This study explores whether differences in levels of psychological well-being exist between the Orang Asli in Pertak and those in Gerachi Jaya. Field studies were conductecl on orang Asli in both these villages by using structured interviews. Psychological well-being questionnaires were modified by the researcher based on the Psychological Well-being Scale (Ryff 1989). Psychological well-being was measured in terms of autonomy, control environment, personal development and positive relationships. This study involved 40 Orang Asli from Gerachi City and 35 Orang Asli from Pertak. Data were analyzed with SPSS software using t-tests. Results show that the levels of psychological well-being between the two groups were not significantly different (t= 0.339, k> 0.05). Implications are also discussed.
Leptospermum flavescens, commonly known as ‘Gelam bukit’ has been used by the Malays as traditional plants in Malaysia for antidiabetic treatment. However, at this moment there is no scientific evidence and data available to validate such claim. In the present study, the aqueous extract of leaves and stems were studied for its antidiabetic activity. The total phenols and flavonoids were determined and correlated with antidiabetic activity. The detection of aqueous leaves extract with LCMS/MS showed the presence of flavonoids aromadendrin glucoside, kaempferol rhamnoside, quercetin rhamnoside and vindoline. The extract has significantly inhibited glycogen phosphorylase at 85% with IC50 = 0.18 mg/mL. In the alloxan induced diabetic rats showed that extract at 500 mg/kg decreased significantly fasting plasma glucose level by 61.9% (p<0.001) on the 20th day as compared to diabetic control. The treatment with Leptospermum flavescens at 500 mg/kg showed that it decreased the total cholesterol and triglycerides but restored the HDL level. The high antidiabetic activity was correlated with high total phenol at 1.57±0.01 GAE/g and total flavonoids at 1.41±0.01 mg QE/g. Thus, the high antidiabetic activity of the aqueous leaves extract attributed due to the presence of aromadendron glucoside, kaempferol rhamnoside, quercetin rhamnoside and vindoline in aqueous extract of Leptospermum flavescens.
1Malaysia concept was introduced by Datuk Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak on April 3, 2009 with the theme, "People First, Achievement Is Priority", 1Malaysia seen as an attempt to foster unity among the various races in Malaysia with 8 important values as the catalyst for social transformation that leads to the growth and well-being of people. This descriptive study was conducted to investigate the source and extent of the understanding of 1Malaysia concept among the three groups of primary school (n = 100), secondary school (n = 100) and university students (n = 98). Data were collected through a survey method with the use of a set of questionnaires and were then analysed with SPSS software. The results showed that the main source of this concept for all three groups of students is through television, followed by the newspaper. For the understanding of the concept, it was found that almost 70% of the respondents do understand some basic aspects related to it. However, there are still aspects which respondents still do not know about. Thus there is a need for the educators to play an important role to explain in detail to the students so that the concept can be understood and appreciated, and that it is not misinterpreted to cause negative impact on race relations in Malaysia.
Throughout the years, the construction industry has made an important contribution to the Malaysian economy. Moreover, the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006–2010) has also played a significant role in the demands of executing major residential housing project developments where it has been observed that construction waste was one of the priority waste streams. Due to the increasing number in the population that is actively involved in economic activities, and the modernization of the country, the types of construction waste that are being produced, and identifying the source such as waste are becoming more complex. Therefore, appropriate actions and approaches are needed to be taken with respect to its effective management in handling the solid waste from construction sites. This paper is intended to review the issues and the challenges enclosed within the supply chain management mechanisms in order for improving construction waste management. Throughout this review, useful information and better understanding concerning the current issues, challenges and the supply chain management mechanisms would be made inclusive in the field to be explored. The findings would also assist in improving the quality and awareness on the construction waste management that is being practiced.
Nowadays, construction and demolition waste has become a major issue to environmental problems faced by many countries. This concern comes from the inefficiencies of waste management which includes the waste generated from construction and demolition activities. In Malaysia, there is a lack of database records on construction waste and this has affected proper management planning of the waste. As there is a lack of policy on construction waste management, control on construction waste disposal is very hazy and this has aggravated environmental problems and exhausted landfill usage and increased illegal dumping. This paper reviews the critical issues on construction waste management and also discusses several estimation models on construction waste generation from several countries. Based on the review, most of the countries faced problems regarding construction waste management and the models developed were considered as one of the methods which could be adopted for better management of construction wastes.
