19672 research outputs found
Sort by
A study to determine the educational objectives and outcomes for pre-registration Diploma nursing program: A modified Delphi
No full text[No abstract available
Electrical, thermal, and structural studies on highly conducting additive-free biopolymer electrolytes for electric double-layer capacitor application
No full textBiopolymer electrolytes consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiTf) were prepared by solution casting technique. The ionic conductivity of polymer electrolyte is increased about seven orders of magnitude which is from 3.53 ± 0.01 × 10−10 to 2.87 ± 0.01 × 10−3 S cm−1 at ambient temperature with the addition of 40 wt% of LiTf. All the polymer electrolytes follow Vogel–Tamman–Fulcher (VTF) relationship which is associated with free volume theory. The complexation between PVA and LiTf salt is proven by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of polymer electrolyte was decreased with the addition of LiTf as shown in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermogram. The potential difference of the polymer electrolyte showed wider range, up to 4.6 V, as proven in linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) study. Electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) cell was assembled using prepared polymer electrolytes and two identical activated carbon-based electrodes and its electrochemical properties were also investigated. The specific capacitance of 0.37 F g−1 was obtained for the EDLC with the most conducting polymer electrolyte. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature
Epilepsy care: Work, upbringing, leisure, and Chinese culture
No full textStigma in epilepsy arises from the misconceptions and prejudices rooted in the patient’s culture and traditions. Upbringing also has an important impact on the quality of life of epilepsy patients. In Chinese tradition, the main purpose of life is to be a “gentleman”, to fully express the true human nature. The essence of being a gentleman is “benevolence” and “virtue”. According to Zhuangzi’s concept of “virtue overcoming deformity”, virtue can prevail over physical deficiencies. Consistent with such a principle, a person with epilepsy should receive high honour if he can demonstrate the character of a “gentleman”. In - traditional Chinese culture, the sense of shame is the foundation of morality; “feeling shame” and “being shameless” are important moral concepts. A gentleman has a sense of shame, whereas a “petty person” is shameless. However, the ability to resist feeling inappropriate shame - “not feeling ashamed” is also a trait of the gentleman. Thus, based on traditional Chinese philosophy, one should resist feeling ashamed for having epilepsy. Chinese culture emphasizes the importance of exerting vitality in the presence of adversity; people with epilepsy who do not feel ashamed of their deficiency is manifesting such a vitality. Traditional Chinese culture takes a positive attitude towards hardship and adversity, that it is essential for developing character and skills. Overcoming adversity requires responsibilities, the pre-requisite is personal freedom. Thus, allowing freedom and nurturing independence is consistent with traditional Chinese attitude to upbringing. © 2019, ASEAN Neurological Association. All rights reserved
Salt content of instant noodles in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study
No full textObjective To determine the salt content in instant noodles sold in Malaysia. Study design A cross-sectional survey was done involving 707 different flavours and packaging of instant noodles sold in six hypermarkets and retailer chains in Malaysia and the corresponding brand's official websites in 2017. Methods The salt content (gram per serving and per 100 g) was collected from the product packaging and corresponding brand's official website. Results Of the 707 different packaging and flavours of instant noodles, only 62.1% (n=439) provided the salt content in their food label. The mean (±SD) salt per 100 g of instant noodles was 4.3±1.5 g and is nearly four times higher than the salt content of food classified in Malaysia as a high salt content (>1.2 g salt per 100 g). The salt content for instant noodle per packaging ranged from 0.7 to 8.5 g. 61.7% of the instant noodles exceeded the Pacific Salt Reduction Target, 11.8% exceeded the WHO recommended daily salt intake of <5.0 per day and 5.50% exceeded Malaysia Salt Action Target. 98% of instant noodles will be considered as high salt food according to the Malaysia Guidelines. The probability of the instant noodles without mixed flavour (n=324) exceeding the Pacific Salt Reduction Target was tested on univariate and multivariate analysis. Instant noodles with soup, Tom Yam flavour, pork flavour and other flavours were found to be predictors of instant noodles with the tendency to exceed Pacific Salt Reduction Target when compared with instant noodles without mixed flavours (p<0.05). Conclusion Only 62% of instant noodles displayed the salt content on their food label. Salt content in instant noodles is very high, with 90% exceeding the daily salt intake recommended by WHO. Prompt action from regulatory and health authorities is needed to reduce the salt content in instant noodles. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ
