Intelligence quotient and perceptual ability: an inter-relationship based on brainwave power ratio features

Cognitive ability refers to the characteristic approach by the brain in processing information. These can be observed through various aspects of cognition such as intelligence and perceptual ability. Studies have shown that both mental constituents originate from the same neurological substrate in the prefrontal cortex. Hence, the paper discusses the relationship between intelligence and perceptual ability using electroencephalogram (EEG) features. The study is based on resting brainwave of fifty samples and focused on the left and right prefrontal cortex. The intelligence quotient (IQ) scores obtained are then used to establish the control groups. Subsequently, the pattern of alpha and theta power ratio for each IQ level is observed and successfully correlated with perceptual ability through the Neural Efficiency Hypothesis of intelligence.Keywords: EEG; intelligence; IQ; perceptual ability; power ratio

Effects of quality circle participation on employee perception and attitude in five Malaysian companies

This study investigates changes in employee attitude brought about through participation in Quality Circle (QC). Assessment of circle performance was measured by technical aspects, length of participation, training, member feelings about QCs, job satisfaction and job commitment. Study illustrates the impacts of participation on 130 workers from 5 Malaysian companies participated in a survey. Results show that QCs develop positive attitudes among employees who derive job satisfaction when they feel that their companies are a good place to work and consequently, more willing to extend their efforts for their companies

Effects of quality circle participation on employee perception and attitude in five Malaysian companies

This study investigates changes in employee attitude brought about through participation in Quality Circle (QC). Assessment of circle performance was measured by technical aspects, length of participation, training, member feelings about QCs, job satisfaction and job commitment. Study illustrates the impacts of participation on 130 workers from 5 Malaysian companies participated in a survey. Results show that QCs develop positive attitudes among employees who derive job satisfaction when they feel that their companies are a good place to work and consequently, more willing to extend their efforts for their companies

Influence of metakaolin as partially cement replacement minerals on the properties of cement and concrete / Muhd Norhasri Mohd Sidek ...[et al.]

Metakaolin is a manufactured pozzolan produced by thermal processing of purified kaolinitic clay using electrical furnace. This study has examined the effect of Metakaolin on the properties of cement and concrete at a replacement level of 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%. The parameters studied were divided into two groups which are chemical compositions, water requirement, setting time and soundness test were carried out for cementitous properties. Workability, compressive strength and bending strength were test for concrete properties. Hardened concrete was cured under different type of curing conditions and tested.. The result showed that the inclusions of Metakaolin as cement replacement minerals have change some of the cementitous and concrete properties. This research reveals, the optimum effect for cementitous and concrete properties for metakaolin was 10%

Bearing performance and damage characteristics of rein-infused thermoplastic 3D woven composites bolted joints

This paper presents a comprehensive study on the single-bolt single-shear (SBSS) and double-bolt single shear (DBSS) lap joint performance of resin-infused thermoplastic 3D fibre-reinforced composite (FRC) in on-axis (0°and 90°) and off-axis (45°) configurations. The bearing performance and failure mechanisms are compared with thermoset 3D-FRC. The resin-infused thermoplastic 3D-FRC bolted joint shows improved bearing performance in terms of higher ultimate bearing strength, stiffness loss strength, and reduced damage severity than its thermoset counterpart. Additionally, this paper presents a detailed study on the intermediate and final failure mechanisms, obtained from scanning electron microscopy of the interrupted and ultimate bearing tests, to understand damage progression in SBSS and BDSS lap joints at the submicron level. The major damage characteristics of a thermoplastic 3D-FRC bolted joint include plastic deformation and plastic kinking at the hole front tip, which improve the bearing capacity and reduce stress concentration, damage severity, and its deleterious effects

Evidence of disease severity, cognitive and physical outcomes of dance interventions for persons with Parkinson's disease : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) usually experience worsening of both motor and non-motor symptoms. Dancing has been postulated to help patients with Parkinson’s via several mechanisms that lead to improved physical, cognitive and social functions. Methods: This systematic review was conducted following Cochrane methodology and reported following the PRISMA guideline. Four databases (up to June 2021) were searched for RCTs comparing dance to standard or other physical therapy for improvements in disease severity, quality of life, cognitive and physical outcomes as well as adverse events in patients with PD. We synthesised data using RevMan and included certainty-of-evidence rating (GRADE) for major outcomes. Results: A total of 20 RCTs (N = 723) articles that evaluated Tango, Ballroom, Irish, Waltz-Foxtrot, Folk, Turo, mixed dances and a PD-tailored dance were included. Dancers (versus non-dancers) had better motor experience (MDS-UPDRS 3) (MD -6.01, 95 % CI -9.97 to -3.84; n = 148; 5 RCTs) and improved balance (MiniBest Test) (MD 4.47, 95 % CI 2.29 to 6.66; n = 95; 3 RCTs), with no consistent differences on gait, agility and cognitive outcomes. Small samples and methodological limitations resulted in low-certainty-evidence across outcomes. Conclusions: Apart from a suggestion that dance intervention modestly reduced motor disease severity and improved certain aspects of balance, there is insufficient evidence on all other outcomes, such as agility and motor function, cognitive, mood and social outcomes, quality of life as well as adverse events including the risk of fall. As evidence is insufficient to inform practice, evidence of benefits on motor disease severity and balance needs to be considered in the context of user-perception of benefit versus harm and acceptability in the development of practice guideline recommendations

Canine vector borne diseases of zoonotic concern in three dog shelters in Peninsular Malaysia: the importance of preventive measures

