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The effect of mobile messaging apps on cardiac patient knowledge of coronary artery disease risk factors and adherence to a healthy lifestyle
No full textAims: To determine the effect mobile messaging apps on coronary artery disease patient knowledge of and adherence to a healthy lifestyle. Background: Due to the increasing incidence of coronary artery disease in recent years, interventions targeting coronary artery disease risk factors are urgent public priorities. The use of mobile technology in healthcare services and medical education is relatively new with promising future prospects. Design: This study used a quasiexperimental design that included pre- and posttest for intervention and control groups. Methods: The study was conducted from January–April 2017 with both intervention and control groups, in a teaching hospital in Klang Valley. Convenience sampling was used with inclusive criteria in choosing the 94 patients with coronary artery disease (intervention group: 47 patients; control group: 47 patients). The pretest was conducted as a baseline measurement for both groups before they were given standard care from a hospital. However, only the intervention group was given a daily information update via WhatsApp for 1 month. After 1 month, both groups were assessed with a posttest. Results: The split-plot ANOVA analysis indicates that there is a significant and positive effect of the intervention on coronary artery disease patients’ knowledge on coronary artery disease risk factors [F(1, 92) = 168.15, p < 0.001] with a large effect size (np 2 = 0.65). The mobile messaging apps also significantly improve the patients’ adherence to a healthy lifestyle [F(1, 92) = 83.75, p < 0.001] with a large effect size (np 2 = 0.48). Conclusion: This study concluded that WhatsApp was an effective health intervention in increasing coronary artery disease patient's knowledge and subsequently increasing their adherence to healthy lifestyles. Relevance to clinical practice: In clinical setting, mobile messaging apps are useful in information delivery and efficient patient monitory
Reliability and Validity of the Short Falls Efficacy Scale International in English, Mandarin, and Bahasa Malaysia in Malaysia
No full textWhile the prevalence of falls among Malaysian older adults is comparable to other older populations around the world, little is currently known about fear of falling in Malaysia. The Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) and short FES-I scales to measure fear of falling have not yet been validated for use within the Malaysian population, and are currently not available in Bahasa Malaysia (BM). A total of 402 participants aged ≥63 years were recruited. The questionnaire was readministered to 149 participants, 4 to 8 weeks after the first administration to determine test–retest reliability. The original version of the 7-item short FES-I is available in English, while the Mandarin was adapted from the 16-item Mandarin FES-I. The BM version was translated according to protocol by four experts. The internal structure of the FES-I was examined by factor analysis. The 7-item short FES-I showed good internal reliability and test–retest reliability for English, Mandarin, and BM versions for Malaysia
Comparison of detection limit in fiber-based conventional, amplified, and gain-clamped cavity ring-down techniques
No full textRelative performance and detection limit of conventional, amplified, and gain-clamped cavity ring-down techniques (CRDT) in all-fiber configurations are compared experimentally for the first time. Refractive index measurement using evanescent field in tapered fibers is used as a benchmark for the comparison. The systematic optimization of a nested-loop configuration in gain-clamped CRDT is also discussed, which is crucial for achieving a constant gain in a CRDT experiment. It is found that even though conventional CRDT has the lowest standard error in ring-down time (Δτ), the value of ring-down time (τ) is very small, thus leading to poor detection limit. Amplified CRDT provides an improvement in τ, albeit with two orders of magnitude higher Δτ due to amplifier noise. The nested-loop configuration in gain-clamped CRDT helps in reducing Δτ by an order of magnitude as compared to amplified CRDT whilst retaining the improvement in τ. A detection limit of 1.03×10−4 RIU at refractive index of 1.322 with a 3 mm long and 4.5 μm diameter tapered fiber is demonstrated with the gain-clamped CRDT
Ultrafast mode-locked dual-wavelength thulium-doped fiber laser using a Mach-Zehnder interferometric filter
No full textA simple and robust method to generate a dual-wavelength mode-locked laser using a tunable Mach-Zehnder filter (TMZF) and a single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) based saturable absorber (SA) is proposed and demonstrated. The proposed laser uses a thulium-doped fiber for lasing in the two-micron region and exploits the interferometric spectrum of the TMZF to produce dual peaks with nearly equal magnitude. SWCNT based SA enables mode-locking at a threshold value of 150.4 mW with distinct dual-wavelength peaks at 1919.2 nm and 1963.7 nm. The peaks have a calculated pulse width of 1.8 ps and 1.6 ps, respectively with a repetition rate of 9.1 MHz with a relatively high optical-signal-to-noise ratio value of 59.1 dB. The output is also observed to remain unchanged over time, indicating high stability. The proposed laser has a promising application, particularly in ultrafast gas molecular spectroscopy and sensing
An electrochemical sensing platform of cobalt oxide@gold nanocubes interleaved reduced graphene oxide for the selective determination of hydrazine
No full textReduced graphene oxide-cobalt oxide nanocube@gold (rGO-Co3O4@Au) nanocomposite was prepared using a one-pot hydrothermal synthesis. The nanocomposite was characterized using the UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman analyses. The EDX mapping analysis showed the uniform distribution of Au nanoparticles on the Co3O4 surface that made the surface more roughness. The higher degree of reduction of GO was confirmed from the increased intensity ratio of the D and G bands (ID/IG) of the Raman spectrum during the hydrothermal synthesis. The rGO-Co3O4@Au nanocomposite exhibited good electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of hydrazine in phosphate buffer (pH 7.2). The detection of hydrazine was carried out using amperometry technique and the current response was linear in the range of 10–620 μM. The limit of detection was found to be 0.443 μM. The selectivity of the nanocomposite for the sensing of hydrazine was studied with the interferents such as NO3 −, SO4 2−, Cl−, Ag+, Na+, K+, ethanol, 4-nitrophenol, ascorbic acid and glucose. The sensing of different concentration of hydrazine present in the real water samples was analysed and an appreciable recovery was found