Arrhenian growth thermodynamics in a marine-derived tropical Fusarium equiseti and polar Pseudogymnoascus spp. in a liquid culture system
No full textWe hypothesised that the activation energy (Ea) of growth in a marine-derived tropical strain of Fusarium equiseti and polar strains of Pseudogymnoascus spp. grown for 10 days in a liquid culture system comprised of seawater Mueller-Hinton Broth would differ across the same experimental culture temperature range. The specific growth rates (SGRs) obtained from these experiments were fitted into third-degree polynomial and Brière-2 temperature-dependent models to estimate optimum temperatures for growth (Topt) and maximum SGR (SGRmax) of the selected strains. Estimates of SGR values from the Brière-2 model were used to calculate the temperature coefficient (Q10) and Ea for growth in all three fungal strains across the experimental culture temperature range. Our findings indicated that F. equiseti is better adapted to utilising higher levels of thermal energy for growth than either Pseudogymnoascus strain, consistent with general definitions that classify the former as a mesophile and the latter as psychrophiles. A progressive increase in pH was recorded in the liquid culture system during the growth of F. equiseti and Pseudogymnoascus spp., suggesting that these strains could tolerate more alkaline conditions for growth until nutrient resources were exhausted, as has been noted in some other fungal studies. © 2018 Elsevier B.V. and NIP
Photovoltaic effect on the microelectronic properties of perylene/p-Si heterojunction devices
No full textThis paper presents the fabrication and study of light dependent electrical properties of heterojunction device based on small molecular semiconductor 3, 4, 9, 10-perylene tetracarboxylic anhydride (PTCDA). The Ag/PTCDA/P3HT/p-Si heterojunction device is prepared by spin coating a 20 nm layer of poly-3,hexylthiophene (P3HT) on p-Si followed by 80 nm thick film of PTCDA via thermal deposition. Current–voltage (I–V) properties of the device are measured at room temperature in dark condition ~ 20 lx (lx) and different illumination conditions to probe photovoltaic effects on the microelectronic parameters of the device. In dark, the Ag/PTCDA/P3HT/p-Si device exhibited rectifying behavior in the forward bias with a current rectification ratio (RR) of 1990 at ± 3.5 V that confirmed the formation of depletion region. Key microelectronic parameters of the device such as ideality factor (n), barrier height (φb), series resistance (Rs) and shunt resistance (Rsh) are extracted from the I–V characteristics and studied as a function of illumination (2–2700 lx). Charge conduction mechanism and mobility via interface of the device is also investigated from logI–logV curves and conventional I–V characteristics, respectively. The microelectronic properties of the device are correlated with optical properties (absorption spectrum) and morphology of the PTCDA thin films carried out by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectrum and energy dispersive x-rays (EDX) is performed to validate composition and elemental analysis of PTCDA films. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
Self-cleaning and weather resistance of nano-SnO2/modified silicone oil coating for photovoltaic (PV) glass applications
No full textThe current investigation focused on the development of a new class of transparent nano-SnO2/modified silicone oil based coating with hydrophobic behavior and excellent self-cleaning properties for photovoltaic (PV) applications. SnO2 nanopowder was blended with silicon oil using isopropyl alcohol as a solvent which was then applied on the glass substrates using sponges. The treated glass plates were then subjected to water contact angle (WCA) measurement in order to determine the hydrophobicity of the modified glass. The results revealed the high WCA of 118° ± 2° displaying enhanced hydrophobic characteristic whereas, the UV–Vis analysis demonstrated an improved transmittance (99%) in visible region. Moreover, the prepared-coating also exhibited an excellent anti-fogging and wear-resistance behavior and was found to have insignificant changes in the WCA for 20 peeling cycles using scotch tape. Outdoor exposure’s results also confirmed that the nano SnO2–silicone oil coating on the glass panel possess superior durability against weather with WCA was 110° ± 2° and transparency > 92% in visible region even after 2 months of outdoor exposure. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
News Coverage of Foreign Sex Workers in Malaysia: A Critical Analysis
