Displaying publications 201 - 220 of 668 in total

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  1. A Wahab SN, Said AH, Wan Ismail WH
    PMID: 38213388 DOI: 10.51866/cr.377
    Polyhydramnios is defined as an increase in the amount of amniotic fluid during pregnancy. This article presents the case of a 35-year-old G4P3 lady at 28 weeks of gestation with suboptimised gestational diabetes Mellitus (GDM). Routine transabdominal ultrasound showed the presence of polyhydramnios, initially thought to be due to suboptimal glucose control. Further evaluation revealed a congenital diaphragmatic hernia with multiple soft markers. Identifying the underlying causes of polyhydramnios can be challenging in primary care settings, which can be attributed to various factors. Although primary care medical officers may not be required to perform detailed scans, they have a crucial role in identifying gross foetal abnormalities. This study highlights the potential for missed diagnoses in primary care settings and the importance of comprehensive prenatal assessments to ensure early detection and appropriate management of polyhydramnios-related conditions in women with GDM.
  2. Zeldin S, Krauss SE, Collura J, Lucchesi M, Sulaiman AH
    Am J Community Psychol, 2014 Dec;54(3-4):337-47.
    PMID: 25216734 DOI: 10.1007/s10464-014-9676-9
    Youth participation in program and community decision making is framed by scholars as an issue of social justice, a platform for positive youth development and effective citizenry, and a strategy for nation building. Recent literature reviews have consistently identified youth-adult partnership (Y-AP) as an effective type of youth participation across highly diverse contexts. These same reviews, however, note that indicators of Y-AP have not been conceptualized and validated for measurement purposes. The present study addresses this limitation by developing a brief measure of Y-AP that is explicitly grounded in current theory, research, and community practice. The measure was administered to youth in the United States, Malaysia, and Portugal (N = 610). Validation was assessed through factor analysis and tests of factorial, discriminant, and concurrent validity. Results confirmed the two predicted dimensions of the Y-AP measure: youth voice in decision making and supportive adult relationships. These two dimensions were also found to be distinct from other measures of program quality: safety and engagement. As predicted, they also significantly correlated with measures of agency and empowerment. It is concluded that the measure has the potential to support community efforts to maximize the quality of youth programs.
  3. Chan CK, Supriady H, Goh BH, Kadir HA
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2015 Jun 20;168:291-304.
    PMID: 25861953 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.03.072
    Elephantopus scaber also known as Elephant's foot (Asteraceae family) has a plethora of traditional applications including dysuria, diarrhea, dysentery, leukemia and cancer. This study aimed to investigate the apoptosis inducing effects of E. scaber and the underlying mechanisms in HCT116 colorectal cell line.
  4. Akhtari-Zavare M, Ghanbari-Baghestan A, Latiff LA, Khaniki H
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2015;16(4):1337-41.
    PMID: 25743795
    BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second principal cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide, including Malaysia. This study focused on media choice and attempted to determine the communication channels mostly used and preferred by women in seeking information and knowledge about breast cancer.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was carried out to examine the breast cancer prevention information seeking behavior among 450 students at one private university in Malaysia.

    RESULTS: The mean age of respondents was 25±4.3 years. Common interpersonal information sources were doctors, friends, and nurses and common channel information sources were television, brochure, and internet. Overall, 89.9% used cell phones, 46.1% had an interest in receiving cell phone breast cancer prevention messages, 73.9% used text messaging, and 36.7% had an interest in receiving text breast cancer prevention messages. Bivariate analysis revealed significant differences among age, eduation, nationality and use of cell phones.

    CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of health information seeking behavior is important for community health educators to target populations for program development.

