Displaying publications 4221 - 4240 of 25088 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Fulltext Complementary alternative medicine use among patients with dengue fever in the hospital setting: a cross-sectional study in Malaysia
    Ching SM, Ramachandran V, Gew LT, Lim SMS, Sulaiman WAW, Foo YL, et al.
    BMC Complement Altern Med, 2016 Jan 29;16:37.
    PMID: 26825057 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1017-0
    BACKGROUND: In Malaysia, the number of reported cases of dengue fever demonstrates an increasing trend. Since dengue fever has no vaccine or antiviral treatment available, it has become a burden. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become one of the good alternatives to treat the patients with dengue fever. There is limited study on the use of CAM among patients with dengue fever, particularly in hospital settings. This study aims to determine the prevalence, types, reasons, expenditure, and resource of information on CAM use among patients with dengue fever.
    METHODS: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study of 306 patients with dengue fever, which was carried out at the dengue clinic of three hospitals. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21.0 and logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with CAM use.
    RESULTS: The prevalence of CAM use was 85.3% among patients with dengue fever. The most popular CAMs were isotonic drinks (85.8%), crab soup (46.7%) and papaya leaf extract (22.2%). The most common reason for CAM use was a good impression of CAM from other CAM users (33.3%). The main resource of information on CAM use among patients with dengue fever was family (54.8%). In multiple logistic regression analysis, dengue fever patients with a tertiary level are more likely to use CAM 5.8 (95% confidence interval (CI 1.62-20.45) and 3.8 (95% CI 1.12-12.93) times than secondary level and primary and below respectively.
    CONCLUSION: CAM was commonly used by patients with dengue fever. The predictor of CAM use was a higher level of education.
    Study site: Dengue clinic, Hospital Serdang, Hospital Kajang and Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  2. Neurotherapeutic Effects of Pueraria mirifica Extract in Early- and Late-Stage Cognitive Impaired Rats
    Anukulthanakorn K, Parhar IS, Jaroenporn S, Kitahashi T, Watanbe G, Malaivijitnond S
    Phytother Res, 2016 Jun;30(6):929-39.
    PMID: 26915634 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5595
    We determined the neurotherapeutic effects of Pueraria mirifica extract (PME) and pure puerarin (PU) in comparison with 17β-estradiol (E2 ) in early- and late-stage cognitive impaired rats. Rats were ovariectomized (OVX), kept for 2 and 4 months to induce early- and late-stage cognitive impairment, respectively, and divided into four groups that were treated daily with (i) distilled water, (ii) 100 mg/kg of PME, (iii) 7 mg/kg of PU, and (iv) 80 µg/kg of E2 for 4 months. The estrogen deficiency symptoms of OVX rats were abrogated by treatment with E2 or PME, but not by treatment with PU. The mRNA level of genes associated with amyloid production (App and Bace1) and hyperphosphorylated Tau (Tau4) were upregulated together with the level of impaired cognition in the 2- and 4-month OVX rats. Treatment with E2 reduced the level of cognitive impairment more than that with PME and PU, and 2-month OVX rats were more responsive than 4-month OVX rats. All treatments down-regulated the Bace1 mRNA level in 2-month OVX rats, while PU and PME also decreased the App mRNA level in 2- and 4-month OVX rats, respectively. Only PU suppressed Tau4 expression in 2-month OVX rats. Thus, PME and PU elicit neurotherapeutic effects in different pathways, and earlier treatment is optimal. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  3. What does the multiple mini interview have to offer over the panel interview?
    Pau A, Chen YS, Lee VK, Sow CF, Alwis R
    Med Educ Online, 2016 Jan;21(1):29874.
