Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 533 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Swami V
    Body Image, 2009 Mar;6(2):129-32.
    PMID: 19249260 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2009.01.003
    The present study examined the factor structure of a Malay translation of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 among a community sample of 554 Malaysian women. Results of an exploratory factor analysis revealed the existence of four factors, two of which (Information and Internalization-Athlete) mirrored those found among Western samples. An additional factor was an amalgamation of two factors reported in the West, namely Pressure and Internalization-General. A fourth factor consisted of six items, four of which cross-loaded onto previous factors, and was consequently dropped from analyses. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the three retained factors were all above .82, and the three factors were significantly correlated with each other and with participants' body mass index. The results of this study stress the need for locally developed scales in the study of body image and a shift away from reliance on scales developed in the West.
    Matched MeSH terms: Social Environment*
  2. Voracek M, Rieder S, Stieger S, Swami V
    PLoS One, 2015;10(7):e0131795.
    PMID: 26161803 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131795
    Combined heredity of surnames and physique, coupled with past marriage patterns and trade-specific physical aptitude and selection factors, may have led to differential assortment of bodily characteristics among present-day men with specific trade-reflecting surnames (Tailor vs. Smith). Two studies reported here were partially consistent with this genetic-social hypothesis, first proposed by Bäumler (1980). Study 1 (N = 224) indicated significantly higher self-rated physical aptitude for prototypically strength-related activities (professions, sports, hobbies) in a random sample of Smiths. The counterpart effect (higher aptitude for dexterity-related activities among Tailors) was directionally correct, but not significant, and Tailor-Smith differences in basic physique variables were nil. Study 2 examined two large total-population-of-interest datasets (Austria/Germany combined, and UK: N = 7001 and 20,532) of men's national high-score lists for track-and-field events requiring different physiques. In both datasets, proportions of Smiths significantly increased from light-stature over medium-stature to heavy-stature sports categories. The predicted counterpart effect (decreasing prevalences of Tailors along these categories) was not supported. Related prior findings, the viability of possible alternative interpretations of the evidence (differential positive selection for trades and occupations, differential endogamy and assortative mating patterns, implicit egotism effects), and directions for further inquiry are discussed in conclusion.
    Matched MeSH terms: Social Environment; Gene-Environment Interaction
  3. da Silva WR, Neves AN, Ferreira L, Campos JADB, Swami V
    Eat Weight Disord, 2020 Feb;25(1):221-230.
    PMID: 30076529 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-018-0557-3
    The Caregiver Eating Messages Scale (CEMS) was developed to assess perceived restrictive or critical caregiver messages in relation to food intake and pressure to eat, whereas the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) measures one's tendency to follow internal cues of hunger and satiety when making eating-related decisions. Both scales are useful in the arsenal of eating behaviour scholars. Here, we developed Brazilian Portuguese translations of both scales and assessed their psychometric properties in Brazilian adults. A total of 288 participants (men = 52.8%) completed the CEMS, IES-2, Body Appreciation Scale (BAS), and a demographic questionnaire. The results of confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the factor structure of both scales had adequate fit following the elimination of items and addition of covariances. Evidence of adequate factorial, convergent and discriminant validity, as well as reliability was identified. Furthermore, correlations of CEMS and IES-2 with BAS scores and body mass index were obtained. Both instruments' models were found to be invariant across sex, with men having significantly higher scores on three subscales of the IES-2 only. These results provide evidence for the psychometric properties of the CEMS and IES-2 in Brazilian Portuguese-speaking adults.Level of Evidence: V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
    Matched MeSH terms: Social Environment
  4. Mohd Sahini SN, Mohd Nor Hazalin NA, Srikumar BN, Jayasingh Chellammal HS, Surindar Singh GK
    Neurobiol Learn Mem, 2024 Feb;208:107880.
    PMID: 38103676 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107880
    Environmental enrichment (EE) is a process of brain stimulation by modifying the surroundings, for example, by changing the sensory, social, or physical conditions. Rodents have been used in such experimental strategies through exposure to diverse physical, social, and exploration conditions. The present study conducted an extensive analysis of the existing literature surrounding the impact of EE on dementia rodent models. The review emphasised the two principal aspects that are very closely related to dementia: cognitive function (learning and memory) as well as psychological factors (anxiety-related behaviours such as phobias and unrealistic worries). Also highlighted were the mechanisms involved in the rodent models of dementia showing EE effects. Two search engines, PubMed and Science Direct, were used for data collection using the following keywords: environmental enrichment, dementia, rodent model, cognitive performance, and anxiety-related behaviour. Fifty-five articles were chosen depending on the criteria for inclusion and exclusion. The rodent models with dementia demonstrated improved learning and memory in the form of hampered inflammatory responses, enhanced neuronal plasticity, and sustained neuronal activity. EE housing also prevented memory impairment through the prevention of amyloid beta (Aβ) seeding formation, an early stage of Aβ plaque formation. The rodents subjected to EE were observed to present increased exploratory activity and exert less anxiety-related behaviour, compared to those in standard housing. However, some studies have proposed that EE intervention through exercise would be too mild to counteract the anxiety-related behaviour and risk assessment behaviour deficits in the Alzheimer's disease rodent model. Future studies should be conducted on old-aged rodents and the duration of EE exposure that would elicit the greatest benefits since the existing studies have been conducted on a range of ages and EE durations. In summary, EE had a considerable effect on dementia rodent models, with the most evident being improved cognitive function.