This research was aimed to examine the ability of breadfruit OSA starch (BOSA) to stabilize fish and microalgae oil emulsions. Fifteen percent of BOSA or pre-heated BOSA (7.5%) and maltodextrin (7.5%), or mixture of unheated BOSA (7.5%) and maltodextrin (7.5%) were used to stabilize 10% fish and microalgae oils. Characterization of native starch and BOSA included measurement of moisture, starch and amylose content, degree of substitution (DS), emulsification capacity, starch microstructure and thermal properties. The emulsion stability was monitored by emulsification index (EI), mean droplet size (D32), microstructure using photomicroscope and Peroxide Value (PV). Modification of starch (DS, 0.0243) caused decreasing in starch and amylose content to 75.34% and 27.62%, respectively. Starch thermal properties also decreased the onset temperature to 71.23°C (BOSA). Emulsions prepared with pre-heated mixture of BOSA and maltodextrin both in fish and microalgae oils have the smallest droplet size (D32 4.45 ± 0.09 µm and 3.54 ± 0.22 µm, respectively). Microalgae oil emulsions showed significantly (p
This cross-sectional study examined the influence of illness perception of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in end
stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on either hemodialysis (HD) or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).
The Short Form-36 (SF-36) was used to measure HRQoL which comprised the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and
Mental Component Summary (MCS). Illness perception was evaluated using Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire
(IPQ-R). Both questionnaires were administered on 183 HD and 93 CAPD patients. The results showed that almost all
HRQoL subscales except physical functioning and bodily pain were found to be significantly different between HD and
CAPD patients. There are significant correlations between most components of illness perception with HRQoL. Significant
illness perception predictors of PCS among HD patients were time line, consequences, cyclical and identity, whereas on
CAPD patients were time line, illness coherence, emotional, cyclical and identity. Significant illness perception predictors
of MCS among HD patients included time line, cyclical and identity and only time line was significant predictor of MCS on
CAPD patients. These should be considered when developing intervention programmes to improve their HRQoL.
In the past decade, numerous studies on mood problems following stroke have emerged with an emphasis on posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This systematic review is intended to investigate the relationship between stroke and PTSS. We searched the following databases: SCOPUS, ISI Web of Knowledge, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CIHANL, AMED and PsyhINFO and retrieved the relevant titles and abstracts. Cross-sectional, longitudinal and predictive studies were included. These studies included patients of any age and of either gender with a diagnosis of stroke who were screened for PTSD or PTSS and must be written in English. A total of 108 articles were retrieved from the search. After reviewing the titles and abstracts, 104 were excluded for not meeting the predetermined inclusion criteria. A total of four studies were considered for this review. The results showed that 21%-31% of stroke patients experienced PTSS and 9.8% met the criteria for PTSD. Therefore, it is important to study PTSS in stroke patients since its would be interesting to define its role in the prediction of recovery from stroke.
ocial appearance is common among university students in Malaysia. In this study, we examine the reliability and validity of the SAAS in a sample of university students in Malaysia. This study aims to examine internal consistency and to validate the social appearance anxiety scale for Malaysian university students. Using a systematic random sampling, a set of questions was distributed to 400 academic college residents of a public university in Malaysia with a response rate of 86%. The student participants completed the social appearance anxiety scale, the social interaction anxiety scale, the brief fear of negative evaluation scale, and the general health questionnaire. The internal consistency of questions within the social appearance anxiety scale was 0.92. The social appearance anxiety scale had good convergent validity with the social interaction anxiety scale (r=0.55), the brief fear of negative evaluation (r=0.69, p
There has been extensive research to look at the pharmacological effects on immediate recovery after stroke. However, there is lack of research to investigate the contributions of other effects that influence recovery after stoke. The study aims is to determine the extent of psychological factors such as illness representations, perceived control, psychological distress and posttraumatic stress symptoms in predicting recovery from disability following stroke. A cross sectional and longitudinal study with two times lines (six weeks and six months post−stroke) will be conducted in this study. It will consists of 180 patients from UKM Medical Centre. The idea of enhancing recovery from disability through the usage of psychological variables is important to assist recovery despite depending on a fully medical approach. Hence, it will provide information to the healthcare services and the government to improve the services and treatment intervention of the stroke sufferers.
