MyMedR

Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 188 in total

Abstract:

Sort:

Fulltext Scheme of obtaining β-carotene standard from pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) flesh

Norshazila, S., Irwandi, J., Othman, R., Yumi Zuhanis, H.H.

International Food Research Journal, 2012;19(2):531-535.
MyJurnal

Characterization and quantification of carotenoid compound is complicated, costly and timeconsuming. The accuracy and reliability of the data depend solely on the standard and to High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis but the major constraint is to acquire and to maintain the pure standards. Carotenoid standards are commercially available but they are expensive and are prone to isomerization and oxidation. Thus, the purpose of this study is to establish an analytical method for isolating β-carotene by using open column chromatography (OCC) from pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) to be used as one of the carotenoid standards for determination of total and individual carotenoid. Pumpkin with orange flesh has been chosen due to the non-seasonal nature and its availability all year-round. This study demonstrated that the purity of β-carotene standard; determined by HPLC was ranged from 92.21 to 97.95%. The standard curves with five different concentrations of β-carotene extract from pumpkins in triplicate were constructed by plotting the peak area against the concentration. The coefficient of correlation was 0.9936. Therefore, this study established that pumpkin can be a reliable source of beta-carotene standard as it is cheap and commonly available throughout the year.

Matched MeSH terms: Maintenance
Fulltext PC based DAQ & control for nuclear counting system

Zainudin Jaafar, Mukhlis Mokhtar, Abu Bakar Mhd Ghazali

Journal of Nuclear and Related Technologies, 2010;2010(2):89-101.
MyJurnal

Personal computer (PC) based user interface for equipment control and data acquisition from the nuclear counting system to count nuclear radiation energy from radioactive sources have been developed at Malaysian Nuclear Agency. Effort is made to ensure a good reliability of the system for nuclear counting, especially neutrons particles and gamma rays. It will be used in laboratory for testing and maintenance of nuclear spectrometry instruments. Personal computer is used to control the operation of equipment and data acquisition from counter/timer module. Control and data communication between PC and the Counter/ Timer is made through the USB' to RS 232 converter terminal. The program for this system was written using Labview 8.6 software on Windows XP environment. This system has been successfully tested using a pulse generator to simulate the detector signal for calibration and then followed by actual measurement using HE-3 detector.

Matched MeSH terms: Maintenance
Fulltext Detection of pipeline intelligent gauge jammed in pipeline by neutron device

Md Fakarudin Ab Rahman, Ismail Mustapha, Nor Pa’iza Mohd Hasan, Ibrahim, Pairu

Jurnal Sains Nuklear Malaysia, 2012;24(2):35-41.
MyJurnal

In industrial plants such as electricity generating, petroleum, chemical and petrochemical plants, pipelines are used extensively to transport liquid from one location to another. In radiation vulcanization of natural rubber latex (RVNRL) plants, pipelines are also used to transport latex to storage tank. During one of its maintenance activities, a pipeline intelligent gauge (PIG) that was used to monitor pipe integrity jammed inside the pipe causing interruption to its operation or loading activities. Sealed source technology was utilized to determine the location of jammed PIG in the pipeline. Fast neutrons from a 50 mCi Americium Beryllium (AmBe241), with energy range between 0.5 to11 MeV, were used for the study. Helium 3 (He3) detector was used to detect slow neutrons having a range of energy of 30 eV- 0.5 MeV. The investigation was carried out using neutron backscatter technique scanner. By adopting back-scattered technique, the location of jammed PIG in the pipeline has been successfully determined.

Matched MeSH terms: Maintenance
Fulltext Determination of chemical content of pm10 and tsp using SEM-EDAX

Masitah Alias, Zaini Hamzah

Journal of Nuclear and Related Technologies, 2007;2007(1):217-226.
MyJurnal

The growing concern over the workers safety and health has lead many factories and organizations do the air monitoring to ensure the airborne at their workplace is safe for the worker’s health and complying the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514). In this study, the monitoring covers an indoor air quality and chemical exposure to the workers in one of the power plant repair shop. A few workers from different sections namely blasting, welding, grinding, fitting and maintenance area were chosen to assist in the personal monitoring for 8 hours measurement. PM10 were measured at a few sampling points to collect dusts for 24 hours duration. The samples were brought back to the laboratory for gravimetric and SEM-EDAX analysis. The results were certainly exceed the limit for air quality, and many elements were detected such as Fe, Ni, Al, Si, Ca, K, Ba, S, Cr, Zn and Cl. The present of these elements shows that exposure to these particulate matters is quite risky and some measure needs to be taken for remedial action.

