Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 69 in total

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  1. Kandiah M, Ramlee R
    World Health Forum, 1995;16(2):167-9.
    PMID: 7794454
    The authors outline the steps being taken in Malaysia aimed at persuading people to avoid the unhealthy lifestyles commonly associated with socioeconomic development and increased affluence, and to adopt health dietary and other habits.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media
  2. Schliemann D, Su TT, Paramasivam D, Somasundaram S, Ibrahim Tamin NSB, Dahlui M, et al.
    Transl Behav Med, 2019 11 25;9(6):1087-1099.
    PMID: 31583402 DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibz134
    Increasingly, policy and research attention is being directed toward improving global health in low- and middle-income countries. This study investigated the cultural adaptation of a UK-designed and developed evidence-based mass media campaign with the aim of improving colorectal cancer and breast cancer awareness in Malaysia. Guided by the heuristic framework of cultural adaptation, a multidisciplinary team adapted the UK Be Cancer Aware programme for implementation in the Malaysian context. The approach included five steps: (a) information gathering and needs assessment; (b) preliminary design; (c) preliminary testing; (d) refinement; and (e) final trial. Key findings from the information gathering stage related to the need to take into account differences in ethnicity, religion, and beliefs about cancer. Discussions with experts indicated that particular words were not acceptable in Malay culture and that specific aspects were "taboo" (e.g., showing pictures of breasts in relation to breast cancer on TV). Stage 3 of the analysis revealed that the presentation of cancer survivors rather than health professionals on programme materials was preferred by Malaysians and that there was a poor level of awareness about colorectal cancer. The results were used systematically to adapt two culturally suitable cancer awareness mass media campaigns for implementation in Malaysia. The developed materials were in line with government priorities and took into account the local health care system structure. The establishment of a partnership with key stakeholders (e.g., the Ministry of Health and the lead patient advocacy organization) and the application of a systematic approach to address cultural factors and resource constraints contribute to the successful implementation of public health programmes in global health settings.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media*
  3. Assunta M, Fields N, Knight J, Chapman S
    Tob Control, 2004 Dec;13 Suppl 2:ii4-12.
    PMID: 15564219
    STUDY OBJECTIVE: To review the tobacco industry's Asian environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) consultants programme, focusing on three key nations: China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
    METHODS: Systematic keyword and opportunistic website searches of formerly private internal industry documents.
    MAIN RESULTS: The release of the 1986 US Surgeon General's report on second hand smoke provoked tobacco companies to prepare for a major threat to their industry. Asian programme activities included conducting national/international symposiums, consultant "road shows" and extensive lobbying and media activities. The industry exploited confounding factors said to be unique to Asian societies such as diet, culture and urban pollution to downplay the health risks of ETS. The industry consultants were said to be "..prepared to do the kinds of things they were recruited to do".
    CONCLUSIONS: The programme was successful in blurring the science on ETS and keeping the controversy alive both nationally and internationally. For the duration of the project, it also successfully dissuaded national policy makers from instituting comprehensive bans on smoking in public places.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media
  4. Tham JS, Zanuddin H
    PMID: 26867387
    Abstract. This paper examines the effectiveness of media in public awareness of the HIV/AIDS issue among the public in an area in central Selangor, comprising Kuala Lumpur and its surroundings and suburbs in Malaysia. Cross-sectional survey questionnaires were distributed to 384 respondents about accessing the public awareness of modes of HIV transmission, perceptions and attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS, as well as people's understanding about government policies to curb HIV/AIDS. Health care practitioners and newspapers were the preferred sources of information seeking on HIV/AIDS among the public. Most of the respondents were aware of the modes of HIV transmission. However, they were some respondents who still have misconceptions about the modes of transmission. Most of the respondents were not aware about the government's significant policies to address HIV/AIDS in the region. Overall, the respondents had certain knowledge about HIV transmission modes and moderate positive perceptions and attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS. Future studies should be conducted to examine about who sets the agenda in the media, and apart from gatekeepers, who are the real decision makers in deciding what is important to inform the public.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media*
  5. Cheah WL, Chang CT, Rosalia S, Charles LD, Yii SL, Tiong PH, et al.
    Malays J Med Sci, 2011 Jul;18(3):33-42.
