1,721,554 research outputs found
Osteoarthritis and falls among older adults / Sumaiyah Mat
Full text linkFalls are major public health problem in older adults. Fall-related injuries have been reported as the leading causes of years lived with disability globally. While osteoarthritis, a common degenerative joint disorder, has been considered an established risk factor for falls. Our literature review has found limited evidence and conflicting results to support this assumption. This study was performed and analysed in a two-staged design: 1) a case-control comparison of characteristics related to OA among fallers and non-faller controls, 2) a pre-planned subgroup analysis of individuals with OA within a randomized controlled trial of multifaceted interventions in the secondary prevention of falls in older people. Cases consisted of 229 fallers; individuals aged 65 years and above with a history of two falls or one injurious fall in the past 12 months. 160 control participants were non-fallers, aged 65 and above without no history of falls. Regardless of the definition used, OA was not associated with falls. However, different degrees of severity of OA symptoms in varying OA definitions showed an interesting relationship with falls. In individuals with radiological OA, mild symptoms appear protective of falls which was probably due to increase of anxiety while those with clinical OA and severe symptoms are at increased risk of falls compared to those with mild symptoms mediated by fear of falling. Thus, OA was not directly associated with falls, however, psychological problems secondary to OA might have a different impact on the risk of falls. In a separate study of postural control (n=102), impaired postural balance found among fallers was not influenced by presence of OA. The poorer EPE observed in individuals with symptomatic OA appeared to have a protective effect against falls. An evaluation of the features of OA detected on MRI revealed that that presence of sub-chondral cysts and menisceal tears mediates in increase in postural sway among fallers.
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Among our older participants with OA, fallers had higher serum TIMP2 level, indicating that falls among older adults with OA was associated with a higher degree of degeneration. In the subgroup analysis of individuals with OA from the RCT on multifactorial intervention for falls, the modified Otago exercise improved postural control and reduced fear of falling in those with pre-existing impairments in gait and balance. In essence, this study has contributed to existing knowledge on falls by contradicting previously unsubstantiated assumptions of the association between OA and falls. Instead, a sinusoidal relationship appears to exist between OA and falls, with mild OA being protective of falls and severe OA predisposing to falls. Falls risk appears to be influenced by psychological status, while impaired dynamic postural control associated with increased falls risk is not influenced by the presence of OA. However, the presence of sub-chondral cyst and menisceal tear detected by MRI did mediate the impaired postural control observed in our fallers. In our serological analysis, falls among older adults with OA were associated with a more active degenerative state. The improvement in postural control and falls efficacy observed among our OA fallers, suggest that the modified Otago is potentially benefical, and will serve as a pilot study for a larger randomized-controlled study for secondary falls prevention for individuals with OA
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Tumbuhan terpilih menurut perspektif Islam dan sains kesihatan / Sumaiyah binti Mohd Tamizi
Full text linkAl-Quran adalah sumber maklumat utama umat Islam yang bersifat komprehensif. Ayat-ayat al-Qur‟an yang berbentuk kauniyyat ataupun yang menceritakan tentang alam termasuklah ayat-ayat yang menyebut tentang tumbuhan. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji aspek tafsiran dan penemuan sains bagi tumbuh-tumbuhan yang dinyatakan secara khusus di dalam al-Qur‟an. Empat objektif telah digariskan iaitu menganalisis tafsiran ulama‟ berkaitan ayat al-Qur‟an yang berkaitan tumbuhan, mengkaji nama saintifik yang selaras dengan penerangan tafsiran al-Qur‟an dan Hadith, menganalisis penemuan sains dari aspek kesihatan dan menyelaraskan maklumat berkaitan potensi tumbuhan-tumbuhan tersebut daripada perspektif Islam dan sains. Kajian ini melibatkan dua kaedah pengumpulan data, iaitu kaedah kajian perpustakaan dan kaedah temubual. Terdapat tujuh belas (17) jenis tumbuhan yang dinyatakan dalam al-Qur‟an iaitu kurma (Phoenix dactylifera L.), zaitun ( Oleo europaea), anggur ( Vitis vinifera), delima (Punica granatum), tin (Ficus carica), halia ( Zingiber officinale), bawang putih (Allium sativum), bawang merah (Allium cepa), kayu sugi ( Salvadora