatitis B and its associated factors among students of medical faculties at the international International Islamic University Malaysia’s Kuantan campus

Wisam Nabeel Ibrahim, Ain Nadiah Mazlan, Noratikah Othman, Sinan Mohammed Abdullah Al-Mahmood

International Journal of Care Scholars, 2018;1(2):19-21.
MyJurnal

Objective: this study aims to assess the knowledge and awareness of hepatitis B and its associated factors among students of medical colleges at Kuantan Campus, the International Islamic University Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used, and data collection was carried out using a selfstructured close-ended questionnaire. Descriptive and analytic statistics were performed with independent t-test, One Way ANOVA and a correlation analysis determine any significant differences between the groups with p < 0.05 significance value Results: According to the results, there was a significant (p < 0.001) association between the type of Faculty with knowledge and awareness about hepatitis B. In addition, the results showed an association between year of study with the knowledge and awareness of hepatitis B (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was an association between duration of clinical experience with knowledge and awareness of hepatitis B (p < 0.001). The results showed that there was no association between gender with knowledge and awareness of hepatitis B (p > 0.05). Conclusion: levels of knowledge showed a strong correlation with levels of awareness, meaning that students with high knowledge also had high awareness of hepatitis B. On the whole, students were aware of and knowledgeable about hepatitis B.
Fulltext Bengali-Sign: A Machine Learning-Based Bengali Sign Language Interpretation for Deaf and Non-Verbal People

Raihan MJ, Labib MI, Jim AAJ, Tiang JJ, Biswas U, Nahid AA

Sensors (Basel), 2024 Aug 19;24(16).
PMID: 39205045 DOI: 10.3390/s24165351

Sign language is undoubtedly a common way of communication among deaf and non-verbal people. But it is not common among hearing people to use sign language to express feelings or share information in everyday life. Therefore, a significant communication gap exists between deaf and hearing individuals, despite both groups experiencing similar emotions and sentiments. In this paper, we developed a convolutional neural network-squeeze excitation network to predict the sign language signs and developed a smartphone application to provide access to the ML model to use it. The SE block provides attention to the channel of the image, thus improving the performance of the model. On the other hand, the smartphone application brings the ML model close to people so that everyone can benefit from it. In addition, we used the Shapley additive explanation to interpret the black box nature of the ML model and understand the models working from within. Using our ML model, we achieved an accuracy of 99.86% on the KU-BdSL dataset. The SHAP analysis shows that the model primarily relies on hand-related visual cues to predict sign language signs, aligning with human communication patterns.
Recent progress in adjuvant discovery for peptide-based subunit vaccines

Azmi F, Ahmad Fuaad AA, Skwarczynski M, Toth I

Hum Vaccin Immunother, 2014;10(3):778-96.
PMID: 24300669

Peptide-based subunit vaccines are of great interest in modern immunotherapy as they are safe, easy to produce and well defined. However, peptide antigens produce a relatively weak immune response, and thus require the use of immunostimulants (adjuvants) for optimal efficacy. Developing a safe and effective adjuvant remains a challenge for peptide-based vaccine design. Recent advances in immunology have allowed researchers to have a better understanding of the immunological implication of related diseases, which facilitates more rational design of adjuvant systems. Understanding the molecular structure of the adjuvants allows the establishment of their structure-activity relationships which is useful for the development of next-generation adjuvants. This review summarizes the current state of adjuvants development in the field of synthetic peptide-based vaccines. The structural, chemical and biological properties of adjuvants associated with their immunomodulatory effects are discussed.
Fulltext Agarolytic bacterium Persicobacter sp. CCB-QB2 exhibited a diauxic growth involving galactose utilization pathway

Furusawa G, Lau NS, Suganthi A, Amirul AA

Microbiologyopen, 2017 02;6(1).
PMID: 27987272 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.405

