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Fulltext Dataset on the green consumption behaviour amongst Malaysian consumers

Ghani NAM, Yusop FD, Kamarulzaman Y

Data Brief, 2020 Oct;32:106302.
PMID: 32995394 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.106302

This dataset contains information of 375 respondents on green consumption behaviour. The questionnaire was developed using Theory of Planned Behaviour as the foundation. The variables available in the dataset are Environmental Concern (EC), Social Influence (SI), Perceived behavioural control (PBC), Consumer novelty seeking (CNS) and Green consumption behaviour (GC). In addition to the variables related to green consumption, the dataset also includes demographic and media preference information of the respondents. The data was collected via self-administered questionnaire in seven major cities in Klang Valley, namely Shah Alam, Bangsar, Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Puchong, Serdang and Putrajaya. The dataset can have an important role for research in consumer behaviour towards developing green consumers.

Matched MeSH terms: Environment
Fulltext Data for the industrial and municipal environmental wastes hazard contaminants assessment with integration of RES2D techniques and Oasis Montaj software

Arifin MH, Kayode JS, Ismail KI, Abdullah M, Embrandiri A, Nazer SM, et al.

Data Brief, 2020 Dec;33:106595.
PMID: 33318980 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.106595

Industrial, and municipal wastes are part of the main sources of environmental hazards as well as groundwater and surface water pollutions. If not well composed, treated, and safely disposed, it could permeate through the subsurface lithologies by reaching down to the underground water aquifers, particularly in zones of unprotected aquifer units. Pollutants, most especially the landfills leachates that encompassed organic contaminants, ammonia, nitrates, total nitrogen, suspended solids, heavy metals and soluble inorganic salts, i.e., soluble nitrogen, sulphur compound, sulphate and chlorides, could posed undesirable environmental impacts due to inappropriate disposals that may give rise to gaseous fumes and leachate formations. An electrical resistivity geophysical technique utilizing the RES2D no-invasive, cost-effective and rapid method of data collection was integrated with the 3D Oasis Montaj software to approximate the volume of the generated rectangular prism model of the contaminants delineated from mixtures of the industrial, and municipal wastes plumes to be 312,000 m 3.

Matched MeSH terms: Environment; Environmental Pollutants
Fulltext Data on biology and demographic parameters of the Aedes albopictus from dengue outbreaks in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Dom NC, Alhothily IA, Camalxaman SN, Ismail SNS

Data Brief, 2020 Aug;31:105882.
PMID: 32642511 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.105882

In this article, data on the demographic parameters of the Aedes albopictus were collected from those areas in Shah Alam, Malaysia that had experienced a dengue outbreak. The surveys were conducted from March to December 2017. The eggs of the Ae. albopictus were collected using ovitraps, and were analysed based on the demographic parameters in a controlled environment in an insectarium. The data were comprised of four types of biological information on the life demographic parameters of the Ae. albopictus that were monitored based on specific localities. The data were inferred information regarding egg productivity (n), egg development (%), immature development (days), and survivorship (days).

Matched MeSH terms: Environment, Controlled
Fulltext Challenges faced and lessons learned A multi-component prospective memory training program for Malaysian older adults

Farzin A, Ibrahim R, Madon Z, Basri H

Dement Neuropsychol, 2018 7 11;12(2):189-195.
PMID: 29988335 DOI: 10.1590/1980-57642018dn12-020012

The surrounding circumstances and environments of Malaysian older adults could make conducting interventions (mainly in terms of clinical or randomized controlled trials) a challenge. Working with older adults and facing cultural issues could be challenging.
Objective: This paper illustrates a significant perspective of some of the challenges faced while conducting a randomized controlled trial exploring the impact of a multi-component intervention that included strategy- and process-based prospective memory (PM) training among Malaysian older adults.
Methods: The current study was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and therefore the challenges were presented in accordance with the CONSORT statement style.
Results: A discussion on how these issues were addressed is provided.
Conclusion: Some suggestions were presented to help researchers plan and create interventions for similar studies and to support a practical method of addressing all related challenges.