    PMID: 28165931 DOI: 10.3402/meo.v21.29874
    Introduction This paper compares the panel interview (PI) performance with the multiple mini interview (MMI) performance and indication of behavioural concerns of a sample of medical school applicants. The acceptability of the MMI was also assessed. Materials and methods All applicants shortlisted for a PI were invited to an MMI. Applicants attended a 30-min PI with two faculty interviewers followed by an MMI consisting of ten 8-min stations. Applicants were assessed on their performance at each MMI station by one faculty. The interviewer also indicated if they perceived the applicant to be a concern. Finally, applicants completed an acceptability questionnaire. Results From the analysis of 133 (75.1%) completed MMI scoresheets, the MMI scores correlated statistically significantly with the PI scores (r=0.438, p=0.001). Both were not statistically associated with sex, age, race, or pre-university academic ability to any significance. Applicants assessed as a concern at two or more stations performed statistically significantly less well at the MMI when compared with those who were assessed as a concern at one station or none at all. However, there was no association with PI performance. Acceptability scores were generally high, and comparison of mean scores for each of the acceptability questionnaire items did not show statistically significant differences between sex and race categories. Conclusions Although PI and MMI performances are correlated, the MMI may have the added advantage of more objectively generating multiple impressions of the applicant's interpersonal skill, thoughtfulness, and general demeanour. Results of the present study indicated that the MMI is acceptable in a multicultural context.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  4. Fulltext Text Messaging for Exercise Promotion in Older Adults From an Upper-Middle-Income Country: Randomized Controlled Trial
    Müller AM, Khoo S, Morris T
    J Med Internet Res, 2016 Jan 07;18(1):e5.
    PMID: 26742999 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.5235
    BACKGROUND: Mobile technology to promote exercise is effective; however, most evidence is from studies of younger groups in high-income countries. Investigating if short message service (SMS) texting can affect exercise participation in older adults from an upper-middle-income country is important considering the proliferation of mobile phones in developing regions and the increased interest of older adults in using mobile phones.

    OBJECTIVE: The main objective was to examine the short- and long-term effects of SMS text messaging on exercise frequency in older adults. Secondary objectives were to investigate how SMS text messages impact study participants' exercise frequency and the effects of the intervention on secondary outcomes.

    METHODS: The Malaysian Physical Activity for Health Study (myPAtHS) was a 24-week, 2-arm, parallel randomized controlled trial conducted in urban Malaysia. Participants were recruited via health talks in resident associations and religious facilities. Older Malaysians (aged 55-70 years) who used mobile phones and did not exercise regularly were eligible to participate in the study. Participants randomly allocated to the SMS texting arm received an exercise booklet and 5 weekly SMS text messages over 12 weeks. The content of the SMS text messages was derived from effective behavior change techniques. The non-SMS texting arm participants received only the exercise booklet. Home visits were conducted to collect outcome data: (1) exercise frequency at 12 and 24 weeks, (2) secondary outcome data (exercise self-efficacy, physical activity-related energy expenditure, sitting time, body mass index, grip and leg strength) at baseline and at 12 and 24 weeks. Intention-to-treat procedures were applied for data analysis. Semistructured interviews focusing primarily on the SMS text messages and their impact on exercise frequency were conducted at weeks 12 and 24.

    RESULTS: In total, 43 participants were randomized into the SMS texting arm (n=22) and the non-SMS texting arm (n=21). Study-unrelated injuries forced 4 participants to discontinue after a few weeks (they were not included in any analyses). Overall retention was 86% (37/43). After 12 weeks, SMS texting arm participants exercised significantly more than non-SMS texting arm participants (mean difference 1.21 times, bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrap [BCa] 95% CI 0.18-2.24). Interview analysis revealed that the SMS text messages positively influenced SMS texting arm participants who experienced exercise barriers. They described the SMS text messages as being encouraging, a push, and a reminder. After 24 weeks, there was no significant difference between the research arms (mean difference 0.74, BCa 95% CI -0.30 to 1.76). There were no significant effects for secondary outcomes.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that SMS text messaging is effective in promoting exercise in older adults from an upper-middle-income country. Although the effects were not maintained when SMS text messaging ceased, the results are promising and warrant more research on behavioral mobile health interventions in other regions.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02123342; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02123342 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6eGSsu2EI).

    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  5. Fulltext The effect of nicotine dependence on psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia
    Yee A, Bt Nek Mohamed NN, Binti Hashim AH, Loh HS, Harbajan Singh MK, Ng CG, et al.
    Biomed Res Int, 2015;2015:730291.
    PMID: 26060820 DOI: 10.1155/2015/730291
    INTRODUCTION: Our study aims to determine the prevalence of nicotine dependence and investigate the effect of nicotine dependence on psychopathology among schizophrenia patients.
    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in an outpatient psychiatric clinic at a general hospital in Malaysia. 180 recruited subjects were administered the Malay version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), and the Malay version of Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND-M) questionnaires.