    PMID: 22135599 MyJurnal
    BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity rates among adolescents have increased substantially over the years. This study aimed to determine the body mass index (BMI) of students and parents and the relationship among media use, BMI, socio-demographic profiles, and snacking behaviour during television watching of secondary school students in Kuching South City.
    METHODS: In accordance with the two-stage sampling method, a total of 316 adolescents aged 13-17 years from 7 secondary schools participated. Data were collected using questionnaire and anthropometric measurement. Independent t test, one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-square test were performed.
    RESULTS: The mean BMI was 20.56 kg/m(2) (SD 4.33) for boys and 20.15 kg/m(2) (SD 3.91) for girls. No significant difference in terms of z score for BMI-for-age or socio-demographic factors was found. The mean duration of time devoted to media use was 4.69 hours (SD 2.93) on weekdays and 5.69 hours (SD 2.87) on weekends. Boys were found to spend more hours on media use than did the girls (t = 4.293, P < 0.01). Respondents were reported to consume more cereal compared with soft drinks and junk foods. Respondents whose fathers worked in the private sector devoted the fewest hours to media use, whereas those with self-employed fathers devoted the most time to media use. Respondents with mothers who were employed spent more time on media use than did respondents whose mothers were housewives (F = 4.067, P < 0.01). No significant difference was found between BMI and media time or snacking habits.
    CONCLUSION: This finding indicated that media time has no effect on body weight, because respondents were found to have normal weight and to consume less unhealthy food.
    KEYWORDS: adolescent; behaviour; body mass index; public health; urban population
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media
  6. Saw KG, Esa SR
    Sci Rep, 2021 Apr 07;11(1):7644.
    PMID: 33828210 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87386-6
    Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry fragment analysis remains a challenging task. The fragment appearance regularity (FAR) rule is particularly useful for two-element compounds such as ZnO. Ion fragments appearing in the form of ZnxOy obey the rule [Formula: see text] in the positive secondary ion spectrum and [Formula: see text] in the negative spectrum where the valence of Zn is + 2 and that of O is - 2. Fragment analysis in gallium-doped ZnO (GZO) films can give insights into the bonding of the elements in this important semiconductor. Fragment analysis of 1 and 7 wt% GZO films shows that only the negative ion fragments obey the FAR rule where ZnO‒, 66ZnO‒, 68ZnO‒ and ZnO2‒ ion fragments appear. In the positive polarity, subdued peaks from out-of-the-rule ZnO+, 66ZnO+ and 68ZnO+ ion fragments are observed. The Ga ion peaks are present in both the positive and negative spectra. The secondary ion spectra of undoped ZnO also shows consistency with the FAR rule. This implies that Ga doping even in amounts that exceed the ZnO lattice limit of solubility does not affect the compliance with the FAR rule.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media
  7. Shi Y, Huang L, Soh AK, Weng GJ, Liu S, Redfern SAT
    Sci Rep, 2017 09 11;7(1):11111.
    PMID: 28894256 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11633-y
    Electrocaloric (EC) materials show promise in eco-friendly solid-state refrigeration and integrable on-chip thermal management. While direct measurement of EC thin-films still remains challenging, a generic theoretical framework for quantifying the cooling properties of rich EC materials including normal-, relaxor-, organic- and anti-ferroelectrics is imperative for exploiting new flexible and room-temperature cooling alternatives. Here, we present a versatile theory that combines Master equation with Maxwell relations and analytically relates the macroscopic cooling responses in EC materials with the intrinsic diffuseness of phase transitions and correlation characteristics. Under increased electric fields, both EC entropy and adiabatic temperature changes increase quadratically initially, followed by further linear growth and eventual gradual saturation. The upper bound of entropy change (∆Smax) is limited by distinct correlation volumes (V cr ) and transition diffuseness. The linearity between V cr and the transition diffuseness is emphasized, while ∆Smax = 300 kJ/(K.m3) is obtained for Pb0.8Ba0.2ZrO3. The ∆Smax in antiferroelectric Pb0.95Zr0.05TiO3, Pb0.8Ba0.2ZrO3 and polymeric ferroelectrics scales proportionally with V cr-2.2, owing to the one-dimensional structural constraint on lattice-scale depolarization dynamics; whereas ∆Smax in relaxor and normal ferroelectrics scales as ∆Smax ~ V cr-0.37, which tallies with a dipolar interaction exponent of 2/3 in EC materials and the well-proven fractional dimensionality of 2.5 for ferroelectric domain walls.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media
  8. Yousif, Emad, Ahmed, Dina S., Ahmed, Ahmed A., Hameed, Ayad S., Yusop, Rahimi M., Redwan, Amamer, et al.
    Science Letters, 2018;12(2):19-27.
