Dietry and lifestyle changes of Malaysia breast cancer survivors: a qualitative study

Objective : This study was performed to determine changes in diet and lifestyle among breast cancer survivors in Malaysia. Methods : This was a qualitative study done on fifteen survivors (8 Malays and 7 non-Malays) obtained from the Oncology and Surgery Department, National University of Malaysia Hospital. The study was conducted using a semi-structured interview format. The data obtained were sorted into various categories via content analysis. Results : Majority of breast cancer survivors increased their fruit and vegetable intake following diagnosis. Some non-Malays changed to vegetarian whereas all the Malays remained on the same dietary pattern. As far as exercise was concerned, all Malays did not exercise before diagnosis, but did so after diagnosis, whereas most of non-Malays did not exercise either before or after diagnosis. Conclusion : Some changes were noticed in dietary and lifestyle behaviors after diagnosis among some survivors. The differences were due to their different cultural and religious backgrounds

Effect of nitrogen rates on the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) population infesting chilli (Capsicum annum L.)

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is considered the most important whitefly species harmful to agriculture. Experiments were conducted at MARDI Station in Jalan Kebun, Klang, Selangor from 9 September 2006 to 11 November 2007. The objective of this study was to evaluate the population of whitefly on chilli plants fertilised with different rates of nitrogen (0, 33, 43, 53 g/plant). The results showed that high rates of nitrogen treatment significantly (P<0.05) increased B. tabaci immature population as compared to lower rate treatments. The mean number of B. tabaci immature per plant stratum was significantly different (P<0.05) among plant strata as well as among the treatments. Generally, the mean number of B. tabaci eggs and larvae was significantly (P<0.05) greater in the upper strata than in the middle and lower plant strata. Whereas, the mean number of B. tabaci pupa was significantly greater in the lower strata than in the upper and middle plant strata. The mean number of B. tabaci immature was significantly different (P<0.05) among the sampling periods in all treatment. Generally, B. tabaci population was significantly greater during the early season and gradually declined as the season progressed except during the third and seventh week after transplanting

A taxonomic update of Takahashi’s historic collection of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) from Malaysia and Singapore

Dr. Ryoichi Takahashi collected mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) from Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore in 1943–1944, and mounted them in 39 permanent slide mounts using Canada balsam. The slides are deposited in the Department of Agriculture, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The objective of this research was to update the identification of Takahashi’s specimens using recent taxonomic keys. Some preparations on cavity slides were re-mounted to facilitate identification. The re-mounted specimens, and those on the original slides, were re-examined and 12 species were identified. The Takahashi samples of Pseudococcus comstocki (Kuwana) and Rastrococcus mangiferae (Green) are the earliest records of these species from Peninsular Malaysia

NEW INDONESIAN COUNTRY RECORDS AND SPECIES INFORMATION FOR MEALYBUGS (HEMIPTERA PSEUDOCOCCIDAE) IN WIRJATI’S HISTORIC COLLECTION

Between 1955 and 1960, a collection of slide-mounted mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) was prepared by Mrs Wirjati, using samples collected between 1916 and 1960 from a variety of hosts in Indonesia. The collection is a record of which species were established in the country in 1960. The slides, deposited at the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture in Java, are the earliest material in the national mealybug collection. There are 181 temporary slide mounts of unstained, waxy mealybugs mounted in agar or gum chloral media that have dried out to varying degrees. Specimens were retrieved from 50 representative slides and re-mounted as stained, archival mounts in Canada balsam. The method used to retrieve the specimens from the old mounts is described. The re-mounted specimens were re-identified using up-to-date, published identification keys, resulting in new identities for most of the  specimens. Fifteen species belonging to 12 genera were identified, however specimens from four of the slides  could not be identified beyond genus level. The Wirjati slides of Antonina thaiensis Takahashi, Hordeolicoccus nephelii (Takahashi) and Paraputo corbetti (Takahashi) are new country records. The differences between the fauna in Wirjati’s collection and that found in Indonesia today are discussed