The agarolytic bacterium Persicobacter sp. CCB-QB2 was isolated from seaweed (genus Ulva) collected from a coastal area of Malaysia. Here, we report a high-quality draft genome sequence for QB2. The Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology (RAST) annotation server identified four β-agarases (PdAgaA, PdAgaB, PdAgaC, and PdAgaD) as well as galK, galE, and phosphoglucomutase, which are related to the Leloir pathway. Interestingly, QB2 exhibited a diauxic growth in the presence of two kinds of nutrients, such as tryptone and agar. In cells grown with agar, the profiles of agarase activity and growth rate were very similar. galK, galE, and phosphoglucomutase genes were highly expressed in the second growth phase of diauxic growth, indicating that QB2 cells use galactose hydrolyzed from agar by its agarases and exhibit nutrient prioritization. This is the first report describing diauxic growth for agarolytic bacteria. QB2 is a potential novel model organism for studying diauxic growth in environmental bacteria.
Fulltext Attraction factors for Paederus fuscipes ' dispersal, a vector of Paederus dermatitis towards human residential premises

Maryam S, Fadzly N, Amirul AA, Zuharah WF

Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo, 2017 Apr 03;59:e4.
PMID: 28380115 DOI: 10.1590/S1678-9946201759004

Paederus fuscipes, a vector of Paederus dermatitis in most tropical and subtropical countries of the world have a high prevalence in human dwellings due to their positively phototaxic behaviour which has caused a tremendous impact on human health. In this paper, P. fuscipes dispersal flights were studied for two seasons of the rice cultivation phases in residential premises built close to rice field areas (≈32-60 m and 164 m) in mainland Penang, Malaysia. We examined the effects of different light illuminance, building floor level and their association with rice stages as a focal cause of P. fuscipes dispersion from the rice fields towards human dwellings. The present study showed a significant interaction between different light illuminances and rice cultivation phases in attracting P. fuscipes to disperse and invade human dwellings. The highest number of P. fuscipes was captured near the bright light. P. fuscipes flights increased in line with each floor level, and the highest captures took place at higher building floor levels (levels 2 and 3) compared to lower building floor levels (ground floor and level 1) of a three storey apartment in both rice seasons. This finding not only conveys a better understanding on P. fuscipes dispersal pattern, but also draws public attention on the occurrence of dermatitis linearis caused by the Paederus beetles.
Fulltext Genome features of moderately halophilic polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing Yangia sp. CCB-MM3

Lau NS, Sam KK, Amirul AA

Stand Genomic Sci, 2017;12:12.
PMID: 28138356 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-017-0232-8

Yangia sp. CCB-MM3 was one of several halophilic bacteria isolated from soil sediment in the estuarine Matang Mangrove, Malaysia. So far, no member from the genus Yangia, a member of the Rhodobacteraceae family, has been reported sequenced. In the current study, we present the first complete genome sequence of Yangia sp. strain CCB-MM3. The genome includes two chromosomes and five plasmids with a total length of 5,522,061 bp and an average GC content of 65%. Since a different strain of Yangia sp. (ND199) was reported to produce a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer, the ability for this production was tested in vitro and confirmed for strain CCB-MM3. Analysis of its genome sequence confirmed presence of a pathway for production of propionyl-CoA and gene cluster for PHA production in the sequenced strain. The genome sequence described will be a useful resource for understanding the physiology and metabolic potential of Yangia as well as for comparative genomic analysis with other Rhodobacteraceae.
Fulltext Examining the effect of logistics service quality on customer satisfaction and re-use intention

Lin X, Mamun AA, Yang Q, Masukujjaman M

PLoS One, 2023;18(5):e0286382.
PMID: 37256860 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286382

For logistics service providers (LSPs), improving customer satisfaction and obtaining customer re-use intention are key to gaining sustainable competitive advantages and success. Logistics service quality (LSQ) is a concern for logistics service providers, retailers, and customers. The proposed model, which is based on the stimuli-organism-response theory and the logistics service quality framework, integrates operational quality, resource quality, information quality, personal contact quality, customization quality, and customer satisfaction to study logistics service re-use intentions. The data were obtained from an online survey using a structured questionnaire given to those with experience in logistics service. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling on 810 respondents who were adult Chinese customers, this study discovered that operational, resource, information, personal contact, and customization qualities positively affect the satisfaction of logistics service customers, while customer satisfaction positively affects re-use intention. Moreover, the results of the mediation analysis revealed that customer satisfaction mediated the connection between the five components of LSQ and the re-use intention of logistics services. The originality of the study lies in its comprehensive examination of the direct and indirect effects of service quality dimensions on customer satisfaction and logistics service re-use intention in the context of logistics services. This study provides valuable insights into the importance of customer satisfaction in the logistics industry and highlights the need for logistics companies to prioritize customer satisfaction and improve their overall performance and competitiveness.
Fulltext Knowledge, attitude and practice of healthcare workers towards antibiotic resistance during the COVID-19 pandemic