Matched MeSH terms: Environment
Ethnic variations in dementia: the contributions of cardiovascular, psychosocial and neuropsychological factors

Ng TP, Leong T, Chiam PC, Kua EH

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord, 2010;29(2):131-8.
PMID: 20145399 DOI: 10.1159/000275668

Ethnic variations in dementia rate have been reported worldwide. Understanding these differences is vital for aetiological research, clinical care and health service planning. While age and gender have been consistently implicated, the reasons behind interethnic variation remain unclear.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Environment*
Methods of qualitative research in dentistry: a review

Masood M, Masood Y, Newton TJ

Dent Update, 2010 Jun;37(5):326-8, 331-2, 334-6.
PMID: 20669712 DOI: 10.12968/denu.2010.37.5.326

Over the last decade, researchers in health services research started using qualitative research methods. This has led to a corresponding rise in the reporting of the qualitative research studies in medical and related journals, including dental journals. Qualitative research is often contrasted with quantitative research as a set of 'non quantitative methods', since it does not deal with numbers and enumerate phenomena. It interprets the information people bring to research, which helps us to understand social phenomena in natural settings like their own territory, in their own language and on their own terms, giving emphasis to the meaning, experience and view of all the participants.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This article will help the clinician to understand the importance of in-depth knowledge of behaviour and social phenomena around the patient.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Environment
Brunei Darussalam

United States. Department of State. Bureau of Public Affairs

Backgr Notes Ser, 1985 Apr.
PMID: 12178106
Matched MeSH terms: Environment
Fulltext Diabetes in Central America

West KM, Kalbfleisch JM

Diabetes, 1970 Sep;19(9):656-63.
PMID: 5469119 DOI: 10.2337/diab.19.9.656

The prevalence of diabetes in Central America was somewhat greater than in East Pakistan and Malaya, less
than in Uruguay and Venezuela, and substantially less than in affluent societies such as the United States. Differences in prevalence among Central American countries were modest but probably significant in some instances. In all Central American countries diabetes was more common in females but this difference was probably attributable to the greater adiposity of the women. Age-matched populations from eleven different countries of three continents have now been tested using standardized methods. Prevalence of diabetes varied greatly, and differences were more related to environment than to race. These results support the hypothesis that environmental factors can increase or reduce prevalence by several-fold.

Matched MeSH terms: Environment; Environmental Exposure
Gene-environment interaction in chronic kidney disease among people with type 2 diabetes from The Malaysian Cohort project: a case-control study

Ahmad N, Shah SA, Abdul Gafor AH, Abdul Murad NA, Kamaruddin MA, Abd Jalal N, et al.

Diabet Med, 2020 11;37(11):1890-1901.
PMID: 32012348 DOI: 10.1111/dme.14257

AIM: To examine the possible gene-environment interactions between 32 single nucleotide polymorphisms and environmental factors that could modify the probability of chronic kidney disease.
METHODS: A case-control study was conducted involving 600 people with type 2 diabetes (300 chronic kidney disease cases, 300 controls) who participated in The Malaysian Cohort project. Retrospective subanalysis was performed on the chronic kidney disease cases to assess chronic kidney disease progression from the recruitment phase. We genotyped 32 single nucleotide polymorphisms using mass spectrometry. The probability of chronic kidney disease and predicted rate of newly detected chronic kidney disease progression were estimated from the significant gene-environment interaction analyses.
RESULTS: Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (eNOS rs2070744, PPARGC1A rs8192678, KCNQ1 rs2237895 and KCNQ1 rs2283228) and five environmental factors (age, sex, smoking, waist circumference and HDL) were significantly associated with chronic kidney disease. Gene-environment interaction analyses revealed significant probabilities of chronic kidney disease for sex (PPARGC1A rs8192678), smoking (eNOS rs2070744, PPARGC1A rs8192678 and KCNQ1 rs2237895), waist circumference (eNOS rs2070744, PPARGC1A rs8192678, KCNQ1 rs2237895 and KCNQ1 rs2283228) and HDL (eNOS rs2070744 and PPARGC1A rs8192678). Subanalysis indicated that the rate of newly detected chronic kidney disease progression was 133 cases per 1000 person-years (95% CI: 115, 153), with a mean follow-up period of 4.78 (SD 0.73) years. There was a significant predicted rate of newly detected chronic kidney disease progression in gene-environment interactions between KCNQ1 rs2283228 and two environmental factors (sex and BMI).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the gene-environment interactions of eNOS rs2070744, PPARGC1A rs8192678, KCNQ1 rs2237895 and KCNQ1 rs2283228 with specific environmental factors could modify the probability for chronic kidney disease.