    MyJurnal
    The photodegradation rate constant and surface morphology of poly(vinyl chloride), upon irradiation with ultraviolet light was investigated in the presence of polyphosphates as photostabilizers. Poly(vinyl chloride) photodegradation rate constant was lower for the films containing polyphosphates compared to the blank film. In addition, the surface morphology of the irradiated poly(vinyl chloride) containing polyphosphates, examined by scanning electron microscopy, indicates that the surface was much smoother compared to the blank film.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media
  9. Benaissa M, Vennéguès P
    Sains Malaysiana, 2008;37:233-237.
    A complete nanoscale study on GaN thin films doped with Mg. This study was carried out using TEM and associated techniques such as HREM, CBED, EDX and EELS. It was found that the presence of triangular defects (of few nanometers in size) within GaN:Mg films were at the origin of unexpected electrical and optical behaviors, such as a decrease in the free hole density at high Mg doping. It is shown that these defects are inversion domains limited with inversion-domains boundaries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media
  10. Chai CK, Md. Soot Ahmad, Wan Manshol W. Zin
    Electron beam vulcanization of natural rubber latex has been developed as an alternative to the conventional sulphur vulcanization method. This study aimed at determining the effect of electron beam dose, beam current and centrifugation to the tensile properties of field natural rubber latex. Irradiation dose and beam current ranged from 50 to 300 kGy and 1 to 15 mA respectively. The determination of tensile properties were done on cast film prepared from irradiated field latex before and after centrifugation. It was found that tensile properties increased with radiation dose but decreased with beam current. Rubber films made from centrifuged irradiated field latex were softer and showed higher tensile strength.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media
  11. Noor Zalikha Mohamed Islam, Nadras Othman, Zulkifli Ahmad, Hanafi Ismail
    Sains Malaysiana, 2011;40:1123-1127.
    This paper describes the effect of pro-degradant additives (PDA) on photo-oxidative aging of polypropylene (PP) films after being time accelerated in UV-weathering chamber. Thin films (0.12 mm) containing these additives were prepared by sheeting process. The effect of UV on PP films in the presence of these additives was investigated. Changes in the PP films appearance, tensile properties and carbonyl index (CI) were used to investigate the degradation behavior. The films became completely pulverised after 100 h of photo-oxidative treatment and could not be tested further. Films containing PDA showed rapid loss in tensile properties within 100 h of photo-oxidative aging. In addition, the CI results of photo-oxidative films increased with increasing PDA amount within the time interval of aging and the activity was due to the mechanism reaction of PP with PDA particles. During the aging process the material becomes denser due to tighter packing and incorporation of oxygen into the amorphous regions of the polymer. The results indicated that the presence of PDA contributed to the photo degradation and the activity was very much influenced by the amount PDA.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media
  12. Bangbai C, Techitdheera W, Chongsri K, Pecharapa W
    Sains Malaysiana, 2013;42:239-246.
    In this work, the preparation of ZnO, N-doped ZnO (NZO), Al-doped ZnO (AZO) and Al, N-doped ZnO (ANZO) thin films by the sol-gel spin-coating method is reported. The structural properties and surface morphologies of films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The optical properties of the films were interpreted from their transmission spectra using UV-VIS spectrophotometer. The XRD and SEM results disclosed that the crystallization quality and grain size of as-prepared films were highly influenced by N and Al doping. UV-VIS spectrophotometer results indicated that Al and N additives could significantly enhance the optical transparency and induce the blue-shift in optical bandgap of ZnO films.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media
  13. Wan Nasarudin Wan Jalal, Huda Abdullah, Mohd Syafiq Zulfakar, Sahbudin Shaari, Mohammad Thariqul Islam, Badariah Bais
    Sains Malaysiana, 2014;43:833-842.
