19672 research outputs found
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Assembly and activation of the Hippo signalome by FAT1 tumor suppressor
No full textDysregulation of the Hippo signaling pathway and the consequent YAP1 activation is a frequent event in human malignancies, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. A pancancer analysis of core Hippo kinases and their candidate regulating molecules revealed few alterations in the canonical Hippo pathway, but very frequent genetic alterations in the FAT family of atypical cadherins. By focusing on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which displays frequent FAT1 alterations (29.8%), we provide evidence that FAT1 functional loss results in YAP1 activation. Mechanistically, we found that FAT1 assembles a multimeric Hippo signaling complex (signalome), resulting in activation of core Hippo kinases by TAOKs and consequent YAP1 inactivation. We also show that unrestrained YAP1 acts as an oncogenic driver in HNSCC, and that targeting YAP1 may represent an attractive precision therapeutic option for cancers harboring genomic alterations in the FAT1 tumor suppressor genes
Demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with access to public clinics
No full textIntroduction: Providing adequate and equal access to healthcare is a key goal towards achieving universal health coverage. However, social and demographic inequalities in accessing health care services exist in both developed and developing countries. This study examined the demographic and socio-economic factors associated with the lack of access to public clinics in the Greater Kuala Lumpur area. Materials and Methods: The study employed a survey involving 1032 participants. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires distributed between October and December 2015 in the Greater Kuala Lumpur area. Results: Of the 1032 participants, 535 were public clinic users. A quarter (25.8%) of the users stated that they did not have access to public clinics in their residential area. A multiple logistic analysis showed that the elderly, the women, those from ethnic minority groups, those of lower family income, and the private sector workers were more likely not to have access to public clinics than their counterparts. Conclusions: The existing level of accessibility to public clinics could be improved by increasing the number of clinics. Clinics should be established to focus more on reaching the elderly, the women, the ethnic minority groups, the poorer families, and the private sector employees
An Energy-Aware and Load-balancing Routing scheme for Wireless Sensor Networks
No full textEnergy and memory limitations are considerable constraints of sensor nodes in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The limited energy supplied to network nodes causes WSNs to face crucial functional limitations. Therefore, the problem of limited energy resource on sensor nodes can only be addressed by using them efficiently. In this research work, an energy-balancing routing scheme for in-network data aggregation is presented. This scheme is referred to as Energy-aware and load-Balancing Routing scheme for Data Aggregation (hereinafter referred to as EBR-DA). The EBR-DA aims to provide an energy efficient multiple-hop routing to the destination on the basis of the quality of the links between the source and destination. In view of this goal, a link cost function is introduced to assess the quality of the links by considering the new multi-criteria node weight metric, in which energy and load balancing are considered. The node weight is considered in constructing and updating the routing tree to achieve dynamic behavior for event-driven WSNs. The proposed EBR-DA was evaluated and validated by simulation, and the results were compared with those of InFRA and DRINA by using performance metrics for dense static networks
Localization Of The Global Nursing Process In Malaysian Context: Student Nurses Perspectives
No full textThe term nursing process was first used in North America during the 1950s-1960s. It has now been widely adopted worldwide as a global concept. In Malaysia, their Department of Higher Education has set the agenda and adopts the nursing process to upgrade Malaysian nursing from functional to professional standard. Implementation was commenced in 2010 and targeted the fresh graduate nurses who would apply the nursing process by 2016. Therefore, this study aims to highlight the factors that influence and mediate in the application of nursing process among student nurses. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire in East and West Malaysia in 2015. Altogether, 468 student nurses actively participated in the study. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors influencing the nursing process. The Sobel test mediation identified the mediating factor on translating knowledge to practice of nursing process. The findings prove that the student nurses’ knowledge about the core concepts of nursing process, attitude towards nursing process and its implementation process, and the factors that support in implementation process are influencing their application of nursing process. Beyond that, the indirect mediation effect (supporting factor as a mediator) is existing in a relationship between applying knowledge into practice. This research indicates that providing the necessary support is principally important in enhancing the application of nursing process in Malaysian nursing context
Adult diphtheria in Malaysia: A case report
No full textIn November 2016, a 28-year-old Malay man presented to the emergency department in respiratory distress, with a history of fever and sore throat. A clinical diagnosis of acute diphtheria was made and the patient was isolated and ventilated in the intensive care unit, and received diphtheria antitoxin and intravenous antibiotics. Initial laboratory findings failed to confirm diphtheria, leading to discontinuation of antibiotics and quarantine. Public health measures were reinstated after a reference laboratory cultured Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Although there was no contact with ill persons, investigation revealed incomplete immunisation history, and injection of high dose steroids prior to onset of symptoms