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environment
  5. Kolivand H, Billinghurst M, Sunar MS
    PLoS One, 2016;11(12):e0166424.
    PMID: 27930663 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166424
    To achieve realistic Augmented Reality (AR), shadows play an important role in creating a 3D impression of a scene. Casting virtual shadows on real and virtual objects is one of the topics of research being conducted in this area. In this paper, we propose a new method for creating complex AR indoor scenes using real time depth detection to exert virtual shadows on virtual and real environments. A Kinect camera was used to produce a depth map for the physical scene mixing into a single real-time transparent tacit surface. Once this is created, the camera's position can be tracked from the reconstructed 3D scene. Real objects are represented by virtual object phantoms in the AR scene enabling users holding a webcam and a standard Kinect camera to capture and reconstruct environments simultaneously. The tracking capability of the algorithm is shown and the findings are assessed drawing upon qualitative and quantitative methods making comparisons with previous AR phantom generation applications. The results demonstrate the robustness of the technique for realistic indoor rendering in AR systems.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environment
  6. Sumithran E
    Cancer, 1977 Apr;39(4):1570-2.
    PMID: 856445
    Cancer of the cervix is exceedingly uncommon in the Malaysian Orang Asli (aborigine), despite the presence of factors associated with an increased risk of developing this malignancy. In only three patients was the diagnosis of carcinoma of the cervix established, out of a total of nearly 18,000 female inpatients, admitted to the Gombak Orang Asli Hospital over a 13-year period. Over this same period, 81 female patients were diagnosed as having cancer. Interviews with female Orang Asli patients show the presence of alleged risk factors for cervical cancer, including early age of first intercourse, multiparity and non-circumcision of husbands. The low incidence of cancer of the cervix in this aborigine community may be due to the strict moral code of the Orang Asli, limiting extramarital sexual activity and associated venereal infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Social Environment
  7. Chee Guan Ng, Sumiani Yusoff
    Sains Malaysiana, 2015;44:517-527.
    The main objective of the present study was to provide a comprehensive LCI of medium scale composting of food waste
    and yard waste at institutional level, based on substance flow analysis (SFA). A secondary objective was to present the
    composition and assess the quality of the final compost product from composting of typical Asian organic waste (food
    waste and yard waste). The experiments were designed to represent a batch situation in an institutional medium size
    composting scenario with input material of food waste mixed with grass clippings and dried leaves. Two composting
    runs were carried out with the intention to showcase the heterogeneity of organic waste and study the effect of windrow
    size on the performance of the process. The input and output material were sampled and characterized in order to
    quantify the substance balance of the process. SFA was performed by means of the mass balance model STAN 2.5 to
    compute unknown parameters (gaseous emissions). SFAs have been performed for C, N, K, P, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb. The
    composting windrows were fed with 212.4 and 393 kg, respectively. VS content reduction is greater in composting pile
    with larger size (Run 2). The loss of C during composting was recorded in the range of 0.146-0.166 kg/kg ww. The C
    losses via leachate were insignificant (0.02% of the total input C). The total N loss during the process was 0.005-0.012
    kg/kg ww. The leachate generation was measured as 0.012-0.013 kg/kg ww. The flows of selected heavy metals were
    assessed. Heavy metals were of minor significance due to low concentrations in the inputs (food waste and yard waste).
    Heavy metals were found to be released to the atmosphere. However, majority of heavy metals remain in the finished
    compost. The C/N reduction during the process was in the range of 10-23%. In general, the compost composition was
    considered to be within the ranges previously reported in literature and thus ready for application in gardening. The LCI
    presented in the present study can be used as a starting point for making environmental assessments of medium-scale
    co-composting of food waste and yard waste in tropical environment. No major environmental problems were identified
    from the process, except for the emissions of GHGs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environment
  8. Lim H, Mat Jafri M, Abdullah K, Sultan Alsultan
    Sains Malaysiana, 2012;41:841-846.
    This study was conducted to retrieve the land surface temperature (LST) from Landsat ETM+ data for Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia. The proposed technique employed a mono window LST algorithm for retrieving surface temperature from Landsat ETM+. The land surface emissivity and solar angle values were needed in order to apply these in the proposed algorithm. The surface emissivity values were computed based on the NDVI values. The LST values derived from ATCOR2_T in the PCI Geomatica image processing software was used for algorithm calibration. The results showed a high correlation