    RESULTS: The prevalence of nicotine dependence among the subjects was 38.1% (n = 69) and they were mainly composed of male gender, Malay ethnicity, being treated with atypical antipsychotics, and taking other illicit drugs or alcohol. Subjects with severe nicotine dependence scored less in the negative subscale of PANSS compared with the nonsmokers (P = 0.011). On performing the hierarchy multiple regressions, dependence status still significantly predicted negative scores after adjusting the confounders (t = -2.87, P = 0.005).
    CONCLUSION: The rate of nicotine use disorder among schizophrenia patients in this study is higher than that of the general population in Malaysia. The significant association between nicotine dependence and negative psychopathology symptoms will help the healthcare practitioners in their management of nicotine dependence among schizophrenia patients.

    Study site: outpatient psychiatric clinic in a general hospital
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  6. Fulltext On the Use of Optically Stimulated Luminescent Dosimeter for Surface Dose Measurement during Radiotherapy
    Yusof FH, Ung NM, Wong JH, Jong WL, Ath V, Phua VC, et al.
    PLoS One, 2015;10(6):e0128544.
    PMID: 26052690 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128544
    This study was carried out to investigate the suitability of using the optically stimulated luminescence dosimeter (OSLD) in measuring surface dose during radiotherapy. The water equivalent depth (WED) of the OSLD was first determined by comparing the surface dose measured using the OSLD with the percentage depth dose at the buildup region measured using a Markus ionization chamber. Surface doses were measured on a solid water phantom using the OSLD and compared against the Markus ionization chamber and Gafchromic EBT3 film measurements. The effect of incident beam angles on surface dose was also studied. The OSLD was subsequently used to measure surface dose during tangential breast radiotherapy treatments in a phantom study and in the clinical measurement of 10 patients. Surface dose to the treated breast or chest wall, and on the contralateral breast were measured. The WED of the OSLD was found to be at 0.4 mm. For surface dose measurement on a solid water phantom, the Markus ionization chamber measured 15.95% for 6 MV photon beam and 12.64% for 10 MV photon beam followed by EBT3 film (23.79% and 17.14%) and OSLD (37.77% and 25.38%). Surface dose increased with the increase of the incident beam angle. For phantom and patient breast surface dose measurement, the response of the OSLD was higher than EBT3 film. The in-vivo measurements were also compared with the treatment planning system predicted dose. The OSLD measured higher dose values compared to dose at the surface (Hp(0.0)) by a factor of 2.37 for 6 MV and 2.01 for 10 MV photon beams, respectively. The measurement of absorbed dose at the skin depth of 0.4 mm by the OSLD can still be a useful tool to assess radiation effects on the skin dermis layer. This knowledge can be used to prevent and manage potential acute skin reaction and late skin toxicity from radiotherapy treatments.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  7. Fulltext Insufficiency fractures related to low-dose adefovir dipivoxil treatment for chronic hepatitis B
    Poh F, Sing WH, Mohan PC
    Med J Malaysia, 2015 Feb;70(1):38-41.
    PMID: 26032529
    We present a case of a 53-year-old woman who developed multifocal insufficiency fractures associated with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) induced osteomalacia, including recurring metatarsal insufficiency fractures and a subtrochanteric femoral insufficiency fracture requiring surgical fixation. She had received low-dose ADV treatment for 59 months for chronic hepatitis B viral infection at the time of presentation with subtrochanteric fracture. Imaging evidence of multifocal insufficiency fractures and metabolic disease on background of hypophosphatemia is attributed to hypophosphatemic osteomalacia from adefovir-induced renal proximal tubular dysfunction. Radiologists and clinicians should be aware of the possibility of insufficiency fractures in patients receiving ADV therapy to avoid delayed diagnosis and progression of high-risk proximal femoral fractures.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  8. AUTOMATED SYNTAX ANALYSES OF DRAWING TWO TANGENT PATTERNS IN CHILDREN WITH LOW AND AVERAGE HANDWRITING ABILITY (.)
    Tabatabaey-Mashadi N, Sudirman R, Khalid PI, Lange-Küttner C
    Percept Mot Skills, 2015 Jun;120(3):865-94.