Al Sulayyim H, Ismail R, Hamid AA, Ghafar NA

JAC Antimicrob Resist, 2023 Jun;5(3):dlad068.
PMID: 37288079 DOI: 10.1093/jacamr/dlad068

BACKGROUND: During the novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, there was an overuse of antibiotics in hospitals. The improper use of antibiotics during COVID-19 has increased antibiotic resistance (AR), which has been reported in multiple studies.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the healthcare workers' (HCWs) knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) in relation to AR during the era of COVID-19, and identify the associated factors with good knowledge, positive attitude and good practice.
METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used to assess the KAP of HCWs in Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A validated questionnaire was used to collect participants' data, which consisted of the following information; socio-demographics, knowledge, attitude and items for practice. Data were presented as percentages and median (IQR). Mann-Whitney and Kruskal Wallis tests were used to compare them. Logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors linked to KAP.
RESULTS: The study included 406 HCWs. Their median (IQR) knowledge score was 72.73% (27.27%-81.82%), attitude score was 71.43% (28.57%-71.43%) and practice score was 50% (0%-66.67%). About 58.1% of the HCWs stated that antibiotics could be used to treat COVID-19 infection; 19.2% of the participants strongly agreed and 20.7% agreed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, antibiotics were overused at their healthcare institutions. Only 18.5% strongly agreed and 15.5% agreed when asked whether antibiotics used properly for the right indication and duration can still result in AR. The significantly associated factors with good knowledge were nationality, cadre and qualification. A positive attitude was significantly associated with age, nationality and qualification. Good practice was significantly associated with age, cadre, qualification and working place.
CONCLUSION: Although the HCWs had a positive attitude regarding AR during COVID-19, their knowledge and practice need significant improvement. Implementation of effective educational and training programmes are urgently needed. In addition, further prospective and clinical trial studies are needed to better inform these programmes.
Fulltext Healthcare commissioners' experience with antibiotic resistance during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study

Sulayyim HJA, Ismail R, Hamid AA, Abdul Ghafar N

J Pharm Policy Pract, 2024;17(1):2290671.
PMID: 38205192 DOI: 10.1080/20523211.2023.2290671

INTRODUCTION: The occurrence of antibiotic resistance (AR) has become a critical issue during the Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study explores the experiences of healthcare commissioners with AR during the COVID-19 pandemic, identifies challenges, and provides recommendations for combating AR during pandemics.
METHODS: This qualitative study was multi-centered and used a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between December 2022 and January 2023 among 11 health commissioners using video calls.
RESULTS: Seven themes emerged from the data, including knowledge of AR and its consequences, the antibiotic prescription system, the future of AR and potential contributory factors, the impact of COVID-19 on AR and their relationship, the experience of AR during the COVID-19 pandemic in healthcare facilities, barriers that prevent the misuse of antibiotics during pandemics, and recommendations regarding antibiotic resistance during pandemics.
CONCLUSION: The findings of this study could be used to inform policy and practice for government healthcare workers (HCWs) and the public. Furthermore, this study identified the main challenges of AR during the pandemic, and the recommendations of health commissioners were provided accordingly. Such recommendations could be beneficial on a national and international scale to reduce the impact of future pandemics on AR.
ABBREVIATIONS: COVID-19: Novel coronavirus disease 2019; AR: Antibiotic Resistance; IPC: Infection prevention and control; MDRO: multi-drug resistant organism; ASP: Antimicrobial Stewardship Program; HCW: Healthcare worker; KSA: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; WHO: World Health Organization; MOH: Ministry of Health; MOEWA: Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture; AMR: Antimicrobial Resistance; PHCC: Primary Healthcare Center.
Fulltext Antibiotic Resistance during COVID-19: A Systematic Review