Matched MeSH terms: Maintenance
Fulltext Reaksi tekanan terhadap kesihatan mental juvana

Mahadir Ahmad, Normah Che Din, Fauziah Shaari

Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia, 2004;2(2):53-62.
MyJurnal

Kajian ini mengukur kesan pembawaan semula jadi, punca tekanan dan reaksi tekanan ke atas kesihatan mental di kalangan juvana. Ia melibatkan 55 orang juvana dari pusat pemulihan akhlak dari lingkungan umur 15 hingga 18 tahun. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ28), Student Life Stress Inventory (SLSI), dan Dimensions of Temperament DOTSR-Child (Self) digunakan sebagai alat kajian. Manakala analisis regresi dan korelasi telah dikendalikan untuk menganalisis data. Keputusan kajian menunjukkan punca tekanan, reaksi tekanan dan pembawaan semula jadi tidak memberi kesan yang signifikan ke atas kesihatan mental juvana. Namun punca tekanan secara tunggal didapati menjadi peramal yang signifikan kepada kemurungan juvana dengan menyumbang sebanyak 14.6% daripada varian. Punca kekecewaan menyumbang sebanyak 18.1% daripada varian dalam meramal kemurungan. Reaksi emosi menyumbang sebanyak 10.6% kepada kesan anxieti dan insomnia. Punca tekanan dan pembawaan semula jadi pula menyumbang sebanyak 31% kepada reaksi emosi. Punca tekanan mempunyai korelasi positif yang sederhana dengan reaksi emosi (k = 0.55) dan mempunyai korelasi positif yang rendah dengan pembawaan semula jadi (k = 0.11) dan kesihatan mental (k = 0.23). Kesimpulannya punca tekanan memainkan peranan yang penting dalam mempengaruhi reaksi terhadap tekanan. Faktor pembawaan semula jadi tidak mempunyai pengaruh yang kuat dalam mempengaruhi reaksi tekanan dan kesihatan mental juvana. Faktor kekecewaan pula merupakan peramal yang signifikan kepada kemurungan.

Matched MeSH terms: Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
Fulltext Effects of electron irradiation on superconducting properties of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8/MgO superconductor composite

Nasri A. Hamid, Yusof Abdullah, Mohd Sharul Nizam Asbullah

Journal of Nuclear and Related Technologies, 2012;2012(2):1-6.
MyJurnal

Among the challenges for superconducting devices to be applied in industry are the need for high transport critical current density (Jr) and sustainability of the device in different environment. For superconducting material to maintain high 4, effective flux pinning centers are needed. The addition of small size MgO particles in bulk Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 (Bi-2212) superconductor has been proven to enhance the effective flux pinning centers in the superconducting material. Nevertheless, the flux pinning properties of the superconducting materials may change if they are exposed to radioactive environment. Electron irradiation is one of the common techniques that can be used to study the impact of irradiation on superconducting materials. In this work, a small amount of nanosize MgO particles were used as the flux pinning centers for Bi-2212 superconducting material. The Bi-2212/MgO composite was heat treated and followed by partial melting and slow cooling. Some of the samples were subjected to electron irradiation using the facility at the Malaysian Nuclear Agency. Characterizations of non-irradiated and irradiated samples were performed via X-ray Diffraction Patterns (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and measurements of J, dependence on temperature in self-field. Higher J, indicates better flux pinning properties in irradiated superconductor composite. This is achieved if defects with larger radius with dimension comparable to the coherence length of the superconducting material were created. On the other hand, decreased in Je indicates ineffective flux pinning and this is attributed to the overlapping of defects that break the superconducting region. Our study showed that electron irradiation deteriorated the flux pinning properties of the Bi-2212/MgO superconductor composite.

