Internet use and breast cancer survivors

A survey was administered to 400 breast cancer survivors at hospitals and support group meetings in Peninsular Malaysia to explore their level of Internet use and factors related to the Internet use by breast cancer survivors. Findings of this study indicated that about 22.5% of breast cancer survivors used Internet to get information about breast health issues. They had access to computer in their more personalized spaces such as at their home and in their workplace. Breast cancer survivors tended to use Internet to get information about cancer and treatment options especially on radiotherapy, chemotherapy, health management, treatment side effects and dietary practice. Majority of Internet users believed that information on the Internet were not useful to improve their knowledge about health care issues. Also, significant relationships exist between level of Internet use and five independent variables, including, age, education level, annual income, residence, and race/ethnicity. It is suggested that health care providers should realize how Web-based intervention programs can help breast cancer patients and then encourage patients to use Internet to get highly information to integrate them into their medical and psychological care

Antioxidative properties of Pandanus amaryllifolius leaf extracts in accelerated oxidation and deep frying studies

The potential uses of Pandanus amaryllifolius leaf extract as a natural antioxidant were evaluated in refined, bleached and deodorized (RBD) palm olein, using accelerated oxidation and deep frying studies at 180 °C from 0 to 40 h. The extracts (optimum concentration 0.2%) significantly retarded oil oxidation and deterioration (P < 0.05), comparably to 0.02% BHT in tests such as peroxide value, anisidine value, iodine value, free fatty acid, oxidative stability index (OSI), polar and polymer compound contents. In sensory evaluation studies, different batches of French fries were not significantly different (P < 0.05) from one another for oiliness, crispiness, taste and overall acceptability when the same oil was used for up to the 40th hour of frying. P. amaryllifolius leaf extract, which had a polyphenol content of 102 mg/g, exhibited an excellent heat-stable antioxidant property and may be a good natural alternative to existing synthetic antioxidants in the food industry

Understanding the reading habit and attitudes among the rural community in low literacy rate areas in Malaysia: rural library perspectives

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the reading habit and attitude among rural communities in the low literacy rate areas in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach: Multi-stage cluster and simple random sampling were employed and 400 respondents who live nearby the rural library were selected. Findings: Moderate levels of reading attitude were obtained from the result of the study, in which several variables produced a significant relationship in the reading attitude (education level, household income and time spent in reading). Practical implications: Better understanding on the reading habit and attitude among rural communities could produce better information on the service provision towards the establishment of rural libraries in low literacy rate areas in Malaysia. This would also increase the utilisation of reading sources and services provided. Originality/value: The paper provides better understanding on the reading habit and attitude among the rural communities in the low literacy rate areas in using the facilities provided by the rural libraries. The findings may be useful to the rural literacy and library development community in the developing countries

Antioxidative properties of curcuma longa leaf extract in accelerated oxidation and deep frying studies.

The antioxidative properties of Curcuma longa (turmeric) leaf extract were evaluated in refined, bleached and deodorized (RBD) palm olein using accelerated oxidation and deep frying studies at 180 °C for up to 40 h. The extract was capable of retarding oil oxidation and deterioration significantly (P < 0.05) at 0.2% concentration, better than 0.02% BHT for the Oxidative Stability Index (OSI) in an accelerated oxidation study and also the peroxide value in deep frying studies. In sensory evaluation, the French fries were acceptable and were not significantly different (P < 0.05) from one another for color, oiliness and crispiness throughout the 40-h frying study. Curcuma longa leaf extract, which had a polyphenol content of 116.3 ± 0.2 mg/g, possessed heat-stable antioxidant properties and may be a good natural alternative to existing synthetic antioxidants in the food industry

Enhancing Holistic Well-being of Malaysian Youth: A Financial Survival Chain Analysis

With the advent of Industrial Revolution 4.0 and technology development, community well-being is given more attention so that mankind will be able to achieve soundness in living. The aim of this paper is to depict the holistic well-being of Malaysian youth particularly in the area of finance since many youths face daunting challenges due to problems associated with money. This is a quantitative study involving 200 working youths between the age group of 24-30 years. In terms of objective well-being, the study revealed that Malaysian youth are prudent and wise with their money management. On the other hand, the subjective well-being showed that the youth are facing financial constraints for the purpose of investment, holidaying and to purchase medical insurance. The study recommends that the financial survival chain of working youth could be boosted if the concerned parties paid more attention to easing youth involvement in investing in safe investment portfolios as well as providing them with affordable holiday and medical insurance packages

Entrepreneurial mindset among students of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Malaysia

