Stress and its associated factors among medical students in a public medical faculty, Malaysia

Background: Stress is common among university students. Levels of stress vary between the students of different courses in the university and many factors are associated with it. As compared to other professional courses, medical students are more prone to get depressed because medical education is known to be stressful and very demanding. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire involving all medical students in academic session 2013/2014. The questionnaire consists of 3 parts; socio-demographic information, family factors and personal factors; Depression, Anxiety and Stress Score 21 questionnaire (DASS 21) and Duke University Religion Index (DUREL). DUREL measures religiosity in 3 scales namely; organized religious activity (ORA), non-organized religious activity (NORA) and intrinsic religiosity (IR). The questionnaire was distributed to all medical students available in FMHS during the data collection period. Data collected were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 21. Result: Of 409 medical students, 329 (80.4%) responded. Most (50.5%) were aged 22 years and above, majority (62.3%) were female students. Respondents were mainly Malay (54.4%) and Muslims (56.8%). Stress prevalence in medical students were 19.8%. Stress prevalence was higher among students aged ≤ 21 years (22.1%), male (20.2%), Indian (24.0%) and Hindus (31.6%),among students with father of primary education level (21.4%), mother of tertiary education level (25%) and low income family (21.4%). Prevalence of stress among students in pre-clinical year (21.4%) and clinical year students (17.9%), p>0.05. Stress among students who did not undergo matriculation course and those who attended were 21.7% and 18.8%, respectively. Proportion of stress students who entered medical school not on their own choice and on their own choice were 24.3% and 18.5%, respectively, p>0.05. Medical students with poor ORA and NORA showed higher proportion of stress (20.2%, 20.6% respectively) however, students with good IR had higher proportion of stress compared to those with poor IR (20.0%, 19.5%, p>0.05). Conclusion: Stress is prevalent among almost one-fifth of medical students, especially those in their pre-clinical years of studies. Students’ involvement in religious activities could be beneficial to prevent stress. Further research is needed to assess the effect of medical training on stress and the effect of religiosity on stress coping

Carrier-envelope phase control over pathway interference in strong-field dissociation of H2+_2^+

The dissociation of an H$_2^+$ molecular-ion beam by linearly polarized, carrier-envelope-phase-tagged 5 fs pulses at 4$\times10^{14}$W/cm$^2$ with a central wavelength of 730 nm was studied using a coincidence 3D momentum imaging technique. Carrier-envelope-phase-dependent asymmetries in the emission direction of H$^+$ fragments relative to the laser polarization were observed. These asymmetries are caused by interference of odd and even photon number pathways, where net-zero photon and 1-photon interference predominantly contributes at H$^+$+H kinetic energy releases of 0.2 -- 0.45 eV, and net-2-photon and 1-photon interference contributes at 1.65 -- 1.9 eV. These measurements of the benchmark H$_2^+$ molecule offer the distinct advantage that they can be quantitatively compared with \textit{ab initio} theory to confirm our understanding of strong-field coherent control via the carrier-envelope phase

Effect of Biscuits and Muffins Added with Cornlettes Powder on the Glycemic Responses of Healthy Individuals

Dietary fibre content is a known factor that can affect the postprandial glycemic responses of a food and meal. Cornlettes vegetable which is rich in dietary fibre has been studied for its potential in lowering the peak glycemic responses of biscuits and muffins. Cornlettes was processed into powder and formulated into four formulations of selected bakery products. The glycemic responses produced by portions of the biscuits and muffins containing 25 g available carbohydrate were measured in 11 healthy volunteers. The incremental area under curve (AUC) of control biscuits was greater (81 ± 11 mmol × min/l) than cornlettes powder (CP) added biscuit (63 ± 12 mmol × min/l). Likewise, the AUC of control muffins was higher (88 ± 13 mmol × min/l) than CP-added muffins (74 ± 12 mmol × min/l). Control biscuits had an intermediate GI value of 61 while CP-added biscuits had a low GI value of 46. Both control and CP-added muffins recorded intermediate GI values (58 and 57, respectively). It is concluded that CP can be incorporated in selected bakery products as a potential ingredient to help lower the peak rise of postprandial glycemic responses