    PMID: 26029964
    Sequential strategies of digitized tablet drawings by 6-7-yr.-old children (N = 203) of average and below-average handwriting ability were analyzed. A Beery Visual Motor Integration (BVMI) and a Bender-Gestalt (BG) pattern, each composed of two tangential shapes, were predefined into area sectors for automatic analysis and adaptive mapping of the drawings. Girls more often began on the left side and used more strokes than boys. The below-average handwriting group showed more directional diversity and idiosyncratic strategies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  9. Fulltext Dens invaginatus in a geminated maxillary lateral incisor
    Pallivathukal RG, Misra A, Nagraj SK, Donald PM
    BMJ Case Rep, 2015 May 22;2015.
    PMID: 26002668 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2015-209672
    Dens invaginatus (DI) and gemination are two developmental abnormalities that are well reported in the dental literature, but their coexistence in a single tooth is rare. Such situations worsen the risk factors associated with these anomalies, and the treatment plan should be customised as they possess altered morphology and anatomy. A 19-year-old girl came for evaluation of a cracked tooth in the front region of the upper jaw. The tooth showed clinical features of gemination and radiographic features of DI, and was diagnosed as DI in geminated maxillary lateral incisor. The differential diagnoses based on clinical appearance without radiographic investigation may warrant the treatment approach if these two abnormalities coexist in a single tooth. The report also highlights the importance of three-dimensional imaging in diagnosis and treatment planning of teeth with altered pulp canal anatomy. There are few reported cases in the literature detailing the treatment options for these two anomalies occurring in the same tooth.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  10. Unmistakable Morphology? Infantile Malignant Osteopetrosis Resembling Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia in Infants
    Strauss A, Furlan I, Steinmann S, Buchholz B, Kremens B, Rossig C, et al.
    J Pediatr, 2015 Aug;167(2):486-8.
    PMID: 25982139 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.04.064
    The initial clinical and hematologic presentation of infantile malignant osteopetrosis may be indistinguishable from that of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia in infants. Timely radiographic imaging, however, allows straightforward delineation of these 2 severe diseases and facilitates immediate initiation of appropriate therapy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  11. Stages in third molar development and eruption to estimate the 18-year threshold Malay juvenile
    Mohd Yusof MY, Cauwels R, Martens L
    Arch Oral Biol, 2015 Oct;60(10):1571-6.
    PMID: 26276268 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2015.07.017
    Age 18 years is considered as the age of majority by most countries. To ascertain the age of interest, both third molar development (TMD) and eruption (TME) staging scores are beneficial without needing multiple imaging modalities. This study aimed to assess the chronological course of TMD and TME in a Malay sub-adult population and evaluate predictions when specific stage(s) of TMD and TME have been attained that are pertinent to the age group of interest (<18 years or ≥18 years). A sample of 714 digital panoramic images for subjects stratified by age between 14.1 and 23.9 years was retrospectively collected. The techniques described by Gleiser and Hunt (modified by Kohler) and Olze were employed to stage TMD and TME, respectively. A binary logistic regression was performed to predict the 18-year threshold with staging score as predictors. Stages 4-6 (TMD) and A-B (TME) for males and stages 4 (TMD) and A (TME) for females were found to discriminate the <18-year group. For both genders, stages 9-10 (TMD) and D (TME) can be used as reference stages to estimate whether a subject is likely to be ≥18 years, with 94.74-100% and 85.88-96.38% correct predictions, respectively. Stages 4 (TMD) and A (TME) can also be used to identify juveniles (<18 years) with a high degree of correct predictions, 100%. The juvenility of an individual is easily anticipated by using the specific staging scores of both third molar variables (TMD and TME) without complex calculations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  12. Fulltext Palatal ecchymosis associated with irrumation
    Muthu K, Kannan S, Muthusamy S, Sidhu P
    Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol, 2015 Sep-Oct;81(5):505-7.
    PMID: 26261150 DOI: 10.4103/0378-6323.162343
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  13. Onchocerca takaokai n. sp. (Nematoda: Filarioidea) in Japanese wild boars (Sus scrofa leucomystax): Description and molecular identification of intradermal females
    Uni S, Fukuda M, Agatsuma T, Bain O, Otsuka Y, Nakatani J, et al.
    Parasitol Int, 2015 Dec;64(6):493-502.
