Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate scuba diving induced exercise response in novice divers as required in open water scuba diving certification.
Methods: Maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) was performed in 30 novice divers before and within 24 hours after a standard scuba diving open water certification diving protocol of four open water dives.
Results: A significant increase in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) in mL·kg-1·min-1 after scuba diving training [25.84 (6.0) vs. 27.04 (7.0)] (p
Structural and dielectric properties of barium strontium, titanate (Ba(ÿ)SrxTiO$) ceramics with x—
0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 were investigated. The Ba(i-xjSrxTiOs ceramics were synthesised by solid state
reaction method. Microstructure, surface morphology and dielectric properties of the synthesised
ceramics were examined using XRD, SEM and Impedance Spectroscopy respectively. XRD results
revealed that all samples contained BaTiOg as primary phase with tetragonal perovskite crystal
structure. The crystallite size slightly increased with the increasing of Sr contents. SEM micrographs
showed that the microstructure become denser when Sr contents increased. Impedance spectroscopy
showed dielectric constant for all samples were decreased with increasing temperature up to 200°C.
The pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought much fear and anxiety
worldwide due to the rapid transmission rate and mortality. The exponential surge of COVID19 cases need to be addressed aggressively to flatten the epidemic curve. This review aims to
describe the COVID-19 disease epidemiology and disease transmission, response actions
taken by the authorities to control this pandemic and risk communication strategies in Malaysia.
A literature search via the ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases of published articles
and official statements from the Ministry of Health, Malaysia from December 2019 to May 2020
was conducted. The first wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia started in late January
involving 22 cases but the second wave involved more cases due to the massive religious
gathering that occurred in late February. Malaysia implemented the Movement Control Order
(MCO) on 18th March 2020 and other well-coordinated response action plans to prevent
community transmission. The reproduction number (R0) was successfully reduced from 3.6 to
0.3 due to the MCO. Malaysia’s risk communication strategies that include daily press
conference by the Director General of Health and dissemination of information through national
television and social media, played a crucial role in dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak. In
conclusion, effective response actions and mitigation plans, should be the main priorities to
combat this pandemic. The immediate direction will need to be focused on development of
vaccines for COVID-19. Future research should study the origin of the virus in animals and the
role of comorbidities contributing to poorer prognosis.