  5. Mirzapour Mounes S, Karim MR, Khodaii A, Almasi MH
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:764218.
    PMID: 24526919 DOI: 10.1155/2014/764218
    A pavement structure consists of several layers for the primary purpose of transmitting and distributing traffic loads to the subgrade. Rutting is one form of pavement distresses that may influence the performance of road pavements. Geosynthetics is one type of synthetic materials utilized for improving the performance of pavements against rutting. Various studies have been conducted on using different geosynthetic materials in pavement structures by different researchers. One of the practices is a reinforcing material in asphalt pavements. This paper intends to present and discuss the discoveries from some of the studies on utilizing geosynthetics in flexible pavements as reinforcement against permanent deformation (rutting).
  6. Almasi MH, Mirzapour Mounes S, Koting S, Karim MR
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:408473.
    PMID: 24526890 DOI: 10.1155/2014/408473
    A growing concern for public transit is its inability to shift passenger's mode from private to public transport. In order to overcome this problem, a more developed feeder bus network and matched schedules will play important roles. The present paper aims to review some of the studies performed on Feeder Bus Network Design and Scheduling Problem (FNDSP) based on three distinctive parts of the FNDSP setup, namely, problem description, problem characteristics, and solution approaches. The problems consist of different subproblems including data preparation, feeder bus network design, route generation, and feeder bus scheduling. Subsequently, descriptive analysis and classification of previous works are presented to highlight the main characteristics and solution methods. Finally, some of the issues and trends for future research are identified. This paper is targeted at dealing with the FNDSP to exhibit strategic and tactical goals and also contributes to the unification of the field which might be a useful complement to the few existing reviews.
  7. Kooshair H, Yahaya N, Hamid TA, Abu Samah A
    J Women Aging, 2014;26(1):22-38.
    PMID: 24483281 DOI: 10.1080/08952841.2014.858550
    The aim of this study was to examine the moderating role of gender on relations among social support functions and life satisfaction in older Malaysians. The study sample was 1,800 older residents in a community; all were at least 60 years old. This study was a cross-sectional and corelational survey, and the data were collected by multistage stratified sampling. This study revealed that fewer social support functions, and therefore less life satisfaction, were available for females than for males. The results of moderated regression analyses demonstrated that gender interacted only on the relationship between positive social interaction support and tangible support with life satisfaction. Specifically, at a high tangible support level, females had lower life satisfaction when compared to a low tangible support level. There may be a need for new programs and services to provide other aspects of social support to older female adults to improve and maintain life satisfaction in later life.
  8. 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.
  9. Abdulla MH, Sattar MA, Abdullah NA, Johns EJ
    Pak J Pharm Sci, 2013 Jul;26(4):727-32.
    PMID: 23811449
    Effect of losartan was assessed on systemic haemodynamic responses to angiotensin II (Ang II) and adrenergic agonists in the model of high-fructose-fed rat. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed for 8 weeks either 20% fructose solution (FFR) or tap water (C) ad libitum. FFR or C group received losartan (10mg/kg/day p.o.) for 1 week at the end of feeding period (FFR-L and L) respectively, then the vasopressor responses to Ang II, noradrenaline (NA), phenylephrine (PE) and methoxamine (ME) were determined. The responses (%) to NA, PE, ME and Ang II in FFR were lower (P<0.05) than C (FFR vs. C; 22±2 vs. 32±2, 30±3 vs. 40±3, 9±1 vs. 13±1, 10±1 vs. 17±1) respectively. L group had blunted (P<0.05) responses to NA, PE, ME and Ang II compared to C (L vs. C; 26±2 vs. 32±2, 30±3 vs. 40±3, 7±0.7 vs. 13±1, 5±0.4 vs. 17±1) respectively. FFR-L group had aggravated (P<0.05) response to NA and ME, but blunted response to Ang II compared to FFR (FFR-L vs. FFR; 39±3 vs. 22±2, 11±1 vs. 9±1, 3±0.4 vs. 10±1) respectively. Fructose intake for 8 weeks results in smaller vasopressor response to adrenergic agonists and Ang II. Data also demonstrated an important role played by Ang II in the control of systemic haemodynamics in FFR and point to its interaction with adrenergic neurotransmission.
  10. Hamli H, Idris MH, Rajaee AH, Kamal AH
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2015 Dec;26(2):59-72.
    PMID: 26868710 MyJurnal
    A study of the reproductive cycle of the hard clam, Meretrix lyrata, was documented based on histological observation and Gonad Index (GI). Samples were taken from estuarine waters of the Buntal River in Sarawak, Malaysia. The gonad of M. lyrata started to develop in September 2013. Gametogenesis continued to develop until the maturation and spawning stage from February to April 2014. The GI pattern for a one-year cycle showed a significant correlation with chlorophyll a. The corresponding GI with chlorophyll a suggested that the development of the reproductive cycle of M. lyrata required a high amount of food to increase gametogenesis.
  11. Mohd Radzi SF, Hassan MS, Mohd Radzi MAH
    BMC Med Inform Decis Mak, 2022 Nov 24;22(1):306.
    PMID: 36434656 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-022-02050-x
    BACKGROUND: In healthcare area, big data, if integrated with machine learning, enables health practitioners to predict the result of a disorder or disease more accurately. In Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it is important to screen the patients to enable them to undergo proper treatments as early as possible. However, difficulties may arise in predicting ASD occurrences accurately, mainly caused by human errors. Data mining, if embedded into health screening practice, can help to overcome the difficulties. This study attempts to evaluate the performance of six best classifiers, taken from existing works, at analysing ASD screening training dataset.