Sonographic measurements of ocular biometry of indigenous Nigerian dogs in Zaria, Nigeria

This study was aimed at conducting ophthalmic sonographic examination of Nigerian indigenous dogs to provide baseline information on some major ocular parameters. Healthy eyes of eighty (80) indigenous dogs were used for the study. The dogs were adequately restrained physically and the structure of the ocular globe was evaluated at a depth of 4-6 cm. For each dog, baseline data were obtained for D1= corneal thickness, D2= anterior chamber depth, D3= lens thickness, D4= vitreous chamber depth, and D5= the sagital axial length of the eye. Similarly, the baseline data were obtained for A1= anterior chamber area, A2= lens area, A3= vitreous chamber area and A4= globe area. Result revealed that the baseline ocular parameters of the Indigenous Nigerian dogs’ (in puppy, adult and older dogs respectively) were D1: 1.2 ± 0.2 mm, 1.4 ± 0.2 mm, 1.8 ± 0.2 mm; D3: 12.6 ± 0.6 mm, 13.6 ± 0.8 mm, 15.1 ± 0.9 mm and D5: 39.1 ± 1.4 mm, 42.5 ± 1.5 mm, 43.2 ± 2.1 mm. similarly, area biometry were obtained for A1: 30.8 ±3.0 mm2, 34.5 ± 3.6 mm2 and 32.0 ± 4.6 mm2 and A2: 213.7 ± 21.1 mm2, 250.3 ± 23.6 mm2, 264.8 ± 21.0 mm2. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with turkey’s multiple comparison post-hoc test was used to compare the level of significance among the test groups. Values of P &lt; 0.05 were considered significant at 95 % confidence. As such, it was deduced that these baseline ocular parameter values varied in two patterns: corneal thickness (D1), lens thickness and area (D3 and A2) and axial length and area (D5 and A4) increased with age from puppy to the adult and the older dogs in both sexes. However, the anterior chamber depth and area (D2 and A1) and vitreous depth and area (D4 and A3) increased initially with age from puppy to the adult dogs and then decreased slightly in the older dogs. The three (3) major ocular segments- anterior chamber, lens capsule and vitreous chamber was demonstrated in this study to represent approximately 2%, 17% and 76% respectively of the entire ocular globe area. The ciliary body and muscles, suspensory ligament and posterior chamber makes up the remainder 5%. This study has presented the baseline sonographic values of some major parameters of Indiginous Nigerian dogs in Zaria, and the values will be useful in the disgnosis ocular conditions that these may present.Keywords: Ultrasonography, Baseline Value, Nigerian indigenous Dog, Ocular Biometr

Microfiber-based Sensor for Measuring Uric Acid Concentrations

Microfiber sensor is proposed and demonstrated using a fiber optic displacement sensor (FODS) based on intensity modulation technique for measurement of different concentrations of uric acid. The proposed sensor uses singlemode fiber (SMF) tapered using flame brushing technique to enhance the evanescent field around the fiber core to interact with the uric acid. The tapered area is bent manually and sets vertically on a clamp, facing the mirror in the beaker. It is placed within the linear range of a sensor’s displacement curve of 0 to 5000 µm. The calibration of tapered fiber sensor was done both in the air and diluted water. The sensor is capable of measuring the concentrations of uric acid from 100 ppm to 500 ppm with a measured sensitivity of 0.0218 dBm/ppm. The linearity and resolution of the proposed sensor are 99.21% and 28.219 ppm, respectively. In addition, the proposed microfiber FODS sensor using SMF exhibit good stability and repeatability. It provides numerous advantages in terms of simple design, less production cost and operation without forfeiting its sensitivity

Search for leptophobic Z ' bosons decaying into four-lepton final states in proton-proton collisions at root s=8 TeV

Peer reviewe

Search for black holes and other new phenomena in high-multiplicity final states in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

Peer reviewe

Measurements of differential production cross sections for a Z boson in association with jets in pp collisions at root s=8 TeV

Peer reviewe

Search for high-mass diphoton resonances in proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV and combination with 8 TeV search

Peer reviewe