Matched MeSH terms: Gene-Environment Interaction
Adaptive invention: independence and mobility through modifications

Mairami FF, Allotey P, Warren N, Mak JS, Reidpath DD

Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol, 2018 10;13(7):658-664.
PMID: 28836873 DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2017.1369586

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a leading cause of disability that limits everyday activities and reduces social participation. Provision of assistive devices helps to achieve independence and social inclusion. However, due to limited resources or a lack of suited objects for their needs, individuals with disabilities in low and middle income countries (LMIC) often do not have access to assistive devices. This has resulted in the creation of purpose built innovative solutions. Methodology and case content: This paper uses a single case derived from a larger ethnographic study of stroke survivors in rural Malaysia to demonstrate the role of assistive devices in shaping stroke recovery and how existing structures can be modified. Second, the concept of affordances in relation to structures within the environment, issues of affordability and accessibility of assistive devices for individuals in LMIC are discussed.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: Stroke recovery involves adapting to new limitations and discovering the support necessary to live life. These changes are influenced by a range of environmental factors. Healthcare professionals need to support stroke patients in identifying challenges and work to find innovative ways to address them. Stroke survivors may benefit from the use of an assistive device beyond its clinical function to participate purposefully in activities of daily living. Implications for Rehabilitation Stroke is a cause of disability that limits everyday activities and reduces social participation. Assistive devices help achieve independence, social inclusion and shape stroke recovery. Individuals with disabilities in low and middle income countries often do not have access to assistive devices and resort to innovative solutions that are purpose built. Stroke recovery involves adapting to new limitations and discovering the support necessary to live life as best as possible.

Matched MeSH terms: Environment
Social attitudes, self-description and perceived reasons for using drugs: a survey of the secondary school population in Malaysia

Spencer C, Navaratnam V

Drug Alcohol Depend, 1980 Jun;5(6):421-7.
PMID: 7379698

The present paper is the third and concluding part of a study of the secondary school population of two of Malaysia's thirteen states, Penang and Selangor. Since completion of the two earlier papers, the research team has investigated the pattern and nature of drug use among the equivalent population in a third state, Kelantan, and has again found essentially the same pattern of results: youthful drug use is most clearly related to precocious self-assertion, and a set of beliefs and attitudes about drugs and drug taking, and is largely unrelated to indicators of social deprivation or personal problems. The significance of this repeated finding in Kelantan is that, in this much more rural and traditional state, adult and established patterns of drug use had historically differed considerably from those found in the two more urban and cosmopolitan states of Penang and Selangor. Our findings indicate that the new pattern of drug use by youth has transcended the older cultural differences between the states, and is in turn explained by a more universally familiar set of characteristics in adolescent development.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Environment*
Social background and attitudes towards drugs as predictors of drug use among Malaysian students

Spencer C, Navaratnam V

Drug Alcohol Depend, 1980 Jun;5(6):411-9.
PMID: 7379697

Those Malaysian secondary schoolchildren who have ever used an illicit drug do not differ significantly in terms of social class background, ethnicity or rural/urban location, from the majority of their contemporaries who have not used drugs. The cross-sectional data show a rapid secular trend towards the sexes being equally involved in drug use. Significant differences between ever and never users are, however, found in their attitudes towards drug taking and their beliefs about the properties of drugs, although both groups share the same rather negative image of the typical drug user. Thus, drug users have accepted some of the attitudes towards drug issues which are normative in the non-user group, whilst developing other attitudes which are consistent with their continuing use. It is argued that adolescent drug abuse in Malaysia is not to be linked specifically with social deprivation, but should be seen as being part of the life style of particular groups in all strata of society.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Environment*
Putting quality of life on the agenda

Kitatani K

Earthwatch, 1991;?(41):5-6.
PMID: 12284002

PIP: At the Population and Natural Resources Workshop of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) General Assembly in Perth, Australia, December 1990, population and quality of life issues were stressed as one of the central items to be placed on the 1992 Agenda of the UN Conference on Environment. The pace of environmental degradation is quickening, the causes are becoming more entrenched, and indecision will narrow our options. Poverty and population growth are making development unsustainable. Technological miracles will not appear to restore balance. Deforestation, soil erosion, decertification and loss of water resources are fueling urbanization. Therefore the World Commission on Environment and Development, known as the Brundtland Commission, ranks human resources development as a top priority in sustainable development and quality of life. Human resources can be improved by providing maternal and child care, family planning and improving the status of women. Successful family planning programs as seen in Thailand and Malaysia can show results very quickly once national population policies, institutions and capacity are in place.