Cornlettes Improves Dietary Content and Reducing Glycemic Index of Selected Baked Products

Frequent ingestion of meal high in the amount and varieties of dietary fibre-containing foods can prevent many of chronic diseases. Baked-based products, particularly biscuits and cakes, appeared in the list of top ten daily consumed foods based on the Malaysian Adult Nutrition Survey. The effects of partial substitution of wheat flour with dietary fibre from cornlettes (CL) on nutrients composition and glycemic index (GI) of biscuit and chiffon cake were investigated. Dehydrated CL was added in biscuit and chiffon cake formulations to replace wheat flour partially at concentrations of 0, 10, 20 and 30%. Protein, ash and dietary fibre contents of biscuit and chiffon cake added with CL powder were increased in line with the levels of CL used. Even though protein content of CL-based cakes increased in line (13.3 to 15.7%) with the levels of CL (10 to 30%), but there was no significant different compared to control. Interestingly, addition of CL at 10% to partially replace wheat flour resulted in reduction of postprandial blood glucose response. The GI values for both biscuit and chiffon cake added with YCE were 46 and 49, respectively. These values were significantly lower than control biscuit and cake which recorded GI values at 61 and 59, respectively. Thus, CL can be incorporated in bakery products to enhance nutrient content while at the same time help in reducing the GI values. Further investigation on the addition of CL into other baked-based products in relation to nutrition and other glycemic responses can be also explored

Physicochemical and Sensorial Evaluation of Biscuit and Muffin Incorporated with Young Corn Powder (Penilaian Fizikokimia dan Sensori Biskut dan Mufin yang Ditambah Serbuk Jagung Muda)

Various types of natural fibre-rich ingredients are added into bakery-based products to improve their fibre content for health promotional purposes. However, most of these products are frequently added with imported dietary fibre ingredients. The aim of this study was to develop bakery products incorporated with young corn powder (YCP) and to evaluate the effects on physicochemical properties and sensory acceptabilities. Dried young corn was used to substitute wheat flour in biscuit and muffin formulations at different levels (0, 10, 20 and 30%). The effects of YCP incorporation on proximate compositions, physical characteristics, texture profile and sensory evaluation of both bakery products were investigated. The present results showed that YCP had significantly increased protein and total dietary fibre contents of both biscuit and muffin. Hardness attribute of both products increased in line with the level of YCP addition. Interestingly, biscuit and muffin containing 10% YCP received better score than the control and other formulations for most of the sensorial attributes judged. In conclusion, YCP can be potentially be used as an alternative functional ingredient for partial replacement of wheat flour in formulating biscuit and muffin because of its ability to improve the nutritional quality without jeopardizing sensorial palatability. || Pelbagai jenis ramuan yang kaya serat secara semula jadi ditambah ke dalam produk makanan berasaskan bakeri untuk meningkatkan kandungan serat dan untuk tujuan promosi kesihatan. Walau bagaimanapun, kebanyakan produk makanan ini kerap kali ditambah dengan sumber ramuan serat yang diimport. Tujuan kajian ini dijalankan adalah untuk membangunkan produk bakeri dengan menambah serbuk jagung muda (YCP) dan menilai kesannya ke atas sifat fizikokimia dan penerimaan sensori. Jagung muda segar dikeringkan, disediakan sebagai serbuk dan digunakan pada tahap yang berbeza (0, 10, 20 dan 30%) sebagai menggantikan tepung gandum dalam formulasi biskut dan mufin. Kesan penambahan YCP ke atas komposisi proksimat, sifat fizikal, profil tekstur dan penilaian sensori telah dikaji. Keputusan kajian mendapati kandungan protein dan jumlah serat dietari bertambah secara ketara. Kedua-dua produk didapati bertambah keras apabila lebih banyak YCP dimasukkan. Biskut dan mufin berformulasi 10% memperoleh skor yang lebih baik berbanding kawalan dan formulasi lain yang lebih tinggi kandungan YCP. Kesimpulannya, penambahan YCP didapati sesuai untuk proses pembuatan produk bakeri dan penggayaan nutrien disebabkan potensinya untuk digunakan sebagai pengganti separa kepada tepung gandum serta sebagai ramuan terfungsi dalam formulasi biskut dan mufin kerana keupayaannya untuk menambah baik kandungan nutrisi tanpa menjejaskan kesedapan

