19672 research outputs found
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Rare left-sided presentation of internal jugular vein ectasia in an adult
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What influences student nurses’ intention to work with older people? A cross-sectional study
No full textBackground: Studies have reported that student nurses hold positive attitudes towards older people; nevertheless, working with older people has consistently remained one of the least desired career choices among student nurses in most countries. Objectives: The current study aimed to assess student nurses’ intentions to work with older people and to determine the predictors of working intentions among nursing students. Design: The study adopted a cross-sectional design. Settings: Multistage sampling was used to recruit nursing students from five states in Malaysia. Participants: A total of 1462 nursing students from eleven nursing education institutions participated in this study. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. This study is underpinned by the Theory of Planned Behaviour. The Intent to Work with Older People Scale and Kogan Attitudes Toward Old People Scale were used to assess nursing students’ intentions and attitudes towards care of older people respectively. Researcher-developed instruments were used to assess subjective norms and perceived behavioural control among nursing students. Results: The present study found that nursing students in Malaysia demonstrated a moderate level of intention to work with older people, with a mean of 39.72 (±4.38). There were significant differences in effects of gender, ethnic group, academic level, type of nursing institution and setting of older person care clinical experience on intentions to work with older people. There was a moderate and positive relationship between attitudes towards older people and intentions to work with older people, as well as between perceived behavioural control and intentions to work with older people; it was found that r = 0.36 for both relationships. Attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control accounted for 19.7% of the variance in intentions to work with older people. Conclusion: The primary findings of this national study revealed that Malaysian nursing students have a moderate level of intention to work with older people. It is imperative to develop educational interventions to nurture attitudes for caring and promote stronger intentions to work with older people
Facile Intramolecular Cyclization of N -(2-Hydroxybenzoyl)hydrazones to N ,N′ -Diacetyl Benzo-1,3,4-oxadiazepine Derivatives
No full textA facile synthesis of seven-membered benzo-1,3,4-oxadiazepines through one-step intramolecular cyclization of N-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)hydrazones has been established. The catalytic and substituent effects on the reactivity of this intramolecular cyclization were investigated. Through this strategy, a series of benzo-1,3,4-oxadiazepine derivatives were prepared (with yields up to 83 %)
Awareness, Facilitators, and Barriers to Policy Implementation Related to Obesity Prevention for Primary School Children in Malaysia
No full textPurpose: To assess the awareness, facilitators, and barriers to policy implementation related to obesity prevention for primary school children. Design: A cross-sectional study administered using an online questionnaire. Setting: Conducted in 447 primary schools in a state in Malaysia. Participants: One school administrator from each school served as a participant. Measures: The questionnaires consisted of 32 items on awareness, policy implementation, and facilitators and barriers to policy implementation. Analysis: Descriptive analysis was used to describe the awareness, facilitators, and barriers of policies implementation. Association between schools’ characteristics and policy implementation was assessed using logistic regression. Results: The majority (90%) of school administrators were aware of the policies. However, only 50% to 70% of schools had implemented the policies fully. Reported barriers were lack of equipment, insufficient training, and limited time to complete implementation. Facilitators of policy implementation were commitment from the schools, staff members, students, and canteen operators. Policy implementation was comparable in all school types and locality; except the policy on “Food and Drinks sold at the school canteens” was implemented by more rural schools compared to urban schools (odds ratio: 1.74, 95% confidence interval: 1.13-2.69). Conclusion: Majority of the school administrators were aware of the existing policies; however, the implementation was only satisfactory. The identified barriers to policy implementation were modifiable and thus, the stakeholders should consider restrategizing plans in overcoming them
Antecedents of Consumer-Based Electronic Retail Brand Equity: An Integrated Model
No full textThe purpose of this study is to test and compare multiple conceptual models that examine the relationships among electronic retail (e-retail) service quality, trust, satisfaction, and consumer-based e-retail brand equity. A quantitative survey was conducted among Chinese online shoppers. The survey used established scales to measure constructs in the proposed models. Structural equation modelling (SEM) procedure was applied to test alternate models. The results confirmed that web design and customer service positively influence satisfaction, while fulfilment and security dimension of e-retail quality influence consumer trust. Both trust and satisfaction were found to be significant influencers of consumer-based e-retail brand equity. E-retailers can use this model to measure, monitor, and improve their consumer’s perceptions towards their brand. This study contributes to the existing literature that deals with antecedents of online consumer-based retail brand equity. It adds value by proposing and testing multiple models of online consumer-based brand equity which is rare in e-brand equity research
Doped silica fibre thermoluminescence measurements of radiation dose in the use of 223 Ra
No full textUsing tailor-made sub-mm dimension doped-silica fibres, thermoluminescent dosimetric studies have been performed for α-emitting sources of 223RaCl2 (the basis of the Bayer Healthcare product Xofigo®). The use of 223RaCl2 in the palliative treatment of bone metastases resulting from late-stage castration-resistant prostate cancer focuses on its favourable uptake in metabolically active bone metastases. Such treatment benefits from the high linear energy transfer (LET) and associated short path length (<100 µm) of the α-particles emitted by 223Ra and its decay progeny. In seeking to provide for in vitro dosimetry of the α-particles originating from the 223Ra decay series, investigation has been made of the TL yield of various forms of Ge-doped SiO2 fibres, including photonic crystal fibre (PCF) collapsed, PCF uncollapsed, flat and single-mode fibres. Irradiations of the fibres were performed at the UK National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Notable features are the considerable sensitivity of the dosimeters and an effective atomic number Zeff approaching that of bone, the glass fibres offering the added advantage of being able to be placed directly into liquid. The outcome of present research is expected to inform development of doped fibre dosimeters of versatile utility, including for applications as detailed herein