    RESULT: We tested Naive Bayes, Logistic Regression, KNN, J48, Random Forest, SVM, and Deep Neural Network algorithms to ASD screening dataset and compared the classifiers' based on significant parameters; sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, receiver operating characteristic, area under the curve, and runtime, in predicting ASD occurrences. We also found that most of previous studies focused on classifying health-related dataset while ignoring the missing values which may contribute to significant impacts to the classification result which in turn may impact the life of the patients. Thus, we addressed the missing values by implementing imputation method where they are replaced with the mean of the available records found in the dataset.

    CONCLUSION: We found that J48 produced promising results as compared to other classifiers when tested in both circumstances, with and without missing values. Our findings also suggested that SVM does not necessarily perform well for small and simple datasets. The outcome is hoped to assist health practitioners in making accurate diagnosis of ASD occurrences in patients.

  12. Teo KF, Nor MM, Mohamed AM, Pritam HMH
    Anat Cell Biol, 2022 Dec 31;55(4):433-440.
    PMID: 36245239 DOI: 10.5115/acb.22.081
    This study aimed to investigate the general mandibular symphysis (MS) shape variation among Class III skeletal base, using geometric morphometric analysis. Pre-treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs of 254 patients aged 11-40 years old, with Class III skeletal base (ANB <1°) and lower incisor angle (<99°) were included. Nine-landmarks with x and y coordinates were identified on MS using TPSDig2 software, then exported into Morpho J for shape and statistical analysis. Principal component analysis showed that three main shape dimensions with a total variance of 74.6% represented the majority variation of samples. Procrustes Anova showed the shape of MS in Class III skeletal base to be mainly influenced by gonial angle, incisor inclination and sex (P<0.0001). Canonical variate analysis showed that high gonial angle groups had significantly narrower and elongated MS whereas low gonial angle groups had wider, bulbous and rounded MS (P<0.0001). The ratio of alveolar part to basal part was 1:5 in low gonial angle and 2:3 in high gonial angle. Males had significantly taller MS with narrower B point area compared to females (P<0.0001). Retroclined incisors exhibited taller and retroclined alveolar parts (P<0.0001). The shape of MS in Class III skeletal base varied at the alveolar part, basal part or both and it is influenced by gonial angle, incisor inclination and sex. Hence, understanding the shape variation of MS is important to aid orthodontic treatment planning.
  13. 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).
  14. Sa'ari AS, Hamid MRA, 'Ain Azizan N, Ismail NH
    Physiol Behav, 2024 Jun 01;280:114562.
    PMID: 38641187 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114562
    Screen time (ST) on digital devices has increased in recent decades due to digital development. Furthermore, constant engagement with digital devices alters sleep patterns, leading to nocturnal eating behaviour among users. These phenomena are therefore of great concern, as digital device addiction and night eating are associated with unhealthy food intake, increasing the metabolic syndrome (MetS) risks. The purpose of this review was to examine the evidence of the influence of ST and night eating behaviour (NEB) on dietary intake and its association with MetS based on previous literature. Prolonged ST and NEB have an association with excessive intake of energy from overconsumption of high-sugar and high-fat foods. However, the relationship between digital content and its influence on food intake is inconsistent. A higher MetS risk was found in individuals with longer ST due to a sedentary lifestyle, while positive energy balance and a shift in circadian rhythm contributed to night eaters. ST and NEB presented with a significant influence on food intake in adults. Additionally, unhealthy food intake due to excessive consumption of empty-calorie foods such as sweet and fatty foods due to addiction to electronic devices and eating at night has a detrimental effect on metabolic function. Therefore, improving food intake by reducing ST and night binges is essential to reduce the risk of MetS.
  15. Jotani MM, Arman HD, Poplaukhin P, Tiekink ER
    Acta Crystallogr E Crystallogr Commun, 2016 Dec 01;72(Pt 12):1700-1709.
    PMID: 27980812