    coefficient (R) and low root-mean-square error (RMS) between the LST values retrieved from the proposed algorithm and ATCOR2_T. This study indicated that the proposed algorithm is capable of retrieving accurate LST values and the derived information can be used in the environmental impact assessment for Al Qassim area.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environment
  9. Soltani M, Moghaddam TB, Karim MR, Sulong NH
    Accid Anal Prev, 2013 Oct;59:240-52.
    PMID: 23820073 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2013.05.029
    Road safety barriers protect vehicles from roadside hazards by redirecting errant vehicles in a safe manner as well as providing high levels of safety during and after impact. This paper focused on transition safety barrier systems which were located at the point of attachment between a bridge and roadside barriers. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the behavior of transition systems located at upstream bridge rail with different designs and performance levels. Design factors such as occupant risk and vehicle trajectory for different systems were collected and compared. To achieve this aim a comprehensive database was developed using previous studies. The comparison showed that Test 3-21, which is conducted by impacting a pickup truck with speed of 100 km/h and angle of 25° to transition system, was the most severe test. Occupant impact velocity and ridedown acceleration for heavy vehicles were lower than the amounts for passenger cars and pickup trucks, and in most cases higher occupant lateral impact ridedown acceleration was observed on vehicles subjected to higher levels of damage. The best transition system was selected to give optimum performance which reduced occupant risk factors using the similar crashes in accordance with Test 3-21.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environment Design/standards*
  10. Aghamohammadi N, Ramakreshnan L, Fong CS, Noor RM, Hanif NR, Sulaiman NM
    Sci Total Environ, 2022 Feb 01;806(Pt 1):150331.
    PMID: 34571225 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150331
    The stakeholders' perceptions on the impacts of Urban Heat Island (UHI) are critical for reducing exposure and influencing their response to interventions that are aimed at encouraging a behaviour change. A proper understanding of the UHI impacts on the society, economy and environment is deemed an essential motivating factor for the stakeholders to work towards UHI mitigations in the local context. This study adopted an inductive qualitative approach using Stakeholder Dialogue Sessions (SDSs) to assess the perceived impacts of UHI among various stakeholders, comprising policy makers, academicians, developers and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), in a tropical metropolitan city. The results revealed five themes such as deterioration of public health, acceleration of urban migration patterns and spending time in cooler areas, reduction of workers' productivity, increased energy consumption by the households and deterioration of environmental quality and natural resources that were categorized into social, economic and environmental impacts. Although most of the stakeholders were quite unfamiliar with the term UHI, they still display a good understanding of the potential impacts of UHI due to their posteriori knowledge and ability to rationalize the physical condition of the environment in which they live. The findings provide useful insights and valuable information to the local authorities to tailor necessary actions and educational campaigns to increase UHI awareness among the stakeholders. Being among the earlier studies to use a qualitative approach to attain the aforementioned objective, the findings are crucial to determine the level of understanding of the stakeholders on the impact of UHI. Through this study, the authors have highlighted the gaps and needs for knowledge improvements aimed at behaviour change among the stakeholders.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environment*
  11. Ramakreshnan L, Aghamohammadi N, Fong CS, Sulaiman NM
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2021 Jan;28(2):1357-1369.
    PMID: 33094458 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11305-x
    This study quantitatively investigated the scientific progress of walkability research landscape and its future prospects using bibliometric indicators to highlight the research hotspots. The results accentuated multifaceted nature of walkability research landscape with a strong association towards public health disciplines. Keyword co-occurrence analysis emphasized that majority of the walkability studies centred on the interactions between walking and other three main factors such as built environment attributes, transportation and obesity. Based on the identified research hotspots, a brief state-of-the-art review of walkability studies was presented. Future prospects based on the unexplored research gaps within the hotspots were also discussed. High correlation (r = 0.99, p 
    Matched MeSH terms: Environment Design*
  12. Azmer MI, Aziz F, Ahmad Z, Raza E, Najeeb MA, Fatima N, et al.
    Talanta, 2017 Nov 01;174:279-284.
    PMID: 28738579 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2017.06.016
    This research work demonstrates compositional engineering of an organic-inorganic hybrid nano-composites for modifying absolute threshold of humidity sensors. Vanadyl-2,9,16,23-tetraphenoxy-29H,31H-phthalocyanine (VOPcPhO), an organic semiconductor, doped with Titanium-dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) has been employed to fabricate humidity sensors. The morphology of the VOPcPhO:TiO2nano-composite films has been analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The sensors have been examined over a wide range of relative humidity i.e. 20-99% RH. The sensor with TiO2(90nm) shows reduced sensitivity-threshold and improved linearity. The VOPcPhO:TiO2(90nm) nano-composite film is comprised of uniformly distributed voids which makes the surface more favorable for adsorption of moisture content from environment. The VOPcPhO:TiO2nano-composite based sensor demonstrates remarkable improvement in the sensing parameter when equated with VOPcPhO sensors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environment
