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Fulltext Effect of varying thickness properties of the slow release fertilizer films on morphology, biodegradability, urea release, soil health, and plant growth

Majeed Z, Nawazish S, Baig A, Akhtar W, Iqbal A, Muhammad Khan W, et al.

PLoS One, 2023;18(2):e0278568.
PMID: 36848343 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278568

Green biomass is a renewable and biodegradable material that has the potential use to trap urea to develop a high-efficiency urea fertilizer for crops' better performance. Current work examined the morphology, chemical composition, biodegradability, urea release, soil health, and plant growth effects of the SRF films subjected to changes in the thickness of 0.27, 0.54, and 1.03 mm. The morphology was examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy, chemical composition was analyzed by Infrared Spectroscopy, and biodegradability was assessed through evolved CO2 and CH4 quantified through Gas Chromatography. The chloroform fumigation technique was used for microbial growth assessment in the soil. The soil pH and redox potential were also measured using a specific probe. CHNS analyzer was used to calculate the total carbon and total nitrogen of the soil. A plant growth experiment was conducted on the Wheat plant (Triticum sativum). The thinner the films, the more they supported the growth and penetration of the soil's microorganisms mainly the species of fungus possibly due to the presence of lignin in films. The fingerprint regions of the infrared spectrum of SRF films showed all films in soil changed in their chemical composition due to biodegradation but the increase in the thickness possibly provides resistance to the films' losses. The higher thickness of the film delayed the rate and time for biodegradation and the release of methane gas in the soil. The 1.03 mm film (47% in 56 days) and 0.54 mm film (35% in 91 days) showed the slowest biodegradability as compared to the 0.27 mm film with the highest losses (60% in 35 days). The slow urea release is more affected by the increase in thickness. The Korsymer Pappas model with release exponent value of < 0.5 explained the release from the SRF films followed the quasi-fickian diffusion and also reduced the diffusion coefficient for urea. An increase in the pH and decrease in the redox potential of the soil is correlated with higher total organic content and total nitrogen in the soil in response to amending SRF films with variable thickness. Growth of the wheat plant showed the highest average plant length, leaf area index and grain per plant in response to the increase in the film's thickness. This work developed an important knowledge to enhance the efficiency of film encapsulated urea that can better slow the urea release if the thickness is optimized.

Matched MeSH terms: Motion Pictures as Topic*
Promoting Inter-Ethnic Understanding and Empathy Using a Round Table Cinema Activity with Malaysian Malay and Chinese Students

Swami V, Zahari HS, Mohd Khatib NA, Toh EKL, Barron D

Integr Psychol Behav Sci, 2020 06;54(2):416-437.
PMID: 31950435 DOI: 10.1007/s12124-020-09514-7

The Round Table Cinema Activity (RTCA) is an intervention designed to promote improved multicultural understanding by having different social identity groups watch a carefully-selected film and take part in repeated dialogic exchanges. Here, we examined the efficacy of the RTCA paradigm at improving inter-ethnic understanding and empathy among members of different social identity groups from the same country (i.e., Malaysian Malays and Chinese). A total of 87 participants completed a measure of ethnocultural empathy before and after the RTCA paradigm, which involved watching the film Sepet, taking part in group discussions, and answering open-ended question about their experiences. Analyses of written responses suggested that the RTCA was successful at promoting intergroup dialogue and exchange of ideas. Analyses of quantitative data suggested significant and large improvements in ethnocultural empathy at post-intervention. Our findings suggest that the RTCA paradigm may be a useful tool for promoting inter-ethnic harmony in the Malaysian context.

Matched MeSH terms: Motion Pictures as Topic*
Tobacco Imagery in the 50 Most Popular Malaysian Movies Released During 2015-2019

Billy TJ, Sreeramareddy CT, Oo PS, Aye SN

Nicotine Tob Res, 2024 Mar 22;26(4):508-511.
PMID: 37819726 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntad198

INTRODUCTION: Exposure to tobacco imagery creates a positive impression about smoking and is associated with youth smoking uptake.
METHODS: From the list of movies released during 2015-2019, we selected the top 10 movies per year rated by the Malaysian Film Development Corporation. Two researchers coded tobacco imagery in each movie considering 5-minute time intervals as a unit. The 5-minute interval coding was adopted from previous research for comparability. Frequencies and the average occurrence of tobacco imagery were compared by movie language, genre, and age categorization.
RESULTS: In 50 movies analyzed, there were a total of 1037 five-minute intervals of which 26 (52%) movies and 277 (26.7%) of intervals tobacco imagery were present. Brand appearances were absent and health warnings about tobacco use were present in just one movie. The proportions of intervals containing actual use, paraphernalia, and implied use were 63.5%, 22.0%, and 14.5%. Tobacco imagery of actual use, paraphernalia, and implied use was present in 25, 20, and 10 movies, respectively. In those movies with tobacco imagery, the average number of occurrences of actual use, paraphernalia, and implied use was 3 (interquartile range [IQR] 2-11.5), 2.5 (IQR 1.3-4.0), and 1 (IQR 1-4), respectively. Movies classified as "p13" (median 6, IQR 6-13) and "18" (median 5, IQR 0-15) had higher average occurrences of tobacco imagery than "U" movies (median 0, IQR 0-2; p = .028).
CONCLUSIONS: The lack of health warnings despite the presence of tobacco imagery in Malaysian movies calls for measures to regulate tobacco-related content and reclassify such movies as "for adults-only."
IMPLICATIONS: Tobacco imagery was prevalent in Malaysian movies that are allowed viewing by individuals aged 13 years and above. A review of the age categorization of Malaysian movies and the placement of health warnings in movies is needed. A comprehensive implementation of the ban on tobacco advertisements, promotion, and sponsorship should also include a ban on tobacco imagery in movies.