Matched MeSH terms: Maintenance
Fulltext 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing for Deciphering the Colorectal Cancer Gut Microbiome: Current Protocols and Workflows

Osman MA, Neoh HM, Ab Mutalib NS, Chin SF, Jamal R

Front Microbiol, 2018;9:767.
PMID: 29755427 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00767

The human gut holds the densest microbiome ecosystem essential in maintaining a healthy host physiology, whereby disruption of this ecosystem has been linked to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). The advent of next-generation sequencing technologies such as the 16S rRNA gene sequencing has enabled characterization of the CRC gut microbiome architecture in an affordable and culture-free approach. Nevertheless, the lack of standardization in handling and storage of biospecimens, nucleic acid extraction, 16S rRNA gene primer selection, length, and depth of sequencing and bioinformatics analyses have contributed to discrepancies found in various published studies of this field. Accurate characterization of the CRC microbiome found in different stages of CRC has the potential to be developed into a screening tool in the clinical setting. This mini review aims to concisely compile all available CRC microbiome studies performed till end of 2016 and to suggest standardized protocols that are crucial in developing a gut microbiome screening panel for CRC.

Matched MeSH terms: Maintenance
Fulltext Optimized parameters of wastewater treatment system using fuzzy control

Ilanur Muhaini Mohd Noor, Muhamad Kamal Mohammed Amin

Journal of Advanced Research in Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology, 2017;5(2):27-35.
MyJurnal

This paper aim is to design an education kit for wastewater system that can maintain
the standard parameters of neutralized wastewater by maintaining the suitable pH
(Potential Hydronium) level and temperature of the wastewater from industry by using
fuzzy controller. This study is capable to control the unwanted bacteria by automatic
regulatory and monitoring the temperature, pH and water level. Fuzzy logic method is
use to control and monitor pH level as well as the temperature during clarifying process
because pH control process is a complex physical-chemistry process of strong
individuality of time-varying and non-linearity properties. Pumps used in the prototype
need to be controlled precisely to enable either acid or base to be pumped into mix
tank of the wastewater treatment. The control and monitoring system, which has been
designed through LabVIEW front panel will ease end user in inspection of the
parameters involve in wastewater treatment. The entire system output could be
observed remotely in Data Dashboard application in smartphone or tablet. The GUI
was designed and interfaced with the prototype constructed to carry out the process
of controlling and monitoring the required parameters. Few tests were conducted
repetitively to analyse the performance of the system parameters. It was found that
the controlled set point fixed within the range of pH 7.6-8.4, temperature 25-29.44
Celsius and water level of 20cm in this research that was effectively achieved in the
entire test conducted. In addition, the wastewater system accuracy and performance
is 96.72% and 90.22% respectively.

Matched MeSH terms: Maintenance
Fulltext Parallelogram linkage leg structure for stabilized walking gaits in humanoid robot

Firdaus Sukarman, Mohd Ghazali Mohd Hamami, Mazleenda Mazni, Muhammad Amir Mat Shah, Ahmad Faidzal Khodori

Journal of Advanced Research in Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology, 2017;9(1):22-31.
MyJurnal

The utilization of parallelogram structure in a small-sized humanoid robot consists of two parallel platforms that are linked serially in each leg. The thigh and shank of each leg consists of two servomotors as actuator and linked in parallel platform. By using parallel mechanism in leg structure, foot sole surface is always parallel to the walking surface at any point. Even it looks unnatural to human-like walking motion, the expected result is the robot can maintain it posture while walking and at the point foot sole touch the walking surface, unnecessary vibrates can be modulated at the certain level to remain its balance. The effectiveness and the performance of the proposed parallel platforms are experimented by using zero moment point (ZMP) method by taking various scenario data from pressure sensors attached at the footsole. Planned walking gait is introduced to be identical in terms of foot steps length and width of each leg swing. As the results, in terms of load in each actuator, required torque at servomotors can be reduced because two servomotors are used simultaneously in one parallel system. Stable walking gait can be predicted as the quantity of error falls within the error ranges from the published walking gait patterns.

Matched MeSH terms: Maintenance
Fulltext Design and development of a spatial immersive track cycling simulator

Yap, H.J., Tan, C.H., Sivadas, C.S., Wan, W.L., Taha, Z., Chang, S.W.