    The common feature of the mol-ecular structures of the title compounds, [Zn(C5H10NS2)2(C5H5NO)], (I), and [Zn(C4H8NOS2)2(C5H5NO)], (II), are NS4 donor sets derived from N-bound hy-droxy-pyridyl ligands and asymmetrically chelating di-thio-carbamate ligands. The resulting coordination geometries are highly distorted, being inter-mediate between square pyramidal and trigonal bipyramidal for both independent mol-ecules comprising the asymmetric unit of (I), and significantly closer towards square pyramidal in (II). The key feature of the mol-ecular packing in (I) is the formation of centrosymmetric, dimeric aggregates sustained by pairs of hy-droxy-O-H⋯S(di-thio-carbamate) hydrogen bonds. The aggregates are connected into a three-dimensional architecture by methyl-ene-C-H⋯O(hy-droxy) and methyl-C-H⋯π(chelate) inter-actions. With greater hydrogen-bonding potential, supra-molecular chains along the c axis are formed in the crystal of (II), sustained by hy-droxy-O-H⋯O(hy-droxy) hydrogen bonds, with ethyl-hydroxy and pyridyl-hydroxy groups as the donors, along with ethyl-hydroxy-O-H⋯S(di-thio-carbamate) hydrogen bonds. Chains are connected into layers in the ac plane by methyl-ene-C-H⋯π(chelate) inter-actions and these stack along the b axis, with no directional inter-actions between them. An analysis of the Hirshfeld surfaces clearly distinguished the independent mol-ecules of (I) and reveals the importance of the C-H⋯π(chelate) inter-actions in the packing of both (I) and (II).
  16. Mohd Amin MHA, Rosli AH, Salam A
    Cureus, 2024 Jul;16(7):e65515.
    PMID: 39188476 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.65515
    The lesser-banded hornet (Vespa affinis indosinensis) is a prevalent species in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, including Malaysia. Its stings can result in local reactions, severe anaphylactic shock, and even death. We report a rare case of corneal microperforation and endophthalmitis following an ocular hornet injury. A 76-year-old farmer was attacked by hornets and suffered multiple stings, including one to his right eye. He developed right eye pain, redness, and visual impairment. Ocular examination revealed right corneal haziness with a retained stinger. Attempts to remove the retained stinger were unsuccessful, as the stinger broke and stayed deep in the corneal tissue layer. Corneal microperforation occurred at the site of the retained stinger. Subsequently, he developed endophthalmitis despite extensive topical and systemic antibiotics. He also required a scleral patch procedure for sclerokeratouveitis. This report highlights the importance of quick and vigilant management to prevent severe complications and preserve vision after a hornet sting injury. Retained stingers pose unique challenges that require specialized interventions. There is a need for continuous research and awareness in the management of ocular hornet injuries, aiming to establish standardized treatment guidelines and improve patient outcomes.
  17. Routabi P, Mehrabi M, Adibi H, Mehrabi M, Khodarahmi R
    J Nutr Biochem, 2025 Mar 12.
    PMID: 40086674 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2025.109897
    Natural polyphenol compounds such as curcumin can inhibit carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes, which may offer an alternative to expensive and potentially side-effect-inducing α-glucosidase inhibitors like acarbose. Hence, this study carried out the synthesis of curcumin aldopentose derivatives, examining their capacity to inhibit the α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes with the aim to alleviate hyperglycemia. Initially, the aldopentose derivatives from curcumin were synthesized and confirmed by spectroscopic methods such as MS, 13CNMR, 1HNMR, and FTIR. Afterward, we investigated the inhibitory effects of all derivatives on the α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes spectroscopically and determined their inhibition mechanism. We assessed the antioxidant activity and the stability of the synthetic derivatives in the simulated intestinal environment. Finally, we measured the postprandial blood glucose level after administering saturated starch in vivo. The modified compounds showed improved inhibitory effects compared to curcumin alone, with compound C3 demonstrating particularly strong enzyme inhibition. However, when compared with acarbose, a known commercial antidiabetic drug, the synthetic compounds showed lower inhibitory activity against both enzymes, resulting in fewer side effects related to undigested polysaccharides in the gut. Molecular docking studies show introducing a pentose moiety to the curcumin backbone enhanced docking affinities toward both enzymes and subsequently altered the associated IC50 and Ki values. Overall, compound C3 has the potential to be an inhibitor of carbohydrate-degrading enzymes and can effectively reduce glucose absorption in vivo. Given its antioxidant capabilities and reasonable stability, the compound in question shows promises as a potent derivative for the development of new anti-hyperglycemic drugs in future research endeavours.
  18. Belani F, Mehrabi M, Adibi H, Mehrabi M, Khodarahmi R
    Curr Protein Pept Sci, 2025;26(3):226-240.
    PMID: 39648421 DOI: 10.2174/0113892037332139241008054602
    BACKGROUND: Sulfonamides are widely used carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) in clinical settings, however, their nonspecific inhibition of multiple carbonic anhydrase isoforms can lead to reduced efficacy and side effects. This study aimed to develop sulfanilamide-diazo derivatives incorporating benzoic acid moieties as novel inhibitors of hCA II activity to reduce side effects and enhance selectivity for different CA isozymes.