The management of methamphetamine use in sexual settings among men who have sex with men in Malaysia
No full textBackground: The intentional use of illicit drugs for sexual purposes (also known as ‘chemsex’) is well known within the MSM communities in Malaysia although research in this population is scarce primarily because both drug use and homosexuality are illegal and stigmatised in Malaysia. Methods: From April to December 2014, interviews were conducted with twenty men (age range 21–43) living in Greater Kuala Lumpur who had sexual intercourse with other men in the past 6 months and who used illicit drugs at least monthly in the past 3 months. Fourteen men were recruited via gay social networking smartphone applications or websites while six were referred by the participants. Data were analsed using thematic analytic approach. Findings: The average duration of illicit drug use was 6.4 years (range 1–21) and all participants were using methamphetamine (“ice” or crystal meth) with frequency of use ranged from daily to once a month. Participants came from diverse ethnic, economic, and occupational backgrounds. Most participants used an inhalation apparatus (“bong”) to consume methamphetamine and injection was rare in the sample. The primary motivation of methamphetamine use was to increase sexual capacity, heighten sexual pleasure and enhance sexual exploration and adventurism. Socializing with friends (“chilling”), and increased energy for work were secondary motivations. Participants emphasized the need to control the use of methamphetamine and some have established rules to control the amount and duration of use and a minority of men have maintained condom use during anal sex while under the influence of methamphetamine. Participants who professed to be in control of their drug use characterized themselves as functional users regardless of the health and social consequences from continuing use. Overall, participants perceived themselves differently from the traditional opioid users and reported limited access to sexual health and substance use treatment services. Conclusion: There is a need to increase access to HIV prevention services such as PrEP and PEP, professional support, and substance abuse treatment for drug-using MSM. A more open and friendly environment towards drug-using MSM may help them access and engage with the health services
Conversion of glucose into lactic acid using silica-supported zinc oxide as solid acid catalyst
No full textZinc oxide (ZnO) has been proven to be highly effective in converting biomass into fine chemicals. It possesses several limitations, such as leaching in hydrothermal reactions and difficulty with regard to its recovery. Supporting ZnO on silica improves its recovery, stability and recyclability. In this study, we produced silica-supported ZnO by incipient wetness impregnation (IWI) method for the conversion of glucose into lactic acid. The presence of the ZnO provided active sites for isomerization to occur. The highest yield of lactic acid was 39.2 % at 180 °C for 60 min. Prolonged reaction time and higher reaction temperature promoted further degradation of lactic acid into acetic acid. The yield of lactic acid decreased after the first cycle and decreased slightly for the nine consecutive cycles
Learning through intuitive interface: A case study on preschool learning
No full textFor a child, playing is not only an act of fun, but also a way of learning. Long hours of study in a classroom without playing only serve to make the children detest learning. A current interest of research is to integrate the learning process with the latest technology to engage children with learning and playing. Game-based learning (GBL) is one of the approaches that utilises the gaming environment to attract the student's attention and increase participation throughout the process of learning. We proposed an intervention program that used voice and gesture-based interactive virtual learning environment (VGVLE) based on GBL framework to teach colour and shape to preschool children. The program with quasi-experimental design (N = 84) was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in promoting preschool learning when compared with the traditional classroom teaching approach. Our findings show that pre-schoolers who learnt with the proposed approach surpassed those who learnt with the classroom approach. Besides that, the gap in learning performance was also reduced
Recent strategies to improve boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) for photodynamic cancer therapy: an updated review
No full textBODIPYs are photosensitizers activatable by light to generate highly reactive singlet oxygen (1O2) from molecular oxygen, leading to tissue damage in the photoirradiated region. Despite their extraordinary photophysical characteristics, they are not featured in clinical photodynamic therapy. This review discusses the recent advances in the design and/or modifications of BODIPYs since 2013, to improve their potential in photodynamic cancer therapy and related areas
Constructing a Mixed Methods Research Design: Exploration of an Architectural Intervention
No full textThe aim of this methodological description is to illustrate the application of mixed methods research in architectural design using a hybrid model consisting of a taxonomy development model and an embedded quasi-experimental model. The research employed qualitative and quantitative methods to explore the design of an architectural intervention and determine its effectiveness in improving environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behavior among primary school students. It also outlined strategies adopted to overcome the challenges related to the use of a hybrid design. Combining sequential and embedded mixed methods designs is a relatively new approach in architectural research, providing new insights that contribute to future mixed methods exploration in the field of design and planning