persica), biji sawi (Brassica nigra), kacang dal ( Lens culinaris), pokok bidara (Cedrus libani), pokok tamarisk (Tamarix articulata), pokok kapur barus (Cinnamomum camphora), pisang (Musa spp.), timun (Cucumis sativus), dan labu (Cucurbita sp.). Hasil daripada analisis tafsiran dan hadith mendapati hanya kurma dan zaitun sahaja yang dinyatakan kegunaannya secara khusus iaitu kurma. Melalui surah Maryam ayat 23-25, ulama‟ tafsir menyatakan kurma merupakan buah yang baik untuk ibu yang mengandung dan akan melahirkan anak. Berdasarkan syarah ulama‟ terhadap hadith yang diriwayatkan oleh Muslim pula, ulama‟ menyatakan amalan tahnik menunjukkan kurma baik untuk bayi baru lahir. Analisis daripada kajian-kajian sains mendapati buah kurma mengandungi kalsium, serotonin, tannin, dan asid linoleik yang penting dalam mengawal pendarahan. Kandungan glukosa dalam kurma penting dalam membekalkan tenaga pada badan dan otot-otot uterus. Kurma turut bertindak sebagai laksatif dalam memudahkan proses melahirkan bayi. Kebaikan kurma untuk bayi yang baru lahir pula ialah bertindak sebagai analgesik yang dapat mengurangkan kesakitan bayi selepas proses kelahiran. Selain kurma, zaitun juga disebut secara khusus sebagai rawatan penyakit pleurisy berdasarkan hadith yang diriwayatkan oleh al-Tirmizi. Kajian sains mendapati bahan aktif yang terdapat dalam zaitun iaitu oleuropein membantu dalam rawatan penyakit pleurisy. Bagi analisis tafsiran tumbuh-tumbuhan selain kurma dan zaitun, didapati kebaikan-kebaikan tumbuh-tumbuhan tersebut dinyatakan dalam bentuk umum seperti, tumbuhan yang dinyatakan dalam al-Qur‟an mempunyai keistimewaan berbanding tumbuh-tumbuhan lain. Hasil daripada analisis kajian-kajian sains mendapati tumbuh-tumbuhan yang dinyatakan dalam al-Qur‟an ini mempunyai potensi sebagai rawatan bagi penyakit seperti kanser, kemerosotan sistem saraf, darah tinggi, diabetes, penyakit kolon, masalah keradangan dan pelbagai penyakit lain. Sebagai kesimpulan, tumbuh-tumbuhan yang dinyatakan dalam al-Qur‟an mempunyai banyak keistimewaan yang boleh dimanfaatkan
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of phytochemicals from spent coffee grounds extract (SCGE) / Siti Sumaiyah Nashiron
Full text linkThe most common waste produced during the production of coffee beverages is spent coffee grounds (SCG), which are abundant in a range of valuable bioactive substances. The improper disposal of SCG in a landfill can contaminate the soil, water, and air. In comparison to fresh coffee grounds (CG), the effect of the brewing process on the concentration and yield of phytochemicals such caffeine, phenolic, and flavonoids as well as their antioxidant and antibacterial properties were investigated in this study. The SCG and CG extract were carried out using Soxhlet extraction method. Using UV-Vis Spectroscopy, the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of the SCG and CG extract were identified. Furthermore, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the extracts were studied. Results showed that the yields of the SCG and CG extracts were 6.48 ± 0.40 and 8.13 ± 0.65%, respectively. It shows that the most water-soluble substances are extracted in the brewing process while substances with lower water solubility remain in SCG. The phenolic and flavonoid content of SCG was indicated slightly lower than CG extract. The phenolic content of SCG and CG extracts are 86.98 ± 0.27 and 115.71 ± 0.17 mg GAE/g, respectively. While the TFC of SCG and CG extract are 23.73 ± 0.03 and 27.21 ± 0.02 mg QE/g due to the lower water solubility of the compounds. The caffeine concentration of SCG and CG extract showed a similar pattern, with values of 6.59 ± 0.02 and 19.36 ± 0.01 mg/g, respectively due to caffeine water-soluble properties. SCG and CG extracts have IC 50 values of 11.34 and 19.73 for antioxidant activity, respectively. The findings demonstrate that SCG and CG extract have high phenolic and flavonoid content that contributes to its strong antioxidant activity. Subsequently, growth against Escherichia coli is inhibited by both the SCG and CG extracts, suggesting that both materials possess antimicrobial properties. Finally, using SCG offers a new supply of valuable chemicals, encourages the development of sustainable practices for the coffee business, and increases the value of a readily available waste product
Determination and analysis of harmonic contents in a three-phase installation / Sumaiyah Mohamad Sani
Full text linkHarmonics generation can lead to serious power quality problem if it is not reduced to acceptable level. Electric components content of non-linear loads contribute to serious harmonics injection to the main supply line. This project is proposed to analyse a harmonic distortion that produced by non-linear loads
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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