Metabolic cost during tyre and rope functional training

This study aimed to examine the metabolic cost during tyre and rope functional training. 20 male youth aged between 20 and 24 years old with average age (22.05 ± 1.46) were recruited for this study. Participants involved in three types of exercise that uses rope and three types of exercise using a tire. Metabolic cost (Metabolic Equivalent of Task value, oxygen consumption, energy cost, and pulse rate training) during training was measured using a special tool called portable metabolic analyzer. Results showed the average MET value for exercises using rope and tires for 10 minutes was 7.25 ± 1.62. The average recorded oxygen consumption was 1655.05 ± 295.703) mL · min -1. While the average energy used is 74.75 ± 14.78 kcal or 7.47 kcal · min -1. The average pulse rate during a 10-minute exercise function was 153.15 ± 13.28 per minute. Overall, using rope and tire as tools for resistance training would give many advantages for the functionality development among the individuals.Keywords: metabolic cost; rope; tyre; oxygen; functionality

Critical Failure Factors in Selling Shoplots towards Sustainability of New Township Development

The focus of this research is to identify the critical factors of shop houses sale failure in Nilai New Township. The critical factors of sale failure of commercial property types, shop houses in new township need to be discover as reported by Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH) showed 5,931 units of shop houses in Malaysia is currently completed but remained unsold where Johor was recorded as the highest with unsold units followed by Negeri Sembilan. Thus Nilai New towship is chosen as research sample for unsold shop houses units due to its strategic location which is near to KLIA, International Sepang Circuit, educational instituitions and surrounded by housing scheme but yet still has numbers of unsold units. Data was gathered from survey question between developers, local authority, purchasers/tenant and local residents.. Generally, the factors of sale failure are economy, demography, politic, location and access, public and basic facilities, financial loan, physical of product, current stock of shop houses upon completion, future potential of subsale and rental, developer’s background, promotion and marketing, speculation and time

Analysis of quorum-sensing Pantoea stewartii strain M073a through whole-genome sequencing

YesPantoea stewartii strain M073a is a Gram-negative bacterium isolated from a tropical waterfall. This strain exhibits quorum-sensing activity. Here, the assembly and annotation of its genome are presented.High Impact Research Grants from the University of Malaya (UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/CHAN/01, grant no. A-000001-50001 and UM-MOHE HIR Grant UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/ CHAN/14/1, no. H-50001-A000027

Influence of Curing Temperature on Mechanical Properties of Woven Jute Reinforced Polyester Composite

The aim of this work is to evaluate the influence of curing temperature onto the mechanical properties of woven jute/polyester composite using warm compression moulding. 40 vol.% woven jute fibres were compressed moulded at a pressure of 2.0 MPa, holding time of 900s by varying the fabrication temperature in three levels which are 150°C, 170°C and 180 °C. The mechanical and thermal properties were characterized using flexural and impact testing, DSC and TGA.  Optimum mechanical properties are achieved at moulding temperature of 170°C. The flexural strength and flexural modulus at the optimised moulding temperature are 37.20 MPa and 0.84 GPa respectively, while their impact strength is 19.38 kJm-2. Morphological examination revealed that the composite failed in brittle manner and due to fibre pull-out indicating of weak interface

The relationship between plant and humans in indoor environment: A pilot test during the COVID-19 pandemic

Little to no studies have examined the relationship between plants and humans during COVID-19, especially the effectiveness of plants in alleviating psychological distress when working in an office. The paper proposes a conceptual framework to investigate the existence of plants to reduce occupants' psychological distress during the pandemic. The selected site was a newly renovated office in an academic institution with all the essential furniture, and Epipremnum aureum was placed on the tabletop. Since the study was conducted during the pandemic, a 3D-rendered scene of the room was developed based on the actual settings of the office. A pilot test was employed in this stage of the study. The survey questionnaires were administered online, with 106 participants responding. Hayes Process Macro for moderation analysis was executed in SPSS v.23 to understand plant relationship with perceived emotional change, including the mediator-room's attractiveness. The pilot test results (actual and simulated models) show that putting E. aureum on a tabletop can positively influence the calmness of the indoor occupants and make them happy (direct effect). Plants that improve the room's attractiveness might not necessarily contribute to calming the indoor occupants, but they make them happy (indirect effect). Lastly, the conceptual framework provides insight to the designers, stakeholders, and policymakers on the importance of plants in reducing occupants' psychological distress and enhancing work productivity

