19672 research outputs found
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Traditional versus virtual learning: How engaged are the students in learning English literature?
No full textThis study is aimed to investigate students' levels of engagement in learning English literature for traditional learning and virtual learning environment. There are four dimensions of engagement that were studied, which are the cognitive, behavioural, emotional and agentic engagement. A self-determination theory perspective on student engagement by Reeve (2012) was used for the foundation of this study. A questionnaire of School Engagement Measure was used to collect data from 80 respondents. The data were analysed using descriptive analysis utilizing the SPSS software. The results of this study show that the engagement level of the virtual learning environment is higher than the engagement level of the traditional learning. Based on the results, further research is recommended to focus on the effectiveness of virtual learning environment in the classroom for the teaching and learning process
Effect of Aging on NK Cell Population and Their Proliferation at Ex Vivo Culture Condition
No full textAge-associated changes in natural killer (NK) cell population, phenotype, and functions are directly attributed to the risk of several diseases and infections. It is predicted to be the major cause of the increase in mortality. Based on the surface density of CD56, NK cells are subdivided into two types, such as CD56 bright and CD56 dim cells, which represent cytokine production and cytotoxicity. In our study, we have examined the age-associated changes in the NK cell population and their subsets at different age groups of males and females (at a range from 41 to 80 years). We found that the total lymphocyte count significantly dropped upon aging in both genders. Although, the level of total immune cells also dropped on aging, and surprisingly the total NK cell population was remarkably increased with the majority of NK cells being CD56 dim . Subsequently, we evaluated the proliferation potential of NK cells and our results showed that the NK cell proliferation ability declines with age. Overall, our findings prove that there is an increase in the circulating NK cell population upon aging. However, the proliferation rate upon aging declines when compared to the young age group (<41 yrs)
Comparison of OKULIX ray-tracing software with SRK-T and Hoffer-Q formula in intraocular lens power calculation
No full textPurpose: To compare the performance of OKULIX ray-tracing software with SRK-T and Hoffer Q formula in intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation in patients presenting with cataract. Methods: In this prospective study, 104 eyes of 104 patients with cataract who underwent phacoemulsification and IOL implantation were recruited. Three IOL brands were used and for all eyes, IOL power calculation was performed using SRK-T, Hoffer Q formula and also OKULIX ray-tracing software. For all patients, axial length and keratometry data was obtained with IOLMaster 500 device and IOL power was determined using Hoffer Q and SRK-T formula. The IOL powers were also calculated using the OKULIX ray-tracing software combined with CASIA AS-OCT and IOLMaster 500 device. Optically measured axial length of eyes were inserted to OKULIX software from IOLMaster 500 device, and anterior and posterior tomographic and corneal pachymetry data was imported from CASIA AS-OCT into the OKULIX. The performance of each calculation methods was measured by subtracting the predicted postoperative refraction from the postoperative manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE). For each of the 3 methods, the mean absolute prediction error was determined, too. Results: The mean value absolute prediction error by OKULIX, SRK-T and Hoffer Q formulas, respectively, were 0.42 (±0.03), 0.36 (±0.02) and 0.37 (±0.02). The mean absolute prediction error by OKULIX had no significant difference between three IOL groups (P = 0.96), and it was confirmed that there was no meaningful statistically difference in mean absolute prediction error between the OKULIX, SRK-T and Hoffer Q formula. (P = 0.25). Also in each group of implanted IOLs, all three formulas worked with the same accuracy. The prediction error using OKULIX were within ±0.50 diopter in 63.5% of eyes and within ±1.00 diopter in 94.2% of eyes. Conclusion: OKULIX ray-tracing IOL power measurements provides reliable and satisfactory postoperative results, which are comparable to other 3rd generation formulas of SRK-T and Hoffer Q
Issues in Malaysian Higher Education: A Quantitative Representation of the Top Five Priorities, Values, Challenges, and Solutions From the Viewpoints of Academic Leaders
