Port assisted closure of laparoscopic wound: A safe and feasible technique

Objective: Various techniques and instruments have been developed to provide safe and secure closure of laparoscopic wounds. Herein we describe a simple method to close laparoscopic supraumbilical wounds with the aid of a laparoscopic port. Method: This was a retrospective review of prospective data, which were from 151 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstone disease from December 2009 to December 2010 in Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital. A senior consultant hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgeon and two HPB trainee surgeons performed the operations. Postoperatively, all patients were followed up at 4 weeks. Results: All patients successfully underwent closure of the supraumbilical wound with the assistance of a 5mm laparoscopic port. None of the patients had incisional hernia on follow up. Conclusion: Port assisted closure of supraumbilical laparoscopic wounds is a feasible and safe technique

Baseflow persistence and magnitude in oil palm, logged and primary tropical rainforest catchments in Malaysian Borneo: implications for water management under climate change

While timber harvesting has plateaued, repeat-logging and conversion into plantations (especially oil palm) are still active in the tropics. The associated hydrological impacts especially pertaining to enhanced runoff, flood, and erosion have been well-studied, but little attention has been given to water resource availability in the humid tropics. In the light of the increasing climate extremes, this paper compared baseflow values and baseflow recession constants (K) between headwater catchments of five differing land-uses in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, namely primary forest (PF), old growth/virgin jungle reserve (VJR), twice-logged forest with 22 years regeneration (LF2), multiple-logged forest with 8 years regeneration (LF3), and oil palm plantation (OP). Hydrological and meteorological sensors and dataloggers were established in each catchment. Daily discharge was used for computing K via four estimation methods. Catchment ranks in terms of decreasing K were VJR (0.97841), LF3 (0.96692), LF2 (0.90347), PF (0.83886), and OP (0.86756). Catchment ranks in terms of decreasing annual baseflow were PF (1877 mm), LF3 (1265 mm), LF2 (812 mm), VJR (753 mm), and OP (367 mm), corresponding to 68%, 55%, 51%, 42%, and 38% of annual streamflow, respectively. Despite the low K, PF had the highest baseflow magnitude. OP had the fastest baseflow recession and lowest baseflow magnitude. Baseflow persistence decreased with increasing degree of disturbance. K showed strong association to catchment stem density instead of basal area. For dynamic catchments in this study, the Kb3 estimator is recommended based on its lowest combination of coefficient of variation (CoV) and root mean squared error (RMSE) of prediction. For wetter catchments with even shorter recession events, the Kb4 estimator may be considered. Regarding climate change, logging and oil palm agriculture should only be conducted after considering water resource availability. Forests (even degraded ones) should be conserved as much as possible in the headwaters for sustainable water resource

Determining the factors that promote higher order thinking skills in mathematics technology enhanced learning environment: perspective from university students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that influence promotion of higher order thinking skills (HOTS) among mathematics higher learning institution students in technology enhanced learning environment (TEL) in Malaysia. The study used descriptive research design. Data of the study was collected by using quantitative research approach. A total of 250 students from three public universities participated in the study. The study explores the relationship between students' attitude towards technology use and organisation support towards promotion of HOTS in mathematics TEL environment. Results from structural equation modelling reported that students' attitude towards technology use had a positive direct relationship with HOTS. Meanwhile, organisation support had a positive direct relationship with students' attitude towards technology use which in turn indirectly influence promotion of HOTS. The hypothesized structural equation model accounted for 20.2% of the variance in HOTS. The results indicated a need for further studies in order to examine factors that predict promotion of HOTS in mathematics TEL at higher learning institutions in Malaysia

Microfabricated Ion Traps

Ion traps offer the opportunity to study fundamental quantum systems with high level of accuracy highly decoupled from the environment. Individual atomic ions can be controlled and manipulated with electric fields, cooled to the ground state of motion with laser cooling and coherently manipulated using optical and microwave radiation. Microfabricated ion traps hold the advantage of allowing for smaller trap dimensions and better scalability towards large ion trap arrays also making them a vital ingredient for next generation quantum technologies. Here we provide an introduction into the principles and operation of microfabricated ion traps. We show an overview of material and electrical considerations which are vital for the design of such trap structures. We provide guidance in how to choose the appropriate fabrication design, consider different methods for the fabrication of microfabricated ion traps and discuss previously realized structures. We also discuss the phenomenon of anomalous heating of ions within ion traps, which becomes an important factor in the miniaturization of ion traps

Hyperamylasemia with Normal Pancreas in Leptospirosis

Abstract Serum α-amylase has been the most widely used laboratory test to diagnose acute pancreatitis. Serum amylase can be raised in many conditions including acute pancreatitis, other pancreatic diseases and non-pancreatic diseases. In addition, serum amylase not necessarily increased in acute pancreatitis. These two cases illustrate, a rare condition in which hyperamylasemia was noted in a case of leptospirosis in the abscence of pancreatic involvement. The initial clinical diagnosis in these patients were acute pancreatitis.Key words: Pancreatitis; Hyperamylesemia; Leptospirosi

Migrating to technology integrated classes to promote higher order thinking skills among university students: perspectives from mathematics academicians

This study investigates factors that influence the use of information and communication technology (ICT) tools by academicians to promote higher order thinking skills (HOTS) among university mathematics students. The study adapted constructs such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy and facilitating conditions from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. The study applied descriptive research design and used quantitative and qualitative approach in the form of questionnaire and interview to gather data from 86 academicians from three local public universities in Malaysia. The data were analysed in terms of descriptive analysis and content analysis. The result showed that the technology, instructor, student, learning material, task and organisational factors play important roles in promoting HOTS among students. The study contributed to expanding readers' understanding of the factors that influence the use of ICT tools by academicians to promote HOTS among university students