Global age-sex-specific fertility, mortality, healthy life expectancy (HALE), and population estimates in 204 countries and territories, 1950–2019: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Accurate and up-to-date assessment of demographic metrics is crucial for understanding a wide range of social, economic, and public health issues that affect populations worldwide. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 produced updated and comprehensive demographic assessments of the key indicators of fertility, mortality, migration, and population for 204 countries and territories and selected subnational locations from 1950 to 2019. Methods: 8078 country-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 938 surveys, 349 censuses, and 238 other sources were identified and used to estimate age-specific fertility. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate age-specific fertility rates for 5-year age groups between ages 15 and 49 years. With extensions to age groups 10–14 and 50–54 years, the total fertility rate (TFR) was then aggregated using the estimated age-specific fertility between ages 10 and 54 years. 7417 sources were used for under-5 mortality estimation and 7355 for adult mortality. ST-GPR was used to synthesise data sources after correction for known biases. Adult mortality was measured as the probability of death between ages 15 and 60 years based on vital registration, sample registration, and sibling histories, and was also estimated using ST-GPR. HIV-free life tables were then estimated using estimates of under-5 and adult mortality rates using a relational model life table system created for GBD, which closely tracks observed age-specific mortality rates from complete vital registration when available. Independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated by an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys and antenatal clinic serosurveillance and other sources were incorporated into the estimates in countries with large epidemics. Annual and single-year age estimates of net migration and population for each country and territory were generated using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model that analysed estimated age-specific fertility and mortality rates along with 1250 censuses and 747 population registry years. We classified location-years into seven categories on the basis of the natural rate of increase in population (calculated by subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate) and the net migration rate. We computed healthy life expectancy (HALE) using years lived with disability (YLDs) per capita, life tables, and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty was propagated throughout the demographic estimation process, including fertility, mortality, and population, with 1000 draw-level estimates produced for each metric. Findings: The global TFR decreased from 2•72 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 2•66–2•79) in 2000 to 2•31 (2•17–2•46) in 2019. Global annual livebirths increased from 134•5 million (131•5–137•8) in 2000 to a peak of 139•6 million (133•0–146•9) in 2016. Global livebirths then declined to 135•3 million (127•2–144•1) in 2019. Of the 204 countries and territories included in this study, in 2019, 102 had a TFR lower than 2•1, which is considered a good approximation of replacement-level fertility. All countries in sub-Saharan Africa had TFRs above replacement level in 2019 and accounted for 27•1% (95% UI 26•4–27•8) of global livebirths. Global life expectancy at birth increased from 67•2 years (95% UI 66•8–67•6) in 2000 to 73•5 years (72•8–74•3) in 2019. The total number of deaths increased from 50•7 million (49•5–51•9) in 2000 to 56•5 million (53•7–59•2) in 2019. Under-5 deaths declined from 9•6 million (9•1–10•3) in 2000 to 5•0 million (4•3–6•0) in 2019. Global population increased by 25•7%, from 6•2 billion (6•0–6•3) in 2000 to 7•7 billion (7•5–8•0) in 2019. In 2019, 34 countries had negative natural rates of increase; in 17 of these, the population declined because immigration was not sufficient to counteract the negative rate of decline. Globally, HALE increased from 58•6 years (56•1–60•8) in 2000 to 63•5 years (60•8–66•1) in 2019. HALE increased in 202 of 204 countries and territories between 2000 and 2019. Interpretation: Over the past 20 years, fertility rates have been dropping steadily and life expectancy has been increasing, with few exceptions. Much of this change follows historical patterns linking social and economic determinants, such as those captured by the GBD Socio-demographic Index, with demographic outcomes. More recently, several countries have experienced a combination of low fertility and stagnating improvement in mortality rates, pushing more populations into the late stages of the demographic transition. Tracking demographic change and the emergence of new patterns will be essential for global health monitoring. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licens