Movement Health & Exercise, 2018;7(2):39-52.
MyJurnal

Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology that makes use of computer graphics,
algorithms and special hardware to simulate the real world in real time. There
are four main elements required to make a VR system a success, namely
virtual world, immersion, sensory feedback and interactivity. The virtual
world created must be as real as possible. Users should have a sense of
immersion in the virtual world. Position tracking is usually incorporated into
a VR system for visual, sound and force feedback on the users and the virtual
objects in the VR world must be interact-able with the users. VR has proven
to be effective in training and widely used in many areas, for example medical
surgery, dental treatment, psychology treatment for phobia, engineering
design, maintenance and repair, sports and many more. By implementing VR
technology in training, users are able to reduce the training cost and time. VR
training is also safer for users, as harsh environments can be simulated despite
the environment and/or human factors. On the other hand, the physical
facilities and infrastructures of the track cycling are very costly. In track
cycling, the game field, known as a velodrome, requires a large space of area.
It requires a huge budget and professional manpower to maintain these
facilities. Therefore, the proposed spatial immersive track cycling simulator
is invented to overcome these issues. The aim of this study is to simulate the
velodrome track cycling in VR environment and synchronize with a 6 degreeof-freedom
motion platform. The simulator is aimed to be low cost and
minimal space requirement compared to actual velodrome. A trainee who
undergoes VR track cycling simulator training wears a head-mounted-display (HMD) to visualize the VR environment. An actual bike will be mounted on
the 6-DOF motion platform, which the platform will synchronize with the VR
environment to simulate the track condition for the training purposes. An
encoder is placed at the bicycle wheel to feedback the moving speed and
synchronize the visualize feedback to the HMD.

Matched MeSH terms: Maintenance
Fulltext Modern medical devices and hospital decision making: a review of ethical and social considerations during the manufacture and the use of advanced medical devices

Choudhury, Shudipta

JUMMEC, 2019;22(1):1-7.
MyJurnal

Background: The adoption of technologically advanced medical devices assisted healthcare providers to
examine and treat diseases. However, technological advancements could increase the threats to safety,
security, and reliability of the devices from complications associated with manufacturing, functionality, and
the clinical application of the devices.

Aim: To examine the safety threats, cost implication, and bioethical standards of the manufacturing processes
and the functionality of advanced medical devices.

Subject and Methods: The study was a narrative review through a qualitative research methodology. The
secondary data was gathered from online databases including ProQuest, ResearchGate, CINAHL/EBSCOhost,
PubMed, and ScienceDirect, from books, journals, conference proceedings, and other web publications
between 2007 and 2017.

Results:There were safety hazards from human errors in the interpretation and the use of the advanced medical
devices. Equipment imperfections and poor processes of maintenance and procurement affected the effective
functionality of these medical devices. Healthcare expenditure was high, Social and bioethical considerations,
users’ complaints and post-market surveillance were essential in ensuring the safety of the devices and the
maintenance of quality life for the users.

Conclusion: Safety hazards and cost implications of the use of technologically advanced medical devices were
significantly high Social and bioethical standards in the manufacturing of medical devices contributed towards
the production of safer devices.

Matched MeSH terms: Maintenance
Design, optimisation and reliability allocation for energy systems based on equipment function and operating capacity

Andiappan V, Benjamin MFD, Tan RR, Ng DKS

Heliyon, 2019 Oct;5(10):e02594.
PMID: 31720447 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02594

Designers of energy systems often face challenges in balancing the trade-off between cost and reliability. In literature, several papers have presented mathematical models for optimizing the reliability and cost of energy systems. However, the previous models only addressed reliability implicitly, i.e., based on availability and maintenance planning. Others focused on allocation of reliability based on individual equipment requirements via non-linear models that require high computational effort. This work proposes a novel mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model that combines the use of both input-output (I-O) modelling and linearized parallel system reliability expressions. The proposed MILP model can optimize the design and reliability of energy systems based on equipment function and operating capacity. The model allocates equipment with sufficient reliability to meet system functional requirements and determines the required capacity. A simple pedagogical example is presented in this work to illustrate the features of proposed MILP model. The MILP model is then applied to a polygeneration case study consisting of two scenarios. In the first scenario, the polygeneration system was optimized based on specified reliability requirements. The technologies chosen for Scenario 1 were the CHP module, reverse osmosis unit and vapour compression chiller. The total annualized cost (TAC) for Scenario 1 was 53.3 US$ million/year. In the second scenario, the minimum reliability level for heat production was increased. The corresponding results indicated that an additional auxiliary boiler must be operated to meet the new requirements. The resulting TAC for the Scenario 2 was 5.3% higher than in the first scenario.