Thirteen formulations of cinnamaldehyde/non-ionic surfactant/water system nanoemulsions were prepared using highpressure homogenisation. The result showed that varying the cinnamaldehyde/surfactant ratio had effect significantly
(p<0.05) to mean droplet diameter, polidispersity index, ζ-potential, turbidity and whiteness index, while no significant
effect (p>0.05) to viscosity. The mean droplet diameter ranged from 50.48 to 106.4 nm, polydispersity index from 0.06 to
0.28 and ζ-potential from -4.11 to -6.98 mV. The smallest droplet size was produced using 5% cinnamaldehyde and 5%
Tween 80. Response surface for droplet diameter showed that the higher the cinnamaldehyde and surfactant concentrations,
the larger the droplet diameter, polydispersity index and whiteness index. However, the ζ-potential increased as the
cinnamaldehyde concentration decreased and Tween 80 increased. Increasing the cinnamaldehyde concentration led
to an increase in turbidity. Formulation of 5% cinnamaldehyde and 6.23% Tween 80 gave no observable separation of
the nanoemulsion with minimum droplet size, polidispersity index, viscosity, turbidity, whiteness index and maximum
ζ-potential in modulus. The stability of the optimum formulation was sustained for 10 days upon storage at 4°C. The
values of droplet diameter, PDI and ζ-potential were 55.50 nm, 0.08 and -5.38 mV, respectively.
Schizophrenia which is perhaps the most disabling and puzzling form of a mental disorder is often conceptualized as 'gila' (lunacy or madness) by the Malaysian society. The debilitating nature of the disorder and recurrent relapse of its psychotic episodes have often been misunderstood and lead to confusion among the family members, who play the role as primary caregivers. While expressed emotion (EE) has been widely studied in the Western world, it is not well understood in Malaysia.
This paper presents the synthesis and characterization of monometallic and bimetallic cobalt and iron nanoparticles supported on alumina. The catalysts were prepared by a wet impregnation method. Samples were characterized using temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO), CO-chemisorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM-EDX) and N2-adsorption analysis. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) was carried out in a fixed-bed microreactor at 543 K and 1 atm, with H2/CO = 2 v/v and space velocity, SV = 12L/g.h. The physicochemical properties and the FTS activity of the bimetallic catalysts were analyzed and compared with those of monometallic cobalt and iron catalysts at similar operating conditions.H2-TPR analysis of cobalt catalyst indicated three temperature regions at 506°C (low), 650°C (medium) and 731°C (high). The incorporation of iron up to 30% into cobalt catalysts increased the reduction, CO chemisorption and number of cobalt active sites of the catalyst while an opposite trend was observed for the iron-riched bimetallic catalysts. The CO conversion was 6.3% and 4.6%, over the monometallic cobalt and iron catalysts, respectively. Bimetallic catalysts enhanced the CO conversion. Amongst the catalysts studied, bimetallic catalyst with the composition of 70Co30Fe showed the highest CO conversion (8.1%) while exhibiting the same product selectivity as that of monometallic Co catalyst. Monometallic iron catalyst showed the lowest selectivity for C5+ hydrocarbons (1.6%).
Environmental sustainability is one of the contemporary discourses that has abundant values embedded in the Quran and Sunnah teachings. Islam gives great emphasis on environment as it is preserved and protected under the Maqasid al-Shariah (Objectives of the Islamic Law). The general outlook of Quranic paradigm on utilizing natural environment is based on prohibition of aggression and misuse. It is likewise founded on the construction and sustainable use. Thus, this article attempts to elaborate key concepts of the Quran and Sunnah teachings that reveal imperative values for environmental sustainability. Research method employs in this paper is an analytical study of Quranic verses with special highlights of tafsir bi al-ma'thur (explanation based upon traditions), tafsir bi al-ra'yi (explanation based on reasoning), and historical narrative. In short, this paper brings to light the relevance of classical and contemporary works of Quran and Sunnah studies that have meticulous values for shaping the better world of human-nature's interaction.
This study was carried out to identify the differences of emotional intelligence and religious orientation between students in government secondary schools and religious secondary schools. This study involved 224 respondents that were chosen via purposive sampling technique. The emotional intelligence questionnaire used in this study was based on Bar-On’s emotional intelligence theory while religious orientation was measured using the Religion Orientation Scale. Data collected were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 19.0. T-test was used to observe the differences of emotional intelligence and religious orientation between students in government secondary schools and religious secondary schools. The results showed that there were differences in emotional intelligence but no difference was found in religious orientation between students from government secondary schools and religious secondary schools.