No full textThis qualitative inquiry aims at identifying the main issues in Malaysian higher education (HE) system and its sectors from the perspectives of Malaysian academic leaders. For this purpose, four open-ended questions were distributed among 2,786 academic leaders in 25 universities. More than 235 completed questionnaires were collected, containing nearly 4,500 records of priorities, values, challenges, and solutions. Through a quantitative content analysis approach, the records were categorized using the software package ATLAS.ti 7. This resulted to the emergence of 112 categories. Using SPSS 23, the top five categories with maximum frequencies of records were focused for further evaluation. The comparison of the issues in Malaysian HE and its sectors revealed that some of issues were common in all the sectors. In addition, the examination of these categories of data did result to the classification of them into five major categories namely Academic Core Activities, Change and Leadership, Management, Relationships, and Work Values
The use of MFA and LCA in the agriculture waste management system in Kuala Terengganu
No full textAgricultural waste management, as practiced by the vast majority of farmers and farm owners in agricultural areas in the district of Kuala Terengganu, involves four process scenarios, namely S1: On farm burial, S2: On-farm burning, S3: Landfill and S4: Recycled. However, the disposal of agricultural waste has produced an environmental impact on the ecosystem in different ways. The aim of this study is to compare the potential environmental damage incurred from the disposal of agricultural waste in the four scenarios above. Data collection was conducted in ten farms located in Kuala Terengganu. The research includes the analysis of agricultural waste, the analysis of crop residue characteristics, and the analysis of potential contamination using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach that utilizes the Simapro software. The results showed that the scenarios S3 and S1 have resulted in a value credit for the destruction of the environment, compared to the debit value of both S2 and S4. In this study, Material Flow Analysis-Life Cycle Assessment model of integration, with Integration of Material Flow Analysis-Life Cycle Assessment, has been developed and tested based on real data to confirm their validity as a valuable tool for assessing the environmental conditions for agricultural waste management system in the study region
Thraatchathi chooranam, protects cardiomyocytes against oxidative stress
No full textThraatchathi Chooranam (TC), is a polyphenol-rich Indian traditional medicine. Present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of TC against H2O2 induced oxidative stress and apoptotic damage in H9C2 cardiomyocytes. Cell viability assay indicated relative safety (IC50= 488.10±12.04 mg/ml) of TC. Pretreatment of cells with TC upregulated antiapoptotic Bcl2, and anti-oxidants TRX1 and TRXR and downregulated Bax and HIF-α and inflammatory genes iNOS and TNF-α. Together, these findings show that TC has both anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic properties. Further studies may be considered to identify the bioactive principle(s) and precise mechanisms of action of TC
Quality of life in Malaysian children with epilepsy
No full textBackground: Children with epilepsy (CWE) are at risk of impaired quality of life (QOL), and achieving a good QOL is an important treatment goal among CWE. To date, there are no published multiethnic QOL studies in Asia. Our study aimed to: i) investigate the QOL of multiethnic CWE in Malaysia as reported by both the child and parent; ii) determine the level of agreement between child-self report and parent-proxy report QOL; and iii) explore potential correlates of sociodemographic, epilepsy characteristics, and family functioning with QOL in CWE. Methods: Cross-sectional study of all CWE aged 8–18 years old with at least 6 months' duration of epilepsy, minimum reading level of primary school education Year 1, and attending mainstream education. Quality of life was measured using the parent-proxy and child self-report of Quality of Life Measurement for Children with Epilepsy (CHEQOL-25) questionnaire. Total and subscale CHEQOL-25 scores were obtained. The levels of parent–child agreement were determined using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Family functioning was assessed using the General functioning subscale (GF-12). Results: A total of 115 CWE and their parents participated in the study. In general, Malaysian parents rated children's total CHEQOL-25 scores poorer than the children themselves [mean total parent score: 68.56 (SD: 10.86); mean total child score: 71.82 (SD: 9.55)]. Agreement between child and parent on the CHEQOL-25 was poor to moderate (ICC ranged from 0.31–0.54), with greatest discordance in the epilepsy secrecy domain (ICC = 0.31, p = 0.026). Parent and child were more likely to agree on more external domains: intrapersonal/social (ICC = 0.54, p < 0.001) and interpersonal/emotional (ICC = 0.50, p < 0.001). Malay ethnicity, focal seizure and high seizure frequency (≥ 1 seizure per month) were associated with lower CHEQOL-25 scores. There was a significant but weak correlation between GF-12 and parent–proxy CHEQOL-25 Total Scores (r = − 0.186, p = 0.046). Conclusion: Our results emphasize the importance to have the child's perspective of their QOL as the level of agreement between the parent and child reported scores were poor to moderate. Malaysian CWE of Malay ethnicity, those with focal seizures or high seizure frequency are at risk of poorer QOL