Sulayyim HJA, Ismail R, Hamid AA, Ghafar NA

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2022 Sep 21;19(19).
PMID: 36231256 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191911931

One of the public health issues faced worldwide is antibiotic resistance (AR). During the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, AR has increased. Since some studies have stated AR has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and others have stated otherwise, this study aimed to explore this impact. Seven databases-PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science, and CINAHL-were searched using related keywords to identify studies relevant to AR during COVID-19 published from December 2019 to May 2022, according to PRISMA guidelines. Twenty-three studies were included in this review, and the evidence showed that AR has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most commonly reported resistant Gram-negative bacteria was Acinetobacterbaumannii, followed by Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A. baumannii and K. pneumonia were highly resistant to tested antibiotics compared with E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Moreover, K. pneumonia showed high resistance to colistin. Commonly reported Gram-positive bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium. The resistance of E. faecium to ampicillin, erythromycin, and Ciprofloxacin was high. Self-antibiotic medication, empirical antibiotic administration, and antibiotics prescribed by general practitioners were the risk factors of high levels of AR during COVID-19. Antibiotics' prescription should be strictly implemented, relying on the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) and guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) or Ministry of Health (MOH).
Fulltext Treatment satisfaction and its influencing factors among fixed orthodontic patients in UiTM

Shamsul,Fadzil,S,S,, Ahmad,Khalil,A,I,, Noviaranny,I,Y,, Abdullah,Al-Jaf,N,M,, Kazi,J,A,

Compendium of Oral Science, 2020;7(1):21-29.
MyJurnal

Abstract
Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate patient’s satisfaction regarding the orthodontic treatment
provided by the Faculty of Dentistry Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and to determine the factors that
affected their satisfaction level.
Methods: : A cross-sectional study was conducted among the patients treated with full fixed appliances in the
faculty’s orthodontic clinic using a validated questionnaire.
Results: : The final sample consisted of 105 subjects (response rate 76%) which comprises of 26 males and 79
females were chose with 97% of the respondents are Malay. Most subjects had orthodontic treatment duration
of more than 1.5 years (100%) and were still wearing fixed appliances (89%). Items included in the
questionnaire: reasons for seeking orthodontic treatment, questions relevant to satisfaction with orthodontic
treatment, doctor-patient relationship and pain experience during orthodontic treatment. Concerning the doctor
patient relationship, 91% of the respondents were contented with their orthodontist. Respondents answered
‘Yes’ to the treatment plan explained prior to the procedure (91.4%), questions answered promptly (94.3%),
gentleness of the orthodontist (91.4%) and dental assistant (88.6%), orthodontist honesty about treatment
duration (90.5%) and cost (97.1%), and recommendation to others (90.5%).
Conclusion: Generally, patients who had received orthodontic treatment from the orthodontic clinic in Faculty
of Dentistry UiTM were satisfied with the overall treatment outcomes. However, there were still some aspects of
the service that can be improved in the future in order to provide a better healthcare services specifically in
orthodontic treatment.
Fulltext Factors predicting paediatric obesity among primary school children in Kuantan

Sinan Mohammed Abdullah Al-Mahmood, Ariefah Hanim Shamsuddin, Noor Amallina Mohd. Saufi, Noratikah Othman, Wisam Nabeel Ibrahim

International Journal of Care Scholars, 2018;1(1):14-18.
MyJurnal

Objective: This study was aimed to investigate the association of parental obesity, food habits, and physical activity levels with body mass index status and sociodemographic factors among children in Kuantan, Pahang.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 pupils in three primary schools in Kuantan. The three schools were representative of the three major ethnicities in Malaysia, Malays, Chinese, and Indians, and the children were aged 8 to 11 years. Self-developed questionnaires were used to record sociodemographic details and anthropometric measures of both parents and children, and physical activity and food habits were measured using a Children Physical Activity Questionnaire (C-PAQ) and the Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire (HFFQ), respectively. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS 20.0, with a binary logistic regression model then used to represent the interactions among different factors in terms of predicting childhood obesity.

Results: Binary logistic regression analysis shows that parental anthropometric measures, children’s ages, levels of physical activity, and food habits are signif-icant predictors for paediatric obesity. There is also a significant association between parents’ anthropo-metric measurements and childhood obesity. Significant correlation was found between fast food con-sumption, fruit and vegetable consumption, and physical activity and body mass index in children (p˂0.05).