No full textThe growing concern over the influx of foreign women in Malaysia as sex workers, has continually gained the attention of the local media particularly the mainstream newspapers. The media, despite playing an instrumental role in bringing about social transformation, has the ability to portray the foreign women in a positive way or to discriminate against them. This study, based on qualitative analysis, represents an attempt to study a social problem particularly in the way that foreign women in sex work have been represented in Malaysia by the mainstream English-language newspapers. The analytical tools of the discourse-historical approach (DHA) are employed in the analysis of the news articles. In particular, the argumentation strategy in the DHA demonstrates that a number of topoi (i.e., the topoi of control, number, threat, and victimisation) have been employed to represent foreign sex workers in the media. Investigation of the newspaper extracts from New Straits Times and The Star generally revealed that the media have portrayed foreign women in sex work in the offender orientation frame more so than as victims. Furthermore, foreign sex workers are also positioned negatively because of their illegal migrant status, making them doubly discriminated against. Such representations directly impact the women’s lives, leading to further discrimination on the basis of their trade and illegal migrant status, denying them a voice and depriving them of their legal rights. The paper concludes by discussing the contributions of the research and emphasises the need for social justice for these marginalised women. © 2019, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Press. All rights reserved
Quasi solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell with P(MMA-co-MAA)-based polymer electrolytes
No full textA series of poly (methylacrylate-co-methylacrylic acid) (P(MMA-co-MAA)) gel polymer electrolytes containing iodide/triiodide (I − /I 3 − ) redox mediator from sodium iodide (NaI) dopant salt was synthesized and studied on their conductivity and power conversion efficiency as applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). A relationship of complex permittivity with increasing frequency was established as well as dispersion relation with modulus studies. Temperature dependence study forms an Arrhenius plot and the highest ionic conductivity achieved was 1.07 mS cm −1 at room temperature with activation energy of 0.224 eV for the gel polymer electrolytes (GPE) with 40 wt% NaI. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy was utilized to evaluate the formation of complexes between the copolymer and salt. Again at 40 wt% NaI, the best performance was observed under photovoltaic investigation using DSSC with energy conversion efficiency of 2.34%. To further understand the electrochemical properties of the GPE, steady-state measurement of triiodide diffusion coefficient was done. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature
Monte Carlo simulations and analysis of transmitted gamma ray spectra through various tissue phantoms
No full textStudies of radiation interactions with tissue equivalent material find importance in efforts that seek to avoid unjustifiable dose to patients, also in ensuring quality control of for instance nuclear medicine imaging equipment. Use of the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation tool in such characterization processes allows for the avoidance of costly experiments involving transmitted X- and γ-ray spectrometry. Present work investigates MC simulations of γ-ray transmission through tissue equivalent solid phantoms. Use has been made of a range of radionuclide gamma ray sources, 99m Tc, 131 I, 137 Cs, 60 Co (offering photons in the energy range from a few keV up to low MeV), popularly applied in medicine and in some cases for gauging in industry, obtaining the transmission spectra following their interaction with various phantom materials and thicknesses. In validation of the model, the simulated values of mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) for different phantom materials and thicknesses were found to be in good agreement with reference values (NIST, 2004) to within 1.1% for all material compositions. For all of the primary photon energies and medium thicknesses of interest herein, results show that multiple scattering peaks are generally located at energies lower than 100 keV, although for the larger phantom thicknesses it is more difficult to distinguish single, double and multiple scattering in the gamma spectra. Transmitted photon spectra investigated for water, soft tissue, breast, brain and lung tissue slab phantoms are demonstrated to be practically independent of the phantom material, while a significant difference is observed for the spectra transmitted through bone that was proved to be due to the density effect and not material composition. © 2019 Elsevier Lt