    METHODS: We investigated the interaction between these derivatives and the hCA II isozyme via various spectroscopic and docking methods.

    RESULTS: The kinetic data demonstrates that compound 1 (C1) and compound 2 (C2) share a similar inhibitory strength against hCA II, effectively inhibiting its esterase activity through a noncompetitive mechanism with Ki values at low micromolar levels. Fluorescence measurements indicated that the synthesized compounds suppressed the inherent fluorescence of hCA II via a static quenching process, with each compound showing a singular binding site within the enzyme. Thermodynamic evidences highlight the significance of van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonding in the binding process. The results of molecular docking indicated that both C1 and C2 effectively obstruct the entrance to hCA II's active site, with no significant differences in their binding conformations.

    CONCLUSION: While C1 and C2 exhibit CA inhibitory potency lower than that of sulfonamide compounds, this study offers valuable insights that could pave the way for the development of a promising scaffold for designing new carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.

  19. Yadegarazari R, Rezaei A, Qadir KH, Adibi H
    Luminescence, 2026 Nov;41(11).
    PMID: 42958701 DOI: 10.1002/bio.70656
    We successfully synthesized a chiral probe using a one-pot hydrothermal method involving L-/D-arginine and citric acid. The chiral carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were comprehensively characterized by various techniques such as FTIR, NMR, XPS, TEM, HRTEM, FESEM, and UV-vis. Fluorescence and circular dichroism were conducted to demonstrate that chiral ligands anchored at the nanoscale. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first report of arginine-derived chiral CQDs for enantioselective fluorescence recognition of D-penicillamine (D-PA). The results demonstrated an interaction between L-/D-Arg-CQDs and D-PA, evident from the significant reduction in emission intensity and quenching upon their introduction. Furthermore, experimental investigations focused on examining the enantioselective interaction behavior between D-PA and both L-Arg-CQDs and D-Arg-CQDs. It was found that both L-/D-Arg-CQDs exhibited a linear response over a concentration range of 50-10,000 nM of D-PA. Notably, the relative photoluminescence intensities of the chiral probes in relation to D-PA revealed that L-Arg-CQDs displayed a more pronounced interaction, leading to a steeper decline in emission compared to D-Arg-CQDs. In conclusion, the potential of chiral CQDs in enantioselective detection offers significant benefits for the pharmaceutical industry and related fields, where ensuring the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products is of utmost importance.
  20. Mat Jalaluddin NS, Ahmad Fuaad AA, Othman RY
    Transgenic Res, 2024 Jun;33(3):89-97.
    PMID: 38600337 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-024-00379-9
    Banana is a premier fruit crop in many parts of the world especially Southeast Asia. The demand for banana has contributed to significant national income to primary banana producers in the SEA region such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. However, the widely traded banana industry is plagued by numerous threats including pests and diseases, post-harvest issues and extreme climate vulnerability. To address these challenges, new breeding techniques such as gene editing have been explored for breeding programs to develop improved banana varieties. The first gene-edited non-browning banana has been deregulated in the Philippines recently, and more regulatory applications are expected to submit for approvals soon. Hence, it is timely to review the policy options for gene editing that have been adopted and discussed in the Southeast Asian countries and highlight the implications of differing regulatory approaches to gene editing for trading activities. Positive stakeholders' perceptions and public acceptance are key factors in allowing the benefits of gene editing and thus appropriate outreach strategies are important to gain acceptance and avoid the "GMO stigma" that may be associated with gene-edited products.
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