Differences in angiographic profile and immediate outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention in otherwise risk-free young male smokers

Introduction: Cigarette smoking is a well-established risk factor for the development and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD) and it is strongly related to cardiac morbidity and mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the angiographic profile and immediate clinical outcomes in young male smokers and non-smokers without any other cardiac risk factors presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Methods: This study includes young (≤40 years) male patients presented without cardiac risk factors other than smoking. Angiographic profile and immediate outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were collected from the hospital database.Results: A total of 580 young male patients were included in this study, 51.2% (297) were smokers. Baseline characteristics and presentation were similar for smoker and non-smoker groups. Angiographic profile was not significantly different for smokers in terms of pre-procedure thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow (p = 0.373), the number of vessels involved (p = 0.813), infarct-related artery (p = 0.834), and left ventricular dysfunction (p = 0.311). Similarly, in-hospital outcomes of primary PCI were not significantly different in smokers. Post-procedure no-reflow was in 3.4% vs. 2.8%; p = 0.708, acute stent thrombosis in 1.7% vs. 0.4%; p = 0.114 and in-hospital mortality in 1.0% vs. 1.4%; p = 0.657 of the smoker and non-smoker group, respectively.Conclusion: Our study concludes smoking has no significant impact on the angiographic profile and immediate clinical outcomes of primary PCI after STEMI in young males, without any other conventional cardiac risk factors. With these findings, further multicenter prospective studies are needed to identify other potential causes in such patients

Effects of Ag NPs: Enhancement of mechanical properties of Er3+/Nd3+ codoped lithium niobate tellurite glass via ultrasonic measurement

Ag NPs embedded in Er3+/Nd3+ codoped lithium niobate tellurite glasses of the form (68-x)TeO2-15Li2CO3-15Nb2O5-1Er2O3-1Nd2O3-(x)AgCl with x = 1, 2 and 3 mol% via conventional melt-quenching technique. Surface roughness and mechanical properties of the glass sample are characterized and discussed. The ultrasonic attenuation shows the rate of sound energy reduction when an ultrasonic wave is propagating in a medium which is the lithium niobate tellurite glasses. The glass attenuation depends on the grain size, viscous friction, crystal structure, porosity, and hardness. The ultrasonic acoustic impedance and attenuation coefficient of particles are estimated from an analysis of the pulse-echo technique. Simple correlation functions and the accurate scattering theory include the effects of acoustic waves, were used separately to focus on the absorption and scattering effects from spherical particles (Ag NPs) and thereby describe the structures of the medium

Fabrication and characterization of printed zinc batteries

Zinc batteries are a more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to its components being highly recyclable. With the improvements in the screen printing technology, high quality devices can be printed with at high throughput and precision at a lower cost compared to those manufactured using lithographic techniques. In this paper we describe the fabrication and characterization of printed zinc batteries. Different binder materials such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinyl butyral (PVB), were used to fabricate the electrodes. The electrodes were first evaluated using three-electrode cyclic voltammetry, x-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy before being fully assembled and tested using charge-discharge test and two-electrode cyclic voltammetry. The results show that the printed ZnO electrode with PVB as binder performed better than PVP-based ZnO. The XRD data prove that the electro-active materials were successfully transferred to the sample. However, based on the evaluation, the results show that the cathode electrode was dominated by the silver instead of Ni(OH)2, which leads the sample to behave like a silver-zinc battery instead of a nickel-zinc battery. Nevertheless, the printed zinc battery electrodes were successfully evaluated, and more current collector materials for cathode should be explored for printed nickel-zinc batteries