A Letter to Peggy Robertson from Lim Chong Keat

This letter introduces Lim Chong Keat to Peggy Robertson, as he wishes to build up material on the Temiar

Free form in contemporary architecture : a study of the roots and characteristics of plasticity in architectural design

Thesis (M.Arch.) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture, 1957.Bibliography: leaves 138-142.by Chong-Keat Lim.M.Arch

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity and mental health among undergraduate students

With the sudden change of environment and limited studies on the effects of COVID-19 lockdown among university students, this study therefore aims to examine the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity level and mental health among university students in Malaysia. This is a cross-sectional study involving university students studying in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Demographics information, living status during COVID-19, physical activity level and mental health status were obtained through online questionnaire via Microsoft forms. Paired T-test was used to compare the effect of physical activity level and mental health status during COVID-19 lockdown. Data on falls was available for 383 participants with 254 (66.3 %) women and 129 (33.7%) men. Overall, the metabolic equivalent task (MET) of vigorous, moderate, mild, and total MET has decreased during COVID-19 lockdown as compared to before COVID-19 lockdown. Approximately an increment of 6% of participants reported having depression and anxiety during COVID-19 lockdown. In conclusion, significant impact on physical activity level and mental health was found in our study. Our study findings could therefore assist educational institutions and policymakers in forming strategies to improve student’s overall health, yet further longitudinal studies should be performed to examine the long-term effects of COVID-19 lockdown

Integration of an On-Axis General Sun-Tracking Formula in the Algorithm of an Open-Loop Sun-Tracking System

A novel on-axis general sun-tracking formula has been integrated in the algorithm of an open-loop sun-tracking system in order to track the sun accurately and cost effectively. Sun-tracking errors due to installation defects of the 25 m2 prototype solar concentrator have been analyzed from recorded solar images with the use of a CCD camera. With the recorded data, misaligned angles from ideal azimuth-elevation axes have been determined and corrected by a straightforward changing of the parameters' values in the general formula of the tracking algorithm to improve the tracking accuracy to 2.99 mrad, which falls below the encoder resolution limit of 4.13 mrad

An Evaluation of Consumers’ Perceptions Regarding “Modern Medicines” in Penang, Malaysia

The objective of this study was to evaluate consumers’ perceptions regarding “modern medicines” in Penang, Malaysia. To conduct this exploratory study, qualitative techniques were used. Consumers more than 19 years of age and could speak English, who had visited a pharmacy in the last 30 days, were included from the four major areas of Penang. Eighteen interviews were conducted until the point of saturation. The interviews were audio-taped and then transcribed verbatim for thematic content analysis. Many consumers correctly identified the major characteristics and properties of modern medicines; however, others raised doubts regarding the safety, quality and efficacy of “modern medicines”. There were many misconceptions such as “all modern medicines can cause dependence”, traditional medicines are completely “free of side-effects” and “Western medicines cure while Chinese medicines don’t”. Color was also considered a strong determinant of the safety and characteristics of a medicine. Regarding consumers’ “medicine information seeking behavior”, many consumers would seek information from doctors and pharmacists; however, there were others, who would look for books, or get it from the internet and friends. Of concern many consumers emphasized that while “self-searching for drug information” they would only look for side-effects. Misconceptions regarding medicine-taking behavior, medicine use and compliance were also identified. Though several consumers complied with the medicine-taking instructions, many reported that they would stop taking medicines, once they feel better. Though many consumers correctly identified the characteristics of “modern medicines”, misconceptions regarding "medicine information sources and “medicine-taking behavior” were rampant. The situation demands corrective actions including community-oriented educational campaigns to improve “medicine use” in the society

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Unravelling Pinanga patula (Palmae) sensu Scheffer, Beccari and Ridley non Blume

Volume: 50Start Page: 83End Page: 9

Four New Pinanga Blume (Palmae) Species from Peninsular Malaysia

Volume: 50Start Page: 99End Page: 11

Unravelling Iguanura BL. (Palmae) in Peninsular Malaysia

Volume: 48Start Page: 1End Page: 6