Kemahiran keibubapaan, kefungsian keluarga dan kesejahteraan psikologi dalam kalangan ibubapa adalah tiga aspek yang sangat penting untuk menjamin kesejahteraan sesebuah keluarga. Kajian dalam kalangan 187 orang ibu dan bapa ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti tahap kemahiran keibubapaan dan kefungsian keluarga serta hubungan antara kedua pemboleh ubah ini. Selain daripada itu hubungan antara kefungsian keluarga dengan kesejahteraan psikologi juga dikaji. Perbezaan antara jantina bagi ketiga-tiga pemboleh ubah tersebut juga dikaji. Dapatan menunjukkan terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara kemahiran keibubapaan dengan kefungsian keluarga, serta kefungsian keluarga dengan kesejahteraan psikologi. Manakala ujian t pula menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan kemahiran keibubapaan antara lelaki dengan wanita, tetapi tidak terdapat perbezaan dari aspek kefungsian keluarga dan kesejahteraan psikologi. Implikasi kajian ini menunjukkan kepentingan kemahiran keibubapaan dan kefungsian keluarga dalam mencapai kesejahteraan psikologi.
Introduction: Research on depression in local patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is sparse. Thus, this study aims to examine the frequency and severity of depression among ESRD patients and relate depression with their coping skills.
Methods: A cross-sectional study using universal sampling method was conducted at several dialysis centers in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Johor, Malaysia. The Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and the Brief COPE scale were used to measure depression and coping skill, respectively.
Results: The study involved 274 ESRD patients, comprising of 183 hemodialysis and 91 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients. The result showed that 21.1% of the patients experienced moderate to severe depression. Several components of coping skill were associated with depression. However, only two components in the Brief COPE (behavioral disengagement and self-blame) were identified as predictors.
Discussion: This study showed that depression is common in ESRD patients and is related to the types of coping skills adopted by patients. Hence, this study provides some insight into ESRD patients with depression. Appropriate counseling should be given to these patients to empower them to cope with the illness so as to enhance their quality of life.
Anxiety disorders are subjective feelings about mental tension as a general reaction and inability to overcome a problem or feeling insecure. SEFT (Spiritual Emotional Freedom Technique) is a combined therapy of Spiritual Power Energy, Psychology, and Spiritual. The ability to change a person's emotional state into relaxation is used as an additional intervention for NAPZA residents who are undergoing drug rehabilitation. This study aimed to determine the effect of SEFT therapy with a decrease in anxiety levels toward NAPZA residents. This research method uses a pre-experimental quantitative design. The approach used is one-group pre-post-test design. The sampling technique is consecutive sampling with a sample of 18 respondents. The results showed that there was an effect of SEFT therapy with a decrease in anxiety level toward NAPZA residents with the value of <0.001. SEFT interventions could reduce anxiety levels toward NAPZA residents. It can be used as an additional therapy for the treatment of disease without interfering with medical treatment because health workers, families, and the general public can do it. This therapy is straightforward to do cheap and practical.
The present study is among the first to investigate the neighbourhood assets and best friend attachment within a context of emotions among youth in a disadvantaged community in Kuala Lumpur. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to examine the positive and negative emotions in relation to neighborhood assets and best friend attachment in youth, who are living in communities known to have high levels of exposure to violence and to determine these factors as predictors of positive emotion and negative emotion. Using a convenience sampling technique, a total of 448 participants from lowincome apartments in Kuala Lumpur, aged 13–24 years old were asked to complete a set of standardized questionnaires to measure neighbourhood assets, best friend attachment, and positive emotion and negative emotion. Multiple regression analysis revealed that two factors are the most significant predictors of positive emotion while four factors are the most significant predictors of negative emotion. The results suggested that the presence predictors of positive
This study examines how Salat (prayer) in Islam moderates the relationship between job stress and life satisfaction among Muslim nursing staff. The researchers sampled 335 nursing staff employed at the University of Malaya Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Their ages ranged from 21 to 60 years. The findings indicate the job stress was associated negatively with life satisfaction; there is a strong positive and significant correlation, respectively, between Salat and life satisfaction and that Salat reduces stress and increases the life satisfaction of Muslim nurses. Thus, Salat has a moderating effect on job stress and life satisfaction of Muslim nurses.