This article examines entrepreneurial mindset among the students of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions under the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. The findings presented are a small part of the overall research data on the readiness of TVET students in Malaysia to venture into entrepreneurship. This quantitative study involves 1000 students from eight selected public TVET institutions in Peninsular Malaysia. Overall, the study finds that respondents’ level of entrepreneurial mindset is at a moderate level. Furthermore, there is a significant difference in the level of entrepreneurial mindset between the respondents at the certificate level and diploma level, the background of the family/parents who own businesses and otherwise, and also between the respondents who are involved and not involved in business activities. This study holds a positive view that there is potential in enhancing the entrepreneurial mindset of students in TVET institutions in order to generate as many job creators as possible. Hence, the study suggests that the Ministry and all relevant stakeholders to streamline the strategy of the Higher Education Insititution (HEI) Entrepreneurship Action Plan by focusing on the key growth factors of entrepreneurial mindset so that the target of new entrepreneurial talents among HEI students can be realised and also by taking into consideration the potentials of TVET students in Malaysia

Enyzmed pretreated empty pabn fruit bunch for biofuel production

Lignin peroxidase (LiP) and manganese peroxidase (1.1nP) enzymes were used to pre-treat empty fruit bunch (EPFB) before pyrolysis. Statistical analysis indicated that at 71.6%, LiP demonstrated greater lignin degradation compared to 67.9% J\1nP. Interestingly, the pretreatment sample has resulted in higher bio-oil yield compared to the untreated sample. Both LiP-treated and MnP-treated EPFB yielded approximately 30 wt% of bio-oil compared to 20 wt% of yield for the untreated sample

MSX1 and PAX9 genetic alteration in Malaysian families with hypodontia

Hypodontia is characterized by the absence of one to six teeth. Malaysia has a high prevalence of hypodontia (2.8%). This study aimed to investigate the MSX1 mutation with clinical variability in Malaysian hypodontia families and to correlate the findings a previous study of the PAX9 mutation. Materials and methods: We re-examined seven individuals from two families of the previous PAX9 study. Orthophantomogram (OPG) and intraoral photos were re-assessed. Saliva was collected for genetic analysis. Direct sequencing was done on exons 1 and 2 of MSX1 and exons 2 and 3 of PAX9. Results: In family 1, three out of five members are affected. The mother has posterior hypodontia, while the daughters have anterior hypodontia. Point mutations on exon 1 of MSX1 (c.599C>T, c.732G>A) and on exon 3 of PAX9 (c.477delG, c.480delT) were identified on 1B (mother) and 1D (second daughter). Her carrier-son (1E) exhibited c.597C>T, c.730G>A on exon 1 of MSX1 and c.273T>G on exon3 of PAX9. In family 2, the daughter has a missing lower premolar with a point mutation on exon 1 of MSX1 (c.730G>A). A similar point mutation in her nonhypodontia father on exon 2 of PAX9 (c.628C>T) was observed. Conclusion: Mutation of MSX1 is observed in familial hypodontia; both genes MSX1 and PAX9 are needed to manifest hypodontia whereby PAX9 is the predominant gene mutation

Methane emission from paddy soil in relation to soil temperature in tropical region

Methane (CH4) is 21 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Wetlands including flooded paddy fields are one of the major sources for this gas. Paddy fields are responsible for producing 25 to 54 Tg of CH4 annually. Methane emission rate could be affected by several factors such as irrigation pattern, fertilizer type, soil organic matter and soil temperature. Among them, soil temperature is a determining factor which deserves to be investigated. This study performed with the aim of understanding the effect of soil temperature on the methane emission rate from paddy soil in a short period of time (hourly) and long term (during rice growing season). The results of this study suggest that soil temperature could control the amount of methane emission and there is a positive and strong correlation in both soil temperature and methane emission pattern in short period of time. However, in case of long term trend, other factors such as water management and plant age decreased this correlation from 0.768 to 0.528

MatchApp innovation to assist in the learning of science, technology and engineering

The learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) has, in recent years, been a popular topic of deliberation in the context of the Malaysian education scenario. It pivots on suitable teaching-learning approaches to ensure that students achieve optimum competencies in STEM. The latter is particularly important in the light of Malaysia’s aspiration to be a developed nation by 2020. However, research has shown that students face particular challenges in the learning of STEM, especially in learning contexts where English is the main medium of instruction. One such challenge is their inability to comprehend concepts, partly contributed by their weak proficiency in the English language. The problem is further compounded when the majority of STEM students do not have a specialist (technical) dictionaries to help them during their learning. In such a situation, the MatchApp web-based system provides a possible learning platform. Developed for the main purpose of helping the user match English science, technology and engineering terms to the best, context-fitting and appropriate Malay equivalents, we have found that the process of matching can, in fact, double-up as an opportunity for learning. The paper will demonstrate how MatchApp can be utilised to aid learners to understand the senses of words and terms. In this way, they will be able to grasp the concepts intended to be conveyed by the terms, thus eliminating the hurdle in their comprehension and improving their learning process