Fault-tolerant power extraction strategy for photovoltaic energy systems
No full textPhotovoltaic (PV) arrays are subject to various types of environmental disturbances and component-related faults that affect their normal operation and result in a considerable energy loss. The nonlinear current-voltage (I-V) characteristic curve of the PV array prevents the detection and isolation of the faults and also makes the tracking of the maximum power operating point (MPP) more difficult. Fault detection and identification (FDI) techniques methods have been proposed to detect the presence of faults and isolate them. Many maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods have been proposed to find the best operating point in the presence of disturbed environmental conditions. However, existing FDI methods do not consider the tracking of the MPP in faulted operating conditions, and available MPP tracking methods do not consider the occurrence of faults in the PV system. The objective of this study is to propose a fault-tolerant control (FTC) strategy to detect the presence of abnormal operating conditions and reconfigure the MPPT procedure to search for the new suboptimal operating point. The FDI method is based on monitoring the PV panel generated power for the presence of abrupt changes; the MPPT reconfiguration is based on a combination between Incremental Conductance (IncCond) Algorithm and an Improved Current-based Particle Swarm Optimization (ICPSO) tracking technique. Simulation and experimental results show an excellent performance of the proposed FTC method in the presence of various types of faults
Electrons Extraction from MWCNT/PEO Composites
No full textElectron field emission was investigated from multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)/polyethylene oxide (PEO) composites with (5, 15, 25, 33, 40 and 50wt.% of MWCNTs). The resulted samples were characterized using Raman spectroscopy to estimate The MWCNTs-PEO (Nanotubes-Polymer) interaction through the shifting or width alteration of the peaks. The SEM micrographs were issued to investigate the surface morphology of the samples. In addition, and in order to gain additional understanding of the filler content and the samples thermal stability; the TGA technique was applied. The current density versus applied electric field J(E) and current stability of the prepared composites were measured using a range of voltages. Here, the 33wt.% composite displayed the lowest turn on field of 6.51V/μm, whereas the highest current density achieved was 1.17mA/cm2 by the 40wt.% composite
Bundle of human resource practices and turnover intentions: Mediating role of affective commitment in hotel industry, Malaysia
No full textThe aim of this study is to test and propose a new framework that examines the three HR practices (motivation, empowerment and skills enhancing practices) with a mediating effect of affective commitment on turnover intentions. The novelty of this study is that it is the first study which examines the impact of three HR practices with its dimensions on turnover intentions along with the mediating effect of affective commitment. This study filled the gap and contributed by investigating the impact of such three HR practices which effect the employees' turnover intentions in Malaysian hotel industry. Data were gathered from a managerial level employees', with a sample of 401. In order to analyze the relationships, this study employed the structural equation modelling. Results portray that two HR practices (motivation and empowerment) are negatively associated with turnover intention while the third HR practice (Skills enhancing) is positively related with turnover intentions. The affective commitment fully mediates between Motivation and turnover intentions while, partially mediates the relationship between two HR practices (Empowerment, Skills) and turnover intentions. Thus, findings indicate that motivation and empowerment enhancing practices enhances the employees' retentions while skills enhancing practices ought to be properly analyzed before implementing as this could be proved as counterproductive for hotels. In addition, against this backdrop the top management of hotels should devise and come up with new proper skills enhancing practices which could lead to lower down turnover intentions of employees. Replication of this study in other sectors like education or hospitals with larger sample size could extent and cross-validate the current study findings
HIV Testing and awareness of HIV status among people who inject drugs in greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
No full textHIV testing services are the gateway into HIV treatment and are critical for monitoring the epidemic. HIV testing is recommended at least annually in high-risk populations, including people who inject drugs (PWID). In Malaysia, the HIV epidemic is concentrated among PWID, but their adherence to testing recommendations and the proportion of HIV-positive PWID who are aware of their status remain unknown. We recruited 460 PWID in Greater Kuala Lumpur using respondent-driven sampling and conducted HIV testing. We examined past testing behaviors, estimating testing frequency, correlates of testing in the past 12 months, and the proportion of those living with HIV who were aware of their status. Results showed that most PWID living with HIV (90.4%, 95% CI: 83.6%–95.9%) were aware of their status. Among those never previously diagnosed with HIV, few had accessed HIV testing in the past 12 months (14.3%, 95% CI: 11.1%–18.0%). Prison (57.0%) and compulsory drug detention centers (36.1%) were the primary locations where PWID reported ever being HIV tested, and the main correlate of recent testing in regression was recent criminal justice involvement. Although awareness of HIV status may be high among PWID living with HIV in Kuala Lumpur, testing occurs primarily in prisons and compulsory drug detention centers, where it is involuntary and linkage to care is limited. A shift in HIV testing policy is needed to align health and human rights objectives, replacing mandatory testing with voluntary testing in settings where individuals can be rapidly linked to HIV care