This study investigated canine vector borne diseases (CVBDs) of zoonotic significance in three major shelters in Peninsular Malaysia in order to highlight the importance of shelter management in diseases prevention. Since crowded housing has the potential to bring vectors and infected dogs into close proximity, the prevalence of CVBDs infection is always higher in sheltered dogs in comparison to pet dogs. Serum was collected from 90 adult dogs (30 from each shelter) from three shelters in different regions of Peninsular Malaysia (Shelter A, B and C). The prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis, Ehrlichia canis, E. ewingii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, A. platys and Borrelia burgdorferi in dogs residing in three shelters with different management protocols was investigated by using rapid clinical test kits, SNAP® 4Dx® Plus (IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME). The most common pathogen detected was Ehrlichia spp. (55.6%, 50 out of 90 dogs), followed by Anaplasma spp. (16.7%; 15 out of 90 dogs). Dirofilaria immitis could only be detected in one of the shelters (10.0%; nine out of 90 dogs). No evidence of B. burgdorferi was detected in all three shelters. Forty one out of 90 dogs (45.6%) were infected with at least one pathogen meanwhile 14 out of 90 dogs (15.6%) were infected with more than one pathogen. It is of crucial importance to practice preventive measures during the admission of the new animals into the facilities. Occasional treatment of the dogs (as practiced in Shelter B) was not effective when compared to scheduled preventive measures. Future studies should emphasize the isolation and additional molecular characterization of vector borne pathogens in Peninsular Malaysia. In addition, studies that define the tick species that infest dogs in this region would help to elucidate their role as vectors for disease transmission

Hippobosca longipennis - a potential intermediate host of a species of Acanthocheilonema in dogs in northern India

Background Hippobosca longipennis (the 'dog louse fly') is a blood sucking ectoparasite found on wild carnivores such as cheetahs and lions and domesticated and feral dogs in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, including China. Known as an intermediate host for Acanthocheilonema dracunculoides and a transport host for Cheyletiella yasguri, it has also been suggested that H. longipennis may be a vector for other pathogens, including Acanthocheilonema sp.? nov., which was recently reported to infect up to 48% of dogs in northern India where this species of fly is known to commonly infest dogs. To test this hypothesis, hippoboscid flies feeding on dogs in Ladakh in northern India were collected and subjected to microscopic dissection. Results A total of 12 infective larvae were found in 10 out of 65 flies dissected; 9 from the head, 2 from the thorax and 1 from the abdomen. The larvae averaged 2, 900 (± 60) μm in length and 34 (± 5) μm in width and possessed morphological features characteristic of the family Onchocercidae. Genetic analysis and comparison of the 18S, ITS-2, 12S and cox-1 genes confirmed the identity of the larvae as the Acanthocheilonema sp.? nov. reported in dogs in Ladakh. Conclusion This study provides evidence for a potential intermediate host-parasite relationship between H. longipennis and the canine Acanthocheilonema sp.? nov. in northern India

A survey of canine tick-borne diseases in India

Background: There are few published reports on canine Babesia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Hepatozoon and haemotropic Mycoplasma infections in India and most describe clinical disease in individual dogs, diagnosed by morphological observation of the microorganisms in stained blood smears. This study investigated the occurrence and distribution of canine tick-borne disease (TBD) pathogens using a combination of conventional and molecular diagnostic techniques in four cities in India. Results: On microscopy examination, only Hepatozoon gamonts were observed in twelve out of 525 (2.3%; 95% CI: 1.2, 4) blood smears. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a total of 261 from 525 dogs (49.7%; 95% CI: 45.4, 54.1) in this study were infected with one or more canine tick-borne pathogen. Hepatozoon canis (30%; 95% CI: 26.0, 34.0) was the most common TBD pathogen found infecting dogs in India followed by Ehrlichia canis (20.6%; 95% CI: 17.2, 24.3), Mycoplasma haemocanis (12.2%; 95% CI: 9.5, 15.3), Anaplasma platys (6.5%; 95% CI: 4.5, 8.9), Babesia vogeli (5.5%, 95% CI: 3.7, 7.8) and Babesia gibsoni (0.2%, 95% CI: 0.01, 1.06). Concurrent infection with more than one TBD pathogen occurred in 39% of cases. Potential tick vectors, Rhipicephalus (most commonly) and/or Haemaphysalis ticks were found on 278 (53%) of dogs examined. Conclusions: At least 6 species of canine tick-borne pathogens are present in India. Hepatozoon canis was the most common pathogen and ticks belonging to the genus Rhipicephalus were encountered most frequently. Polymerase chain reaction was more sensitive in detecting circulating pathogens compared with peripheral blood smear examination. As co-infections with canine TBD pathogens were common, Indian veterinary practitioners should be cognisant that the discovery of one such pathogen raises the potential for multiple infections which may warrant different clinical management strategies

Synthesis of (cinnamate-zinc layered hydroxide) intercalation compound for sunscreen application

Background: Zinc layered hydroxide (ZLH) intercalated with cinnamate, an anionic form of cinnamic acid (CA), an efficient UVA and UVB absorber, have been synthesized by direct method using zinc oxide (ZnO) and cinnamic acid as the precursor. Results: The resulting obtained intercalation compound, ZCA, showed a basal spacing of 23.9 Å as a result of cinnamate intercalated in a bilayer arrangement between the interlayer spaces of ZLH with estimated percentage loading of cinnamate of about 40.4 % w/w. The UV–vis absorption spectrum of the intercalation compound showed excellent UVA and UVB absorption ability. Retention of cinnamate in ZLH interlayers was tested against media usually came across with sunscreen usage to show low release over an extended period of time. MTT assay of the intercalation compound on human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells showed cytotoxicity of ZCA to be concentration dependent and is overall less toxic than its precursor, ZnO. Conclusions: (Cinnamate-zinc layered hydroxide) intercalation compound is suitable to be used as a safe and effective sunscreen with long UV protection effect