Matched MeSH terms: Maintenance
Fulltext Minichromosome Maintenance Complex (MCM) Genes Profiling and MCM2 Protein Expression in Cervical Cancer Development

Kaur G, Balasubramaniam SD, Lee YJ, Balakrishnan V, Oon CE

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2019 Oct 01;20(10):3043-3049.
PMID: 31653153 DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.10.3043

OBJECTIVE: Minichromosome maintenance complex (MCM) proteins are essential for the process of DNA replication and cell division. This study aimed to evaluate MCM genes expression profiles and MCM2 protein in HPV-associated cervical carcinogenesis.
METHODOLOGY: MCM2, 4, 5 and 7 genes expression profiles were evaluated in three cervical tissue samples each of normal cervix, human papillomavirus (HPV)-infected low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), using Human Transcriptome Array 2.0 and validated by nCounter® PanCancer Pathway NanoString Array. Immunohistochemical expression of MCM2 protein was semi-quantitatively assessed by histoscore in tissue microarrays containing 9 cases of normal cervix, 10 LSIL, 10 HSIL and 42 cases of SCC.
RESULTS: MCM2, 4, 5 and 7 genes expressions were upregulated with increasing fold change during the progression from LSIL to HSIL and the highest in SCC. MCM2 gene had the highest fold change in SCC compared to normal cervix. Immunohistochemically, MCM2 protein was localised in the nuclei of basal cells of normal cervical epithelium and dysplastic-neoplastic cells of CIN and SCC. There was a significant difference in MCM2 protein expression between the histological groups (P = 0.039), and histoscore was the highest in HSIL compared to normal cervix (P = 0.010).
CONCLUSION: The upregulation of MCM genes expressions in cervical carcinogenesis reaffirms MCM as a proliferative marker in DNA replication pathway, whereby proliferation of dysplastic and cancer cells become increasingly dysregulated and uncontrolled. A strong expression of MCM2 protein in HSIL may aid as a concatenated screening tool in detecting pre-cancerous cervical lesions.

Matched MeSH terms: Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 2/genetics; Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 2/metabolism*; Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 4/genetics; Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 4/metabolism; Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 7/genetics; Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 7/metabolism
Fabrication of amorphous silicon microgap structure for energy saving devices

Dhahi T, Hashim U, Ali M, Nazwa T

Sains Malaysiana, 2012;41:755-759.

We report here the fabrication of microgaps electrodes on amorphous silicon using low cost techniques such as vacuum deposition and conventional lithography. Amorphous silicon is a low cost material and has desirable properties for semiconductor applications. Microgap electrodes have important applications in power saving devices, electrochemical sensors and dielectric detections of biomolecules. Physical characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated such microgap electrodes could be produced with high reproducibility and precision. Preliminary electrical
characterizations showed such structures are able to maintain a good capacitance parameters and constant current supply over a wide ranging differences in voltages. They have also good efficiency of power consumption with high insulation properties.

Matched MeSH terms: Maintenance
Hydrogen adsorption capacity reduction of activated carbon produced from Indonesia low rank coal by pelletizing

Sri Harjanto, Latifa N. Noviana, Mia Diniati, Stefanno W. Yunior, Nasruddin

Sains Malaysiana, 2015;44:747-752.

Coal-based activated carbon materials is a prospective materials for hydrogen storage application. The present work
aimed to study the effect of post treatments including mechanical milling process and pelletization and simulating
experimentally the conditions of pelletization of fine particles of activated coal. Post treatment of activated coal consist
of 2 steps mechanical milling process in planetary ball mill followed by pelletization. First step of mechanical milling
process gave particle size reduction and second step was undertaken to maintain activity of activated coal. Second step
of mechanochemical process were done in dry (ACP-A) and wet condition (ACP-B) with the ratio of sample: KOH was
1:1 and performed for 1 h. Then they will be formed into pellets with the addition of binder which contained fructose,
glucose and oligo. Some examinations such as PSA, BET, SEM and XRD were performed to determine the characteristics of
activated carbon materials including hydrogen adsorption capacity testing. Particle size reduction of activated carbon
reached 98.9% after planetary ball milling. The raw material of activated carbon (AC) has hydrogen adsorption as much
as from 0.30 and 0.25 wt. % from -5 and 25o
C measurements, respectively. As predicted the adsorption of hydrogen gas
of pelletized activated carbon from bituminous coal decreased due to post treatment process about 47% for ACP-A and
60% for ACP-B at 4000 Bar.