    CaxZn(1_x)Al204thin films (x = 0.00; 0 .05 ; 0.10; 0.15 and 0.20) were prepared by sol-gel method with the substitution of Zn2+ by Ca" in the framework of ZnAl204. The effect of Ca addition on the structure and morphology of CaZnAl204thin films was investigated by x-ray diffraction (xRD), field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDx), ultra-violet visible (uv-Vis) and atomic force microscope (AFM). The xRD patterns showed the characteristic peaks of face-centred cubic (fcc)ZnAl204and CaZnAl204. The addition of Ca increased the crystallite size from 8.9 to 302 nm. The bandgap of CaxZnuld204 thin film was found in the range of 3.40 to 3.84 eV. sEm micrograph shows the morphology of all thin films is sphere-like, with the grain size increased from 33 to 123 nm. The AFM images show the roughness of surface morphology increased. The substitution of Zn2+ by Ca" increased the crystallite size, grain size and surface roughness which evidently increased the density (4.59 to 4.64 glcm3) and dielectric constant (8.48 to 9.54). The composition of CaxZn(1_x)Al204is considered as suitable material for GPS patch antennas.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media
  14. Ng S, Swinburn B, Kelly B, Vandevijvere S, Yeatman H, Ismail MN, et al.
    Public Health Nutr, 2018 Dec;21(18):3395-3406.
    PMID: 30277185 DOI: 10.1017/S1368980018002379
    OBJECTIVE: To determine the degree of food environment policies that have been implemented and supported by the Malaysian Government, in comparison to international best practice, and to establish prioritised recommendations for the government based on the identified implementation gaps.

    DESIGN: The Healthy Food-Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI) comprises forty-seven indicators of government policy practice. Local evidence of each indicator was compiled from government institutions and verified by related government stakeholders. The extent of implementation of the policies was rated by experts against international best practices. Rating results were used to identify and propose policy actions which were subsequently prioritised by the experts based on 'importance' and 'achievability' criteria. The policy actions with relatively higher 'achievability' and 'importance' were set as priority recommendations for government action.

    SETTING: Malaysia.

    SUBJECTS: Twenty-six local experts.

    RESULTS: Majority (62 %) of indicators was rated 'low' implementation with no indicator rated as either 'high' or 'very little, if any' in terms of implementation. The top five recommendations were (i) restrict unhealthy food marketing in children's settings and (ii) on broadcast media; (iii) mandatory nutrition labelling for added sugars; (iv) designation of priority research areas related to obesity prevention and diet-related non-communicable diseases; and (v) introduce energy labelling on menu boards for fast-food outlets.

    CONCLUSIONS: This first policy study conducted in Malaysia identified a number of gaps in implementation of key policies to promote healthy food environments, compared with international best practices. Study findings could strengthen civil society advocacies for government accountability to create a healthier food environment.

    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media
  15. Alrimawi BH, Chan MY, Ooi XY, Chan SY, Goh CF
    Polymers (Basel), 2021 Feb 15;13(4).
    PMID: 33671895 DOI: 10.3390/polym13040578
    Rice starch is a promising biomaterial for thin film development in buccal drug delivery, but the plasticisation and antiplasticisation phenomena from both plasticisers and drugs on the performance of rice starch films are not well understood. This study aims to elucidate the competing effects of sorbitol (plasticiser) and drug (antiplasticiser) on the physicochemical characteristics of rice starch films containing low paracetamol content. Rice starch films were prepared with different sorbitol (10, 20 and 30% w/w) and paracetamol contents (0, 1 and 2% w/w) using the film casting method and were characterised especially for drug release, swelling and mechanical properties. Sorbitol showed a typical plasticising effect on the control rice starch films by increasing film flexibility and by reducing swelling behaviour. The presence of drugs, however, modified both the mechanical and swelling properties by exerting an antiplasticisation effect. This antiplasticisation action was found to be significant at a low sorbitol level or a high drug content. FTIR investigations supported the antiplasticisation action of paracetamol through the disturbance of sorbitol-starch interactions. Despite this difference, an immediate drug release was generally obtained. This study highlights the interplay between plasticiser and drug in influencing the mechanical and swelling characteristics of rice starch films at varying concentrations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media