    PMID: 26165205 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2015.07.001
    Human zoonotic onchocercosis is caused by Onchocerca dewittei japonica, parasitic in wild boars (Sus scrofa leucomystax) in Japan. Previously, microfilariae longer than those of Onchocerca dewittei japonica were observed in skin snips from wild boars during the study of O. dewittei japonica. Moreover, the third-stage larvae (L3) of these longer microfilariae were obtained from the blackfly Simulium bidentatum after experimental injections. Based on morphometric and molecular studies, similar L3 were found in blackflies during fieldwork in Oita, Japan. However, except for O. dewittei japonica, adult worms of Onchocerca have not been found in wild boars. In this study, we discovered adult females of a novel Onchocerca species in the skin of a wild boar in Oita, and named it Onchocerca takaokai n. sp. Females of this new species had longer microfilariae and differed from O. dewittei japonica in terms of their morphological characteristics and parasitic location. The molecular characteristics of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and 12S rRNA genes of the new species were identical to those of the longer microfilariae and L3 previously detected, but they differed from those of O. dewittei japonica at the species level. However, both species indicated a close affinity among their congeners and Onchocerca ramachandrini, parasitic in the warthog in Africa, was basal in the Suidae cluster of the 12S rRNA tree.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  14. Fulltext Revealing Glycoproteins in the Secretome of MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells
    Tan AA, Phang WM, Gopinath SC, Hashim OH, Kiew LV, Chen Y
    Biomed Res Int, 2015;2015:453289.
    PMID: 26167486 DOI: 10.1155/2015/453289
    Breast cancer is one of the major issues in the field of oncology, reported with a higher prevalence rate in women worldwide. In attempt to reveal the potential biomarkers for breast cancer, the findings of differentially glycosylated haptoglobin and osteonectin in previous study have drawn our attention towards glycoproteins of secretome from the MCF-7 cancer cell line. In the present study, further analyses were performed on the medium of MCF-7 cells by subjecting it to two-dimensional analyses followed by image analysis in contrast to the medium of human mammary epithelial cells (HMEpC) as a negative control. Carboxypeptidase A4 (CPA4), alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), haptoglobin (HP), and HSC70 were detected in the medium of MCF-7, while only CPA4 and osteonectin (ON) were detected in HMEpC medium. In addition, CPA4 was detected as upregulated in the MCF-7 medium. Further analysis by lectin showed that CPA4, AAT, HP, and HSC70 were secreted as N-glycan in the medium of MCF-7, with HP also showing differentially N-glycosylated isoforms. For the HMEpC, only CPA4 was detected as N-glycan. No O-glycan was detected in the medium of HMEpC but MCF-7 expressed O-glycosylated CPA4 and HSC70. All these revealed that glycoproteins could be used as glycan-based biomarkers for the prognosis of breast cancer.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  15. Genetic association of AKAP10 gene polymorphism with reduced risk of preterm birth
    Langmia IM, Apalasamy YD, Suki SZ, Omar SZ, Mohamed Z
    J Perinatol, 2015 Sep;35(9):700-4.
    PMID: 26110499 DOI: 10.1038/jp.2015.68
    Preterm birth (PTB) is a multifactorial complication in which genetic and environmental factors contribute to the phenotype. The AKAP10 protein encoded by AKAP10 gene has a vital role in the maintenance of myometrial quiescence and pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate whether polymorphisms in the AKAP10 gene are associated with the risk of PTB.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  16. Oral malodour among adolescents and its association with health behaviour and oral health status
    Rani H, Ueno M, Zaitsu T, Kawaguchi Y
    Int J Dent Hyg, 2016 May;14(2):135-41.
    PMID: 26098532 DOI: 10.1111/idh.12160
    OBJECTIVE: To assess oral malodour level and its association with health behaviour, oral health behaviour and oral health status among adolescents.
    METHOD: A questionnaire survey and clinical examination that included tongue coating and oral malodour status were conducted on 665 senior high school students in Saitama, Japan. Analyses of Pearson chi-square, independent samples t-test and logistic regression were conducted using SPSS 19.0 with the significance level set at P 
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  17. Fulltext A Study of Dielectric Properties of Proteinuria between 0.2 GHz and 50 GHz
    Mun PS, Ting HN, Ong TA, Wong CM, Ng KH, Chong YB
    PLoS One, 2015;10(6):e0130011.