Matched MeSH terms: Environment*
Living on the edge

Hinrichsen D

Earthwatch, 1989.
PMID: 12285899
Matched MeSH terms: Environment; Environmental Pollution*
A psychometric investigation of Brazilian Portuguese versions of the Caregiver Eating Messages Scale and Intuitive Eating Scale-2

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
The role of historical Persian gardens on the health status of contemporary urban residents: gardens and health status of contemporary urban residents

Rostami R, Lamit H, Khoshnava SM, Rostami R

Ecohealth, 2014 Sep;11(3):308-21.
PMID: 24859923 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-014-0939-6

The inherent economic and social challenges in major cities have been known to foster stress among the urban population. Frequent stress over long periods may well have serious damaging outcomes, resulting in ailments such as burnout syndrome, sleeplessness and exhaustion, depression, feelings of panic, among others. Therefore, providing access to resources that may enable people to cope with the stress of urban life has become a crucial phenomenon in the twentieth century. Increasing empirical evidence indicates that the presence of natural areas can contribute to enhancing the quality of life in many ways. This study examines two historical Persian gardens from the residents' perspective in well-known, historic cities of Iran: Isfahan and Kerman. The data were collected through questionnaires (n = 252), semi-structured interviews (n = 20), and visual observation techniques. The findings demonstrate that nature, diversity and the gardens' historical background, and coherence motivate the residents' frequent visits to the gardens, which help to address their social, psychological, and physical needs. In addition, the residents' involvements and the variety of experiences that occur in the gardens lead to the creation of deeper meanings and values associated with the gardens. Subsequently, these construct functional and emotional attachment that evokes a sense of place and identity and may contribute to society's health and well-being.

Matched MeSH terms: Environment
Can we predict ectotherm responses to climate change using thermal performance curves and body temperatures?

Sinclair BJ, Marshall KE, Sewell MA, Levesque DL, Willett CS, Slotsbo S, et al.

Ecol Lett, 2016 11;19(11):1372-1385.
PMID: 27667778 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12686

Thermal performance curves (TPCs), which quantify how an ectotherm's body temperature (Tb ) affects its performance or fitness, are often used in an attempt to predict organismal responses to climate change. Here, we examine the key - but often biologically unreasonable - assumptions underlying this approach; for example, that physiology and thermal regimes are invariant over ontogeny, space and time, and also that TPCs are independent of previously experienced Tb. We show how a critical consideration of these assumptions can lead to biologically useful hypotheses and experimental designs. For example, rather than assuming that TPCs are fixed during ontogeny, one can measure TPCs for each major life stage and incorporate these into stage-specific ecological models to reveal the life stage most likely to be vulnerable to climate change. Our overall goal is to explicitly examine the assumptions underlying the integration of TPCs with Tb , to develop a framework within which empiricists can place their work within these limitations, and to facilitate the application of thermal physiology to understanding the biological implications of climate change.

Matched MeSH terms: Environment
Fulltext Radiological hazard associated with amang processing industry in Peninsular Malaysia and its environmental impacts

Sanusi MSM, Ramli AT, Hashim S, Lee MH

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 2021 Jan 15;208:111727.
PMID: 33396058 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111727

Continuous depletion in tin productions has led to a newly emerging industry that is a tin by-product (amang) processing industry to harness mega tons of tin by-products produced in the past. Amang composed of profitable multi-heavy minerals and rare-earth elements. With poorly established safety and health practices in operating plant, amang poses extremely high radioactivity problem associated with high occupational ionizing radiation exposures to workers and continuously impacting the local environment with radioactive contamination from industrial effluent and solid waste into lithosphere and water bodies. The radioactivity level of 238U and 232Th series in the mineral varies from few hundreds up to ~200,000 and ~400,000 Bq kg-1 respectively and are potential to yield more than ~ 30,000 nGy h-1 of gamma (γ) radiation exposure to plant workers. The study found out that for 8 h of work time, a worker is estimated to receive an average effective dose of 0.1 mSv per day from external γ radiation source with a maximum up to 2 mSv per day for extreme exposure situation. Interferences of different exposure routes for examples inhalation of equivalent equilibrium concentration (ECC) of 222Rn and 220Rn progenies and airborne long-lived α particles from the dusty working environment could pose a higher total effective dose as much as 5 mSv per day and 115 mSv per year. The value is 5 times higher than the annual dose limit for designated radiation worker (20 mSv) in Peninsular Malaysia. The study found that 41% of the total received an effective dose received by a worker is contributed by 222Rn, 32% of airborne particulates and dust, 23% from external γ exposure and 4% from 220Rn. Based on radioecological risk assessment, the study found out that the aquatic environment is the highly exposed group to ionizing radiation from industrial effluent discharge and sand residues. With the impotent establishment of radiation protection in the industry, plus the country newly introduced long-term plan to revive tin mining as well as its accessory amang mineral, it is necessary for the government to harmonize current regulation to improve the worker safety and health as well as sustaining local environment.