Matched MeSH terms: Maintenance
Construction of trace element in coal of china database management system: based on WebGIS

Liu Yang, Xue Bai, Yinjie Hu, Qiqi Wang, Jun Deng

Sains Malaysiana, 2017;46:2195-2204.

The combination of geographic information system and mineral energy data management is helpful to promote the study of mineral energy and its ecological damage and environmental pollution caused by its development and utilization, which has important application value. The Trace Elements in Coal of China Database Management System (TECC) is established in this paper, applying the techniques of B/S three-layer structure, Oracle database, AJAX and WebGIS. TECC is the first database system which aims at managing the data of trace elements in coal in China. It includes data management and analysis module, document management module, trace elements in coal data maintenance module and authority management module. The data entry specification is put forward in the present study and the spatial data is included in TECC system. The system achieves the functions of data query, analysis, management, maintenance and map browsing, thematic map drawing as well as satellite video display, which lay the foundation for the analysis of large data of trace elements in coal. It is a practical platform for the acquisition, management, exchange and sharing of trace element research and geochemical research data of coal.

Matched MeSH terms: Maintenance
Influence of air supply velocity on temperature field in the self heating process of coa

Shuanglin Song, Shugang Wang, Yuntao Liang, Xiaochen Li, Qi Lin

Sains Malaysiana, 2017;46:2143-2148.

The air supply velocity is an important factor affecting the spontaneous combustion of coal. The appropriate air velocity can not only provide the oxygen required for the oxidation reaction, but maintains the good heat storage environment. Therefore, it is necessary to study the influence of the actual air velocity in the pore space on the self-heating process of coal particles. This paper focuses on studying the real space piled up by spherical particles. CFD simulation software is used to establish the numerical model from pore scale. Good fitness of the simulation results with the existing results verifies the feasibility of the calculation method. Later, the calculation conditions are changed to calculate and analyze the velocity field and the temperature field for self-heating of some particles (the surface of the particles is at a certain temperature) and expound the effect of different air supply velocities on gathering and dissipating the heat.

Matched MeSH terms: Maintenance
Fulltext Association between elder abuse and poor sleep: A cross-sectional study among rural older Malaysians

Yunus RM, Wazid SW, Hairi NN, Choo WY, Hairi FM, Sooryanarayana R, et al.

PLoS One, 2017;12(7):e0180222.
PMID: 28686603 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180222

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between elder abuse and poor sleep using a Malay validated version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
DESIGN: This study was divided into two phases. Phase I tested the construct validity and reliability of the Malay version of PSQI. Phase II was a population-based, cross-sectional study with a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Home-based interviews were conducted by trained personnel using a structured questionnaire, to determine exposure and outcome.
SETTING: Kuala Pilah, a district in Negeri Sembilan which is one of the fourteen states in Malaysia.
PARTICIPANTS: 1648 community-dwelling older Malaysians.
RESULTS: The Malay version of PSQI had significant test re-test reliability with intra-class correlation coefficients of 0.62. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that one factor PSQI scale with three components (subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and sleep disturbances) was most suitable. Cronbach's Alpha was 0.60 and composite reliability was 0.63. PSQI scores were highest among neglect (4.11), followed by physical (4.10), psychological (3.96) and financial abuse (3.60). There was a dose-response relationship between clustering of abuse and PSQI scores; 3.41, 3.50 and 3.84 for "no abuse", "1 type of abuse" and "2 types or more". Generalized linear models revealed six variables as significant determinants of sleep quality-abuse, co-morbidities, self-rated health, income, social support and gait speed. Among abuse subtypes, only neglect was significantly associated with poor sleep.
CONCLUSION: The Malay PSQI was valid and reliable. Abuse was significantly associated with poor sleep. As sleep is essential for health and is a good predictor for mortality among older adults, management of abuse victims should entail sleep assessment. Interventions or treatment modalities which focus on improving sleep quality among abuse victims should be designed.

Matched MeSH terms: Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/diagnosis; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/epidemiology; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/psychology*
Fulltext Effects of Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Nutmeg) extract on chemical characteristic of raw beef during frozen storage

Zakaria, M.P.M., Abas, F., Rukayadi, Y.