Conclusion: The study provides evidence that parental obesity, fast food consumption, fruit and vegetables intakes, and physical activity levels have significant associations with children's body mass indices.
Fulltext Single-fed broadband CPW-fed circularly polarized implantable antenna for sensing medical applications

Butt AD, Khan J, Ahmad S, Ghaffar A, Abdullah Al-Gburi AJ, Hussein M

PLoS One, 2023;18(4):e0280042.
PMID: 37053176 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280042

Biomedical telemetry relies heavily on implantable antennas. Due to this, we have designed and tested a compact, a circularly polarized, a low-profile biomedical implantable antenna that operate in the 2.45 GHz ISM band. In order to keep the antenna compact, modified co-planar waveguide (CPW) technology is used. Slotted rectangular patch with one 45-degree angle slot and truncated little patch on the left end of the ground plane generate a frequency-range antenna with circular polarization. Using a 0.25-millimeter-thick Roger Duroid-RT5880 substrate with a thickness of εr = 2.2, tanδ = 0.0009 provides flexibility. The volume of the antenna is 21 mm x 13.5 mm x 0.254 mm (0.25λg × 0.16λg × 0.003λg). The antenna covers 2.35-2.55 GHz (200 MHz) in free space and 1.63-1.17 GHz (1.17 GHz) in epidermal tissue. With skin tissue that has more bandwidth, the (x and y)-axis bends of the antenna are also simulated via the simulation. Bended antenna simulations and measurements show excellent agreement. At 2.45 GHz, the skin-like gel had -10dB impedance and 3dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidths of 47.7 and 53.8%, respectively. The ultimate result is that the SAR values are 0.78 W/kg in skin over 1 g of bulk tissue, as determined by simulations. The suggested SAR values are lower than the FCC's maximum allowable limit (FCC). This antenna is small enough to be implanted in the body, making it perfect for biomedical applications.
Human intervention caused massive destruction of the second largest mangrove forest, Chakaria Sundarbans, Bangladesh

Hasan M, Hassan L, Abdullah Al M, Kamal AHM, Idris MH, Hoque MZ, et al.

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2024 Apr;31(17):25329-25341.
PMID: 38468013 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32792-2

Mangroves provide essential ecosystem services including coastal protection by acting as coastal greenbelts; however, human-driven anthropogenic activities altered their existence and ecosystem functions worldwide. In this study, the successive degradation of the second largest mangrove forest, Chakaria Sundarbans situated at the northern Bay of Bengal part of Bangladesh was assessed using remote sensing approaches. A total of five multi-temporal Landsat satellite imageries were collected and used to observe the land use land cover (LULC) changes over the time periods for the years 1972, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. Further, the supervised classification technique with the help of support vector machine (SVM) algorithm in ArcGIS 10.8 was used to process images. Our results revealed a drastic change of Chakaria Sundarbans mangrove forest, that the images of 1972 were comprised of mudflat, waterbody, and mangroves, while the images of 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 were classified as waterbody, mangrove, saltpan, and shrimp farm. Most importantly, mangrove forest was the largest covering area a total of 64.2% in 1972, but gradually decreased to 12.7%, 6.4%, 1.9%, and 4.6% for the years 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively. Interestingly, the rate of mangrove forest area degradation was similar to the net increase of saltpan and shrimp farms. The kappa coefficients of classified images were 0.83, 0.87, 0.80, 0.87, and 0.91 with the overall accuracy of 88.9%, 90%, 85%, 90%, and 93.3% for the years 1972, 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively. By analyzing normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), soil adjusted vegetation index (SAVI), and transformed difference vegetation index (TDVI), our results validated that green vegetated area was decreased alarmingly with time in this study area. This destruction was mainly related to active human-driven anthropogenic activities, particularly creating embankments for fish farms or salt productions, and cutting for collection of wood as well. Together all, our results provide clear evidence of active anthropogenic stress on coastal ecosystem health by altering mangrove forest to saltpan and shrimp farm saying goodbye to the second largest mangrove forest in one of the coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh.

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