    PMID: 26066351 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130011
    This paper investigates the dielectric properties of urine in normal subjects and subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at microwave frequency of between 0.2 GHz and 50 GHz. The measurements were conducted using an open-ended coaxial probe at room temperature (25°C), at 30°C and at human body temperature (37°C). There were statistically significant differences in the dielectric properties of the CKD subjects compared to those of the normal subjects. Statistically significant differences in dielectric properties were observed across the temperatures for normal subjects and CKD subjects. Pearson correlation test showed the significant correlation between proteinuria and dielectric properties. The experimental data closely matched the single-pole Debye model. The relaxation dispersion and relaxation time increased with the proteinuria level, while decreasing with the temperature. As for static conductivity, it increased with proteinuria level and temperature.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  18. Fulltext Utility of pre-treatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio as prognostic factors in breast cancer
    Koh CH, Bhoo-Pathy N, Ng KL, Jabir RS, Tan GH, See MH, et al.
    Br. J. Cancer, 2015 Jun 30;113(1):150-8.
    PMID: 26022929 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2015.183
    Peripheral blood-derived inflammation-based scores such as the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have recently been proposed as prognostic markers in solid tumours. Although evidence to support these markers as unfavourable prognostic factors is more compelling in gastrointestinal cancers, very little is known of their impact on breast cancer. We investigated the association between the NLR and PLR, and overall survival after breast cancer.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  19. ConnectViz: Accelerated Approach for Brain Structural Connectivity Using Delaunay Triangulation
    Adeshina AM, Hashim R
    Interdiscip Sci, 2016 Mar;8(1):53-64.
    PMID: 26260066 DOI: 10.1007/s12539-015-0274-9
    Stroke is a cardiovascular disease with high mortality and long-term disability in the world. Normal functioning of the brain is dependent on the adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain complex network through the blood vessels. Stroke, occasionally a hemorrhagic stroke, ischemia or other blood vessel dysfunctions can affect patients during a cerebrovascular incident. Structurally, the left and the right carotid arteries, and the right and the left vertebral arteries are responsible for supplying blood to the brain, scalp and the face. However, a number of impairment in the function of the frontal lobes may occur as a result of any decrease in the flow of the blood through one of the internal carotid arteries. Such impairment commonly results in numbness, weakness or paralysis. Recently, the concepts of brain's wiring representation, the connectome, was introduced. However, construction and visualization of such brain network requires tremendous computation. Consequently, previously proposed approaches have been identified with common problems of high memory consumption and slow execution. Furthermore, interactivity in the previously proposed frameworks for brain network is also an outstanding issue. This study proposes an accelerated approach for brain connectomic visualization based on graph theory paradigm using compute unified device architecture, extending the previously proposed SurLens Visualization and computer aided hepatocellular carcinoma frameworks. The accelerated brain structural connectivity framework was evaluated with stripped brain datasets from the Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA. Significantly, our proposed framework is able to generate and extract points and edges of datasets, displays nodes and edges in the datasets in form of a network and clearly maps data volume to the corresponding brain surface. Moreover, with the framework, surfaces of the dataset were simultaneously displayed with the nodes and the edges. The framework is very efficient in providing greater interactivity as a way of representing the nodes and the edges intuitively, all achieved at a considerably interactive speed for instantaneous mapping of the datasets' features. Uniquely, the connectomic algorithm performed remarkably fast with normal hardware requirement specifications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
  20. Assessing the Social Carrying Capacity of Diving Sites in Mabul Island, Malaysia
    Zhang L, Chung S
    Environ Manage, 2015 Dec;56(6):1467-77.
    PMID: 26239650 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-015-0586-x
    This study has explored social carrying capacity of an underwater environment based on divers' perceived crowding. Two dimensions were assessed, the number of divers seen and the proximity of diver. Data were obtained from a survey of 132 divers dived in Mabul Island, Malaysia during 2013-2014. Photographs depicting four levels of diver number and four levels of diver proximity in different combinations were shown to the respondents for assessing their acceptability. Between the two variables, the "number of divers" was the most influential factor for divers' perceived crowding. Divers would start to feel unacceptably crowded if 8-9 divers were visible to them at one time. Based on this, it is likely that the use level of diving sites in Mabul Island has already exceeded its social carrying capacity. Implications for future research and diving tourism management for Mabul Island are also discussed in the paper.
    Matched MeSH terms: Female
Related Terms
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links