Analisis Terhadap Aset Sandaran Alternatif bagi Penerbitan Sukuk Jangka Pendek oleh International Islamic Liquidity Management (IILM) (Analysis of alternative underlying asset in short term Sukuk Issuance by International Islamic Liquidity Management (IILM))
No full textUnderlying asset is vital in sukuk issuance. However, physical underlying asset may not be sufficient to issue sukuk regularly. This article intends to analyse the alternative underlying assets for short-term sukuk issuance. A case study on short-term sukuk was conducted at a multilateral company known as the International Islamic Liquidity Management (IILM). By using the interview method, this research found that the usage of wakalah contract in the issuance of sukuk is the best way to reduce the usage of physical assets. Other alternatives which may be used to overcome the lack of the underlying assets is perhaps a light asset consists of air time and electricity tarif, private assets or micro financing or loose High Quality Liquid Asset (HQLA) term and conditions
A quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for detection of Getah virus
No full textGetah virus (GETV), a mosquito-borne alphavirus, is an emerging animal pathogen causing outbreaks among racehorses and pigs. Early detection of the GETV infection is essential for timely implementation of disease prevention and control interventions. Thus, a rapid and accurate nucleic acid detection method for GETV is highly needed. Here, two TaqMan minor groove binding (MGB) probe-based quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays were developed. The qRT-PCR primers and TaqMan MGB probe were designed based on the conserved region of nsP1 and nsP2 genes of 23 GETV genome sequences retrieved from GenBank. Only the qRT-PCR assay using nsP2-specific primers and probe detected all two Malaysia GETV strains (MM2021 and B254) without cross-reacting with other closely related arboviruses. The qRT-PCR assay detected as few as 10 copies of GETV RNA, but its detection limit at the 95% probability level was 63.25 GETV genome copies (probit analysis, P ≤ 0.05). Further validation of the qRT-PCR assay using 16 spiked simulated clinical specimens showed 100% for both sensitivity and specificity. In conclusion, the qRT-PCR assay developed in this study is useful for rapid, sensitive and specific detection and quantification of GETV
Hepatoprotectivity of Panduratin A against liver damage: In vivo demonstration with a rat model of cirrhosis induced by thioacetamide
No full textThis experiment evaluated Panduratin A (PA), a chalcone isolated from Boesenbergia rotunda rhizomes, for its hepatoprotectivity. Rats were subjected to liver damage induced by intra-peritoneal injection of thioacetamide (TAA). PA was tested first for its acute toxicity and then administered by oral gavage at doses 5, 10, and 50 mg/kg to rats. At the end of the 8th week, livers from all rats were excised and evaluated ex vivo. Measurements included alkaline phosphatase (AP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), serum platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF-β1), and hepatic metalloproteinase enzyme (MMP-2) and its inhibitor extracellular matrix protein (TIMP-1). Oxidative stress was measured by liver malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrotyrosine levels, urinary 8-hydroxy 2- deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), and hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities. The immunohistochemistry of TGF-β1 was additionally performed. PA revealed safe dose of 250 mg/kg on experimental rats and positive effect on the liver. The results suggested reduced hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activity as verified from the attenuation of serum PDGF and TGF-β1, hepatic MMP-2 and TIMP-1, and oxidative stress. The extensive data altogether conclude that PA treatment could protect the liver from the progression of cirrhosis through a possible mechanism inhibiting HSCs activity
Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity of novel poly(silyl ether)s based on palm and soy oils
No full textIn this research, palm oil and soy oil were used as a natural polyol to prepare novel poly(silyl ether)s. Palm oil and soy oil were first converted to monoglyceride by one step via alcoholysis process in the presence of 0.1% CaO as a catalyst. The monoglycerides were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and iodine test. The novel poly(silyl ether)s were prepared via polycondensation reaction between dimethyldichlorosilane with monoglycerides based on palm and soy oils, respectively. FT-IR, NMR and silicone-29 ( 29 Si NMR) were used to confirm and determine the presence of silicone in the synthesized polymers. Thermal behavior was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Antibacterial activity of the polymers was screened against three different strains of bacteria, namely Escherichia coli E266, Staphylococcus aureus S276 and Salmonella choleeraesuis 10708
Synthesis of 1,3-benzoxazines Based on 2,4,4-trimethyl-7,2’,4’-trihydroxy Flavan: Antibacterial, Anti-inflammatory, Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibition and Molecular Modelling Studies
No full textBackground: In the present study, the formation of 2, 4, 4-trimethyl-7,2’4’-trihydroxy flavan has been used as the key feature for the formation of new 1,3-benzoxazines. This reaction was carried out via Mannich-condensation reaction, the 7-hydroxy group of flavan was reacted with different primary amines in the presence of formaldehyde. Methods: All the synthesized compounds were characterized on the basis of FT-IR, NMR, MS and elemental analysis (CHN). Disk diffusion and 96-well plate assay methods were employed for the zone of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentration determination, respectively to investigate the antibacterial activities. Results and Conclusion: Our studies showed that compound with electron withdrawing group on the benzene ring of 1,3-benzoxazines has promising antibacterial activities. An oral dose of 10 mg/kg body weight was administered to albino mice for acute toxicity of synthesized compounds. In vivo anti-inflammatory and in-vitro cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) studies showed that compound 11 was the most potent anti-inflammatory agent which inhibited induced edema by 62.7% while 68.7% inhibition of COX-2 was observed. The plausible binding mode of this compound in COX-2 enzyme was also determined using molecular docking simulations