  16. Yap, C.K.
    MyJurnal
    If we were given a questionnaire of “How do we measure a researcher as a true scientist? with optional answers like (a) Having a good number of publications, (b) having attending numerous conferences, (c) with a high popularity as always appeared in mass media, and (d) good international networking and good public relations. Options (c) and (d) always come later after option (a) has been achieved, while option (b) can be simply achieved or abstract be accepted for presentation in any conference. Hitherto, publishing in any peer-reviewed journals carry a certain quality since they are highly subjected to peer review evaluation before the paper can be accepted for publication in a journal. Needless to say, those constructive comments given by the reviewers are very crucial in shaping our scientific understanding in our subject area rather than rejection experience (Yap, 2009). Having said so, option (a) will definitely be the best answer. The fact is that option (a) should not be argued whatsoever as the best answer [since publications speaks louder than anything else] and options (a), (b) and (c) are supplementary criteria to option (a) but they are not as vital as option (a). When we are asked ‘What is your scientific research performance or research output?’, the answer could always be ‘Having a good number of publications.’ Then, the next question forwarded is that ‘What is the quality and impact of your published papers to the scientific community?’ Of course, good and high impact factor journals always accept papers with high novelty in the subject area. Therefore, papers published in good journals are always highly cited and subsequently resulting in high impact (or citations) of the research done to the scientific community. However, the last question is sometimes very subjective and difficult to answer until h-index is introduced and discussed among the researchers. This paper aimed to discuss the h-index based on Elsevier’s Scopus database as an indicator of research achievement for young Malaysian scientists.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media
  17. Quah HJ, Cheong KY
    Nanoscale Res Lett, 2013;8(1):53.
    PMID: 23360596 DOI: 10.1186/1556-276X-8-53
    The effects of different post-deposition annealing ambients (oxygen, argon, forming gas (95% N2 + 5% H2), and nitrogen) on radio frequency magnetron-sputtered yttrium oxide (Y2O3) films on n-type gallium nitride (GaN) substrate were studied in this work. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was utilized to extract the bandgap of Y2O3 and interfacial layer as well as establishing the energy band alignment of Y2O3/interfacial layer/GaN structure. Three different structures of energy band alignment were obtained, and the change of band alignment influenced leakage current density-electrical breakdown field characteristics of the samples subjected to different post-deposition annealing ambients. Of these investigated samples, ability of the sample annealed in O2 ambient to withstand the highest electric breakdown field (approximately 6.6 MV/cm) at 10-6 A/cm2 was related to the largest conduction band offset of interfacial layer/GaN (3.77 eV) and barrier height (3.72 eV).
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media
  18. Ay, Eeng Tan, Wai, Kwong Choong, Pooi, Yan Leong, Wei, Mui Ng, Soon, Leong Yong
    Medicine & Health, 2008;3(1):30-37.
    MyJurnal
    This is a cross-sectional study on 218 pregnant mothers in an urban government Hospital.The study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes and sources of information on breastfeeding. The results could be utilised to promote breastfeeding. Almost all the respondents (96.8%) intended to breastfeed their newborns. Most of them (74.8%) were knowledgeable about breastfeeding i.e. colostrum and breast milk was the best food, good for resistance against disease and allergy, filling up stomach easily, helpful in teeth development and maternal recovery after birth, increased bonding, was easy and economical. The two main misconceptions were mothers would stop breastfeeding when infant or mother was sick, and giving clear fluid to the exclusively breastfed infants to prevent dehydration. Most mothers (83.9%) responded positively towards breastfeeding i.e. it was easier than infant formula, had no negative effect on marital relationship or family care, would commence breastfeeding straight after delivery, agreeable to the banning of bottles and teats in hospital and they would not stop breastfeeding even if husband discouraged them. Only 56.9% of the mothers believed they could breastfeed their babies with modesty anywhere. The main sources of information were attained from the mass media (34.9%), antenatal class (32.1%) and other mothers with breastfeeding experiences.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mass Media
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