  13. Thakur IS, Lee KT, Nigam PS, Sukumaran RK
    Bioresour Technol, 2015;188:1.
    PMID: 25953660 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.04.076
    Matched MeSH terms: Environment
  14. Irniza Rasdi, Nadia Farhana Ismail, Andy, Shin Shyen Kong, Suhainizam Muhammad Saliluddin
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: The prevalence of stress among Malaysian police is high in which 38.8% polices have severe stress related to work resources and workplace environment. Psychosocial safety climate is one of the indicators that can be used to avoid psychosocial health problems. Objective: This study was conducted to determine the risk factors of psychosocial safety climate and to measure the effectiveness of a customised safety website in improving the safety climate. Methodology: This study involved 105 police officers who were randomly selected from nine different departments in PDRM Bukit Aman. A survey adapted from previous study was used to determine the psychosocial safety climate levels among respondents. Then, occupational safety website was introduced to the respondents and being used for two weeks. Lastly, post survey was done to see the difference of psychosocial safety climate before and after the use of the website. Results and Discussion: Findings showed that team psychological safety (r=0.381, p= , p=
    Matched MeSH terms: Environment
  15. Muhammad Adil Khattak, Nurul Syahrizzat Mohd Yasin, Hannah Natasha Andjani, Puteri Nurailah Husna Mohd Tajuddin, Sakeshraj Narajah, See, Zhi Fei, et al.
    MyJurnal
    Geopolitical risks will less affect the oil supply in the United States due to its stability
    and widespread oil sectors since 1970s. Nevertheless, energy prosperity in the United
    States appears differently in relation to a fuller period for conventional energy export
    states where geopolitical challenges have been intensified by monetary pressure and
    escalating energy demand in residential areas. The relationship between the United
    States and other energy export states will continue to change as the United States
    becomes more independent and non-OPEC resources become worthwhile especially
    in Western Hemisphere. With expansion of global economic growth, maintained
    multilateral relationship among countries and technological development are two
    prominent concerns to secure long-term energy supplies and to enable further
    exploration of new energy sources.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environment
  16. Subramaniam Y, Loganathan N, Subramaniam T
    J Environ Manage, 2024 Feb;351:119646.
    PMID: 38042078 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119646
    Governance has become indispensable within the healthcare sector, but previous studies have not explored the potential environmental benefits linked to healthcare governance. Thus, this study focuses on the role of governance in moderating healthcare and environmental emissions in 159 low, lower-middle, upper-middle and high-income countries. To do so, cross-sectional autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) techniques were applied using panel data from 1999 to 2021, followed by the computation of threshold and marginal effect of governance on healthcare and environmental emissions nexus. Findings revealed that, with the exception of high-income countries in the short run, governance has an insignificant impact on healthcare and emissions nexus in low-, lower-middle and upper-middle-income countries. Surprisingly, the findings imply that, in the long run, countries with greater levels of governance are likely to have lesser environmental impacts related to healthcare. There was also evidence indicating that low, lower-middle, upper-middle and high-income countries must reach a certain level of governance before realising the benefits of healthcare. Therefore, to achieve lower environmental impacts from healthcare, countries must promote effective governance policies that can incentivise and enforce sustainable practices and technologies in the healthcare sector.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environment
  17. Stephen Ambu
    MyJurnal
    The global environment is in a dynamic flux due to rapid development. As a result of this, new
    diseases are emerging and old diseases are re-emerging in many parts of the world. Therefore there is a constant need for appropriate data for formulation of effective policies to mitigate the adverse effects of environmental degradation on human health. The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 is a milestone that sets the direction for good environmental management initiatives and the success
    of this depends on good data. Malaysia currently has the Environmental Quality Act 1974 in place to
    control environment related problems. However good guidelines must be developed to keep the initiatives for good environmental management on course, for this we need good data. The Centre for Environmental and Population Health at IMU, coordinates research activities in specific thrust areas in an endeavour to produce important data that is required for developing appropriate guidelines for environmental health.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environment; Environmental Health
  18. Dousin O, Collins N, Bartram T, Stanton P
    J Adv Nurs, 2021 Mar;77(3):1478-1489.
    PMID: 33314305 DOI: 10.1111/jan.14724
    AIMS: To examine the mediating role of employee well-being on the relationship between work-life balance practices, the need for achievement and intention to leave among nurses in Malaysia.