Matched MeSH terms: Environment
Fulltext Environmental impacts, exposure pathways, and health effects of PFOA and PFOS

Wee SY, Aris AZ

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 2023 Nov 15;267:115663.
PMID: 37976959 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115663

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals that have been widely utilized in various industries since the 1940s, and have now emerged as environmental contaminants. In recent years, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) have been restricted and replaced with several alternatives. The high persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity of these substances have contributed to their emergence as environmental contaminants, and several aspects of their behavior remain largely unknown and require further investigation. The trace level of PFAS makes the development of a monitoring database challenging. Additionally, the potential health issues associated with PFAS are not yet fully understood due to ongoing research and inadequate evidence (experimental and epidemiological studies), especially with regard to the combined effects of exposure to PFAS mixtures and human health risks from drinking water consumption. This in-depth review offers unprecedented insights into the exposure pathways and toxicological impacts of PFAS, addressing critical knowledge gaps in their behaviors and health implications. It presents a comprehensive NABC-Needs, Approach, Benefits, and Challenges-analysis to guide future strategies for the sustainable monitoring and management of these pervasive environmental contaminants.

Matched MeSH terms: Environment
Fulltext Faculty development: mini-CEX as workplace-based assessment

Shahid Hassan

Education in Medicine Journal, 2011;3(1):12-21.
MyJurnal

Background: Competence-based curriculum has become the need of medical education to meet the objectives of institutions aiming to produce skilled physicians. To achieve the optimal competence and performance of graduates a number of traditional evaluation exercises have been practiced. Some of these e.g. OSCE although meet the acceptable standard of reliability and validity is the assessment done in a controlled environment. This leaves the room for performance-based assessment in real clinical situation such as mini clinical evaluation exercise (Mini-CEX). To practice and meet the challenges of Mini-CEX it is vital to undertake faculty development program with a comprehensively chalked down Mini-CEX protocol and its objectives to achieve the intended outcome. Objective: To undertake faculty development on Mini-CEX for its feasibility and acceptability as a method of formative assessment to evaluate the clinical competence of trainees in postgraduate program of Otolaryngology and Head-Neck Surgery. Method: 25 trainees from the four classes of master of surgery program of 2009 in Otolaryngology and Head-Neck Surgery (ORL-HNS) undertook Mini-CEX encounters and assessed by 9 supervisors in a 12-week period of study. Faculty development program was carried out through prior lectures deliberating on background, concept and procedure of Mini-CEX followed by demonstrations using video clip of Mini-CEX encounter recorded in own clinical environment. Students were also exposed to similar settings to take up the Mini-CEX encounter without any hesitation. Trainees were assessed in outpatient clinical setting. Program was evaluated for its feasibility and acceptability with respect to patient’s factors, clinical attributes, supervisor and trainee’s performance and their reported level of satisfaction.
Result: Faculty development and trainees orientation in Min-CEX was achieved as feasible and acceptable. Higher rating of satisfaction was reported by majority assessors and trainees as they found Mini-CEX acceptable for formative assessment. Among clinical skills highest rating was received in physical examination and lowest rating in therapeutic skills. Conclusion: A motivated faculty and organized approach towards a comprehensive knowledge on Mini-CEX for its background communication, demonstration of procedure and method to complete the rating forms is the useful guide to adopt Mini-CEX. The faculty and trainees in department of ORL-HNS found Mini-CEX as feasible and acceptable assessment tool to monitor educational activity of postgraduate program through performance-based evaluation in a real clinical situation.

Matched MeSH terms: Environment, Controlled

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