Matched MeSH terms: Motion Pictures as Topic*
Films that deliver

Shetty P

Lancet, 2013 May 18;381(9879):1709-10.
PMID: 23691551
Matched MeSH terms: Motion Pictures as Topic*
Fulltext Exposure to simulated nature promotes positive body image irrespective of the presentation modality: A comparison of images, 2-dimensional film, and 360° immersive film

Swami V, Graf HM, Biebl S, Schmid T, Siebenhandl A, Willinger D, et al.

Body Image, 2024 Dec;51:101803.
PMID: 39490064 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101803

Previous studies have shown that exposure to simulated natural environments can elevate state body appreciation, but stimulus sets have been limited to the use of images and 2-dimensional (2D) film. To extend this work, we examined the relative impact of images, 2D film, and a 360° immersive film on immediate, state body appreciation. A total of 136 German-speaking adults from Austria (71.3 % women; age range 18-69 years) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions, in which they viewed an image set, a 2D film, or a 360° film depicting the same natural environment. Before and after viewing the stimuli, they completed measures of state body appreciation, affect, and desire for aesthetics. Our results showed that state body appreciation improved in all three conditions, with effect sizes ranging from Cohen's d = 0.26 (2D film) to 0.52 (360° film). Presentation modality did not significantly shape improvements in state body appreciation; that is, the elevation in state body appreciation was equivalent across all three groups. Participants also experienced improvements in feelings of pleasantness, but again this was independent of the experimental group. These results suggest exposure to simulated nature may improve state body appreciation irrespective of the presentation modality.

Matched MeSH terms: Motion Pictures as Topic*
Malaysian medical students' perceptions of a film to promote psychiatry as a career

Vasudevan U, Bharathy A, Jun Min K, Panikulam JJ, Saleem F, Hassali A, et al.

Australas Psychiatry, 2015 Apr;23(2):173-6.
PMID: 25676216 DOI: 10.1177/1039856214568221

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate perceptions of a Royal College of Psychiatrists promotional film among Malaysian medical students.
METHODS: Year 3 (n=108) and Year 5 (n=108) students completed separate standard measures of attitudes to psychiatry: the ATP 30 and Balon scales, respectively. A questionnaire was also administered recording students' socio-demographic information, career preferences, perceptions of the film's effectiveness and its influence on career choice. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of responses were performed.
RESULTS: The overall response rate was 95.5%. Mean career preference ranking for psychiatry was higher for Year 5 than for Year 3 (p=0.025). For most Year 3 (64.8%) and Year 5 (58.3%) respondents the film conveyed a positive image of psychiatry. Fewer perceived it as influencing career choice: 31.4% for Year 3 and 27.2% for Year 5. Higher scores on both attitudinal scales correlated positively with increasing likelihood of students rating the film positively (Year 3: p=0.000; Year 5: p=0.003). Thematic content analysis suggested possible socio-cultural influences on students' perceptions.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite conveying a positive image of psychiatry, promotional films may have limited impact in changing students' attitudes towards psychiatry and in increasing interest in psychiatry as a career.
KEYWORDS: attitudes; medical students; psychiatry; stigma and discrimination; transcultural psychiatry

Matched MeSH terms: Motion Pictures as Topic*
Fulltext A novel state space reduction algorithm for team formation in social networks

Rehman MZ, Zamli KZ, Almutairi M, Chiroma H, Aamir M, Kader MA, et al.

PLoS One, 2021;16(12):e0259786.
PMID: 34855771 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259786

Team formation (TF) in social networks exploits graphs (i.e., vertices = experts and edges = skills) to represent a possible collaboration between the experts. These networks lead us towards building cost-effective research teams irrespective of the geolocation of the experts and the size of the dataset. Previously, large datasets were not closely inspected for the large-scale distributions & relationships among the researchers, resulting in the algorithms failing to scale well on the data. Therefore, this paper presents a novel TF algorithm for expert team formation called SSR-TF based on two metrics; communication cost and graph reduction, that will become a basis for future TF's. In SSR-TF, communication cost finds the possibility of collaboration between researchers. The graph reduction scales the large data to only appropriate skills and the experts, resulting in real-time extraction of experts for collaboration. This approach is tested on five organic and benchmark datasets, i.e., UMP, DBLP, ACM, IMDB, and Bibsonomy. The SSR-TF algorithm is able to build cost-effective teams with the most appropriate experts-resulting in the formation of more communicative teams with high expertise levels.

Matched MeSH terms: Motion Pictures as Topic
Fulltext EEG based evaluation of stereoscopic 3D displays for viewer discomfort

Malik AS, Khairuddin RN, Amin HU, Smith ML, Kamel N, Abdullah JM, et al.

Biomed Eng Online, 2015;14:21.
PMID: 25886584 DOI: 10.1186/s12938-015-0006-8

Consumer preference is rapidly changing from 2D to 3D movies due to the sensational effects of 3D scenes, like those in Avatar and The Hobbit. Two 3D viewing technologies are available: active shutter glasses and passive polarized glasses. However, there are consistent reports of discomfort while viewing in 3D mode where the discomfort may refer to dizziness, headaches, nausea or simply not being able to see in 3D continuously.

Matched MeSH terms: Motion Pictures as Topic*