International Food Research Journal, 2015;22(3):902-909.
MyJurnal

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) extract at different concentrations on chemical characteristics of raw beef under frozen storage. Nutmeg extracts at concentrations of 0.25%, 0.65%, 1.25%, 2.50% and 5.00% (g/ml) were used to treat raw beef (2.5 × 2.5 × 1.0 cm; 4 ± 0.5 g) with dilution method. Treated samples were then individually packed in overwrapped trays and stored for 3 weeks at -18 ± 1oC. The effects of the extract on the chemical characteristics such as lipid oxidation, colour, pH, moisture, fat, and protein content of raw beef were evaluated at 0, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days of storage. Lipid oxidation was evaluated based on thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) content. Colour of beef was observed by spectrophotometer in colorimetic parameters CIELabs. Values of pH were measured using pH meter. Moisture, fat and protein content were determined using method by Analysis Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). The result showed that extract at concentration of 1.25% inhibited TBARS value meaning that extract of 1.25% or more was able to maintain the oxidative stability of beef at -18oC. A 1.25% of extract was also able to maintain the redness (a*) of treated beef compared to untreated during frozen storage. The pH values of all samples beef decreased starting from 10th day of storage. Untreated samples (0.00%) showed the lowest pH values compared to other treated samples at the end day of storage. There was no significant different in term of protein content in all treated or untreated samples. However, fat and moisture content were significantly affected by the concentration of nutmeg extract. Treated beef was able to retain its moisture with only loss of moisture ranging from 0.2% – 2.00% while untreated samples had 5.00% loss of moisture. The fat content of untreated samples (0.00%) showed a reduction of 0.2% of fat content at the end of storage compared to all treated sample with only loss of 0.1% - 0.05%. Overall, nutmeg extract can be used to maintain the chemical characteristics of raw beef during storage for 3 weeks.

Matched MeSH terms: Maintenance
Fulltext Effectiveness and safety profiling of zolpidem and acupressure in CKD associated pruritus: An interventional study

Rehman IU, Ahmed R, Rahman AU, Wu DBC, Munib S, Shah Y, et al.

Medicine (Baltimore), 2021 May 28;100(21):e25995.
PMID: 34032717 DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000025995

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD)-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) contributes to poor quality of life, including reduced sleep quality and poor sleep quality is a source of patient stress and is linked to lower health-related quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of zolpidem 10 mg and acupressure therapy on foot acupoints to improve the sleep quality and overall quality of life among hemodialysis patients suffering from CKD-aP.
METHOD: A multicenter, prospective, randomized, parallel-design, open label interventional study to estimate the effectiveness of zolpidem (10 mg) oral tablets versus acupressure on sleep quality and quality of life in patients with CKD-aP on hemodialysis. A total of 58 hemodialysis patients having sleep disturbance due to CKD-aP completed the entire 8-week follow-up. The patients were divided into a control (acupressure) group of 28 patients and an intervention (zolpidem) group of 30 patients.
RESULTS: A total of 58 patients having CKD-aP and sleep disturbance were recruited. In the control group there was a reduction in the PSQI score with a mean ± SD from 12.28 ± 3.59 to 9.25 ± 3.99, while in the intervention group the reduction in PSQI score with a mean ± SD was from 14.73 ± 4.14 to 10.03 ± 4.04 from baseline to endpoint. However, the EQ5D index score and EQ-visual analogue scale (VAS) at baseline for the control group with a mean ± SD was 0.49 ± 0.30 and 50.17 ± 8.65, respectively, while for the intervention group the values were 0.62 ± 0.26 and 47.17 ± 5.82, respectively. The mean EQ5D index score in the control group improved from 0.49 ± 0.30 to 0.53 ± 0.30, but in the intervention group there was no statistical improvement in mean EQ5D index score from 0.62 ± 0.26 to 0.62 ± 0.27 from baseline to week 8. The EQ 5D improved in both groups and the EQ-VAS score was 2.67 points higher at week 8 as compared to baseline in the control group, while in the intervention group the score was 3.33 points higher at week 8 as compared to baseline. Comparing with baseline, the PSQI scores were significantly reduced after week 4 and week 8 (P =

Matched MeSH terms: Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/etiology; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/psychology; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy*

Filters

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

External Links