    BACKGROUND: Work-life balance practices are associated with employee perceptions of the need for achievement and well-being which subsequently influence their intention to leave the organization. This study contributes new knowledge to nursing studies on work-life balance in an Asian and Islamic society where the expectations for women are to focus on family rather than career.

    DESIGN: A cross-sectional, explanatory mixed methodology.

    METHODS: This is a two-phase study conducted between 2015-2017 with 401 nurses in East Malaysia. In Phase 1, researchers surveyed 379 nurses to test eight hypotheses and in Phase 2 researchers interviewed 22 nurses to explore the results of Phase 1.

    RESULTS: Phase 1 revealed job satisfaction mediates the relationship between work-life balance practices (e.g. flexibility and choice in working hours, supportive supervision), financial success, and intention to leave. However, life satisfaction and money as a motivator did not mediate such relationships. Phase 2 identified four important factors that cast light on survey results: working conditions of Malaysian nurses; inadequate compensation in the public healthcare sector; team-based practices; and pressure on senior nurses in both administrative and clinical roles.

    CONCLUSION: This is one of the first studies to investigate work-life balance issues among nurses in Malaysia. Outcomes of this study extend the debates on work-life balance and employee well-being in an Asian Islamic social context.

    IMPACT: The use of flexible working arrangements and collectivist teamwork approaches, improving compensation and employment benefits and eliminating the 'time-based job promotion' policy may help to mitigate work-life balance issues and intention to leave among nurses in Malaysia.

    Matched MeSH terms: Social Environment
  19. Cheong WH, Omar AH, Sta Maria FL
    PMID: 4584108
    Matched MeSH terms: Environment
Filters
Contact Us

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

External Links