Global burden of 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990�2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Rigorous analysis of levels and trends in exposure to leading risk factors and quantification of their effect on human health are important to identify where public health is making progress and in which cases current efforts are inadequate. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 provides a standardised and comprehensive assessment of the magnitude of risk factor exposure, relative risk, and attributable burden of disease. Methods: GBD 2019 estimated attributable mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years of life lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 87 risk factors and combinations of risk factors, at the global level, regionally, and for 204 countries and territories. GBD uses a hierarchical list of risk factors so that specific risk factors (eg, sodium intake), and related aggregates (eg, diet quality), are both evaluated. This method has six analytical steps. (1) We included 560 risk�outcome pairs that met criteria for convincing or probable evidence on the basis of research studies. 12 risk�outcome pairs included in GBD 2017 no longer met inclusion criteria and 47 risk�outcome pairs for risks already included in GBD 2017 were added based on new evidence. (2) Relative risks were estimated as a function of exposure based on published systematic reviews, 81 systematic reviews done for GBD 2019, and meta-regression. (3) Levels of exposure in each age-sex-location-year included in the study were estimated based on all available data sources using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression, DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression method, or alternative methods. (4) We determined, from published trials or cohort studies, the level of exposure associated with minimum risk, called the theoretical minimum risk exposure level. (5) Attributable deaths, YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs were computed by multiplying population attributable fractions (PAFs) by the relevant outcome quantity for each age-sex-location-year. (6) PAFs and attributable burden for combinations of risk factors were estimated taking into account mediation of different risk factors through other risk factors. Across all six analytical steps, 30 652 distinct data sources were used in the analysis. Uncertainty in each step of the analysis was propagated into the final estimates of attributable burden. Exposure levels for dichotomous, polytomous, and continuous risk factors were summarised with use of the summary exposure value to facilitate comparisons over time, across location, and across risks. Because the entire time series from 1990 to 2019 has been re-estimated with use of consistent data and methods, these results supersede previously published GBD estimates of attributable burden. Findings: The largest declines in risk exposure from 2010 to 2019 were among a set of risks that are strongly linked to social and economic development, including household air pollution; unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing; and child growth failure. Global declines also occurred for tobacco smoking and lead exposure. The largest increases in risk exposure were for ambient particulate matter pollution, drug use, high fasting plasma glucose, and high body-mass index. In 2019, the leading Level 2 risk factor globally for attributable deaths was high systolic blood pressure, which accounted for 10·8 million (95 uncertainty interval UI 9·51�12·1) deaths (19·2% 16·9�21·3 of all deaths in 2019), followed by tobacco (smoked, second-hand, and chewing), which accounted for 8·71 million (8·12�9·31) deaths (15·4% 14·6�16·2 of all deaths in 2019). The leading Level 2 risk factor for attributable DALYs globally in 2019 was child and maternal malnutrition, which largely affects health in the youngest age groups and accounted for 295 million (253�350) DALYs (11·6% 10·3�13·1 of all global DALYs that year). The risk factor burden varied considerably in 2019 between age groups and locations. Among children aged 0�9 years, the three leading detailed risk factors for attributable DALYs were all related to malnutrition. Iron deficiency was the leading risk factor for those aged 10�24 years, alcohol use for those aged 25�49 years, and high systolic blood pressure for those aged 50�74 years and 75 years and older. Interpretation: Overall, the record for reducing exposure to harmful risks over the past three decades is poor. Success with reducing smoking and lead exposure through regulatory policy might point the way for a stronger role for public policy on other risks in addition to continued efforts to provide information on risk factor harm to the general public. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licens

Faktor mempengaruhi kegagalan penjualan harta tanah perdagangan jenis rumah kedai

Laporan Jabatan Penilaian dan Perkhidmatan Harta (JPPH) merekodkan sejumlah 5,931 unit rumah kedai di Malaysia telah siap dibina tetapi tidak terjual dimana Negeri Sembilan mencatatkan jumlah kedua tertinggi selepas negeri Johor. Kajian ke atas rumah kedai siap dibina tidak terjual di Bandar Baru Nilai menjadi sampel kajian memandangkan ia terletak berdekatan dengan lapangan terbang Antarabangasa KLIA, Litar Antarabangsa Sepang, institusi-institusi pendidikan dan dikelilingi oleh skim-skim perumahan, tetapi masih terdapat lambakan rumah kedai yang siap dibina dan tidak terjual. Fokus penyelidikan ini adalah untuk mengenalpasti faktor-faktor kegagalan penjualan rumah kedai di Bandar Baru Nilai dan seterusnya menentukan faktor kritikal kegagalan penjualan harta tanah perdagangan jenis rumah kedai di bandar baru. Data kajian diperoleh daripada sumber literatur dan soalan kaji selidik dengan pemaju, Majlis Perbandaran, pembeli/penyewa dan penduduk setempat. Faktor-faktor yang dikenalpasti adalah faktor ekonomi, demografi, politik, lokasi, kemudahan asas dan awam, pinjaman kewangan, fizikal produk, harga atau sewa pasaran, dan stok rumah kedai semasa produk siap untuk dihuni, faktor pemaju dan faktor mas

The developmental pathways of Malaysian elite youth badminton players

This study examine the developmental factors of Malaysian elite youth badminton players. The participants were badminton players from the national back-up players (n = 16) and youth state players (n = 20) from three states in Malaysia, chosen based on their performance in previous Malaysian Games. Retrospective analysis of the participants’ type and amount of badminton related practice activities throughout their career showed that although the national players achieved some badminton performance milestones later than the state players, further examination into their accumulated hours in structured and unstructured badminton practice activities showed almost similar patterns in their engagement in those activities with more emphasis on structured practice from the beginning of their career. It suggests that both the national youth and state badminton players conform to the early specialization pathway.Keywords: Developmental pathways; deliberate play and practice; youth badminton player

Experimental study of welded joints on steel plate cold-rolledsheet metal using different electrode tips

Resistance spot welding is commonly used in the automotive industry, because it has advantages such as high speed, high-production assembly lines and suitability in automation. Welded joints are exposed to varying loads and pressure, as such, these conditions cause the joints to rupture. The objective of this paper is to study the different properties of welded joints in Steel Plate Cold-Rolled Coils, SPCC sheet metal by using different electrode geometries. The material used in this study was SPCC and selected welding tips: dome nose and flat nose as they are widely used in industrial applications. The findings indicated that weld nuggets of SPCC using the dome nose welding tip showed a value nearest to the theoretical value based on the America Welding Society, AWS’s formula. The results for tensile testing were in accordance with weld nugget size, and the dome nose welding tip was 10% stronger than the flat nose. The difference in electrode geometries showed a significant impact on welded joint properties of SPCC metal for automotive applications