Influence of copper on the instability and corrosiveness of palm biodiesel and its blends: An assessment on biodiesel sustainability
No full textBiodiesel is comparatively more corrosive than petroleum diesel; therefore, the issue of sustainability has become a major concern. Biodiesel is auto-oxidative in nature; thus, its fuel properties could be changed. The present study aims to investigate the sustainability of biodiesel and its different blends with diesel in terms of instability and corrosiveness upon exposure to copper. The investigated fuels are diesel, 20% biodiesel in diesel, 50% biodiesel in diesel, and pure biodiesel. Immersion tests in the absence and presence of 100 ppm tert-butylamine or butylated hydroxyanisole additive were conducted at temperatures of 25 °C–27 °C for 600 and 1200 h. At the end of the tests, corrosion of copper was examined by weight loss measurement and changes on the metal surface. Metal surfaces were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy. Fuel was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy, and its properties were investigated by density meter and Rancimat method. Results show that corrosion rate of copper in biodiesel or its high percentage of blends rises with the increase in immersion time. Corrosion rate of copper in diesel and 20% diesel–biodiesel blends are similar and do not significantly change with immersion time. To improve sustainability, BHA is found to be effective in reducing biodiesel oxidation, whereas TBA reduces the metal surface degradation
Impact of pH on the viability and morphology of blastocystis isolates
No full textBlastocystis sp. is ubiquitous in avian, mammalian and human hosts and propagates in either neutral or slightly alkaline conditions within the host’s gastro-intestinal tract. Of the few previous studies on this enteric protozoan parasite in feline and canine hosts, prevalence values have been shown to range between 0 to 70.8%. In view of the close association between humans, and canine and feline hosts as companion animals, faecal samples of 180 Felis catus and 82 Canis lupus, collected from Penang and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were initially screened by in vitro cultivation followed by molecular characterization. No positive isolates were identified in culture but in 12 feline samples DNA barcoding detected a zoonotic subtype Blastocystis ST1 for the first time. Consequently, avian and human isolates, which had previously been successfully cultured, were used to investigate the impact of pH on the viability and morphology of Blastocystis sp. The use of Trypan blue showed that the number of viable cells increased when exposed to pH 4 and a significant increase in viability occurred in pH values of 5 to 7. Development of Blastocystis cells in both isolates was suppressed in media less than pH 5 followed by the disappearance of viable cells from avian isolates in more acidic media below pH 4. Morphologically at pH 4 cells from avian isolates were less rounded, and with wrinkled / shrunken surfaces, than the more normal rounded cells from human isolates. On the other hand, at values below pH 3, no viable cells in human isolates were visible. The present findings therefore confirm that gastro-intestinal pH is an important determinant of Blastocystis viability and consequently influences the epidemiology of infection within avian, mammalian and human hosts
Atmospheric hydrodeoxygenation of bio-oil oxygenated model compounds: A review
No full textHydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of various bio oil oxygenated model compounds in low H2 pressure has been discussed
in this study. Because of the high yield of aromatic mixtures in bio-oil, they carry great potential for fuel
efficiency. Nevertheless, due to its high viscosity, abundance of acid, and heteroatom contaminants, the bio-oil
ought to be upgraded and hydrotreated in order to be applied as an alternative fuel. A continuous low H2
pressure HDO of bio-oil is favored as it could be simply integrated with conventional pyrolysis systems, functioning
at low pressures, as well as supporting a flexible plan for serial processing in respective bio-refineries.
Additionally, such a process is cheaper and safer in comparison with the high pressure set ups. This review
meticulously elaborates on the operation conditions, challenges, and opportunities for using this process in an industrial scale. The operating temperature, the H2 flow ratio, the active site, and the catalyst stability are some important factors to be considered when it is intended to reach a high conversion efficiency for the HDO in low H2 pressure