Relationship between obstetric risk factors and postnatal depression among women who deliver at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Objective To determine the prevalence of postnatal depression (PND) and its/ relationship with obstetric risk factors in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kota Bharu, Kelantan between March and August 2005. Material and Methodology This is a cross sectional study involving 293 women from postnatal ward HUSM. They were screened for depression at day 1 to day 5 postpartum and 4 to 6 weeks postpartum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). At the first visit, the women completed questionnaires on socio-demography and obstetric risk factors, Brief Patient Health Questionnaire (BPHQ-9) and Life Event Scale questionnaire. At the second visit which is 4-6 weeks postpartum, they only completed EPDS. Results Two hundred and ninety-three women successfully completed the study 8 response rates. The prevalence of PND at 4-6 weeks postpartum using the EPDS score of 12 or more was 27.3% (80 out of 293 women). The prevalence of depression at early postpartum period based on EPDS was 22.5%. Women with the history of abortion (p<0.05) and early postnatal depression (p<0.05) was significantly associated with PND. Conclusion Postnatal depression among women in Hospital USM was more common compared to previously reported series in Malaysia. Women with the history of abortion and early postnatal depression was significantly associated with PND. Early identification of potential risk for postnatal depression should include assessment of socio-demography,personality, psychiatric history and recent life events, as well as past and present obstetric factors

Diversification Strategy and Performance of Malaysian Firms

ABSTRACT Business diversification has drawn the attention of strategi

The Effect of Nozzle Size on the Tensile and Flexural Properties of PLA Parts Fabricated Via FDM

The nozzle of a 3D printer extrudes molten filament onto the print surface. The detachable and adjustable nozzle of a 3D printer allows for the printing of lines of varying thickness. This study intends to investigate the effect of nozzle diameter on the tensile and flexural properties of printed specimens. The tensile and flexural specimens were prepared according to ASTM D638 Type 1 and ISO 178, respectively. After specimens were printed with nozzles having diameters of 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, and 0.8 mm, tensile and flexural tests were conducted using an Instron 5585 machine. Each specimen was printed with 0.2 mm layer thickness, a line pattern, and 100 percent infill. Tensile and flexural behaviors of PLA specimens were comparable, according to the findings. Tensile and flexural strengths increase as nozzle diameter increases, but they are only effective up to a certain diameter. At a nozzle diameter of 0.6 mm, the maximum tensile strength was 33.32 MPa, and at a nozzle diameter of 0.5 mm, the maximum flexural strength was 76.76 MPa. The flexural strength decreases when using nozzles with diameters of 0.6 and 0.8 mm, and the tensile strength decreases when using a nozzle with a larger diameter (0.8 mm). Because the diameter of the nozzle has a significant impact on the mechanical properties of a part, it is crucial to choose the correct nozzle diameter for optimal mechanical properties

A comparison of the flexural properties of PLA and ABS printed parts

The additive manufacturing (AM) technique produces three-dimensional objects by stacking successive layers of material. Fused deposition modelling, abbreviated FDM for convenience, is an additive manufacturing (AM) technique. Using FDM, objects are created by successively depositing molten filaments of thermoplastic onto the printing surface. This is referred to as slicing. The mechanical properties of FDM-printed parts depend on a number of factors, including the composition of the material, the extrusion temperature, the printing parameters, and the ambient temperature at the time the parts are printed. The objective of this study was to investigate the consistency of mechanical properties of elements produced using FDM additive manufacturing technology. Ten thermoplastic ABS and PLA samples were subjected to flexure testing in order to accomplish this. Utilizing the Instron 5585 Floor Model Testing System, flexure testing was conducted. The ultimate flexural strength, along with the strain and Young modulus, was studied. During flexural tests, the thermoplastic ABS material demonstrated greater consistency in terms of its mechanical properties. The fact that different PLA samples had different flexural strengths showed that their mechanical properties were less repeatable

Development of kombucha herbal tea mixed with black jelly mushrooms (auricularia polytricha) agar

Kombucha tea is an oriental drink that undergoes a fermentation process. It is made from sweetened tea fermented by the Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast (SCOBY). The study aims to produce Kombucha tea mixed with black jelly mushrooms (Auricularia polytricha) agar through the best formulation and to determine nutritional profiling including the antioxidant capacity of the drinks. There are five formulations including a control group, developed for the Kombucha tea and BJM agar. All groups of samples were run for the proximate composition and antioxidant capacity using the DPPH method. Through sensorial analysis, F3 and F4 of Kombucha tea (KT) that contained F3 (70.29% water, 6.64% sucrose, 0.85% tea, 2.22% SCOBY, 20% fermented Kombucha tea) and F4 (64.16% water, 7.58% sucrose, 1.04% tea, 2.22 SCOBY, 25% fermented Kombucha tea) has been the highest mean score (6.53±2.05) and (6.53.1.46) respectively. Meanwhile, for the BJM agar, the highest mean score (5.33±1.79) is from the F4 that contained (10% black jelly mushroom, 85.90% water, 3.81% custard flour, and 0.29 sucralose). Through proximate composition, F4 Kombucha tea had a moisture content of 92.84±0.43%, ash of 0.37±0.03%, crude protein of 0.05±0.05%, carbohydrate of 6.63±0.39%, and total energy of 27.75±1.93 kcal/g. Meanwhile, F4 BJM agar has a moisture content of 95.09 ± 0.36%, ash of 0.11±0.02%, crude protein 0.03±0.02%, carbohydrate 11.19±0.50%, and total energy of 46.66±1.40 kcal/g. Kombucha tea F4 also has antioxidant capabilities and is good for the health of consumers. The antioxidant capacity of Kombucha Tea has also been successfully determined through the DPPH method which is IC50 = 91.0059. Therefore, the combination of F4 Kombucha Tea with the F4 BJM agar is the best formulation and has good nutritional value for consumers

Analisis keberkesanan benziltrietilamonium klorida sebagai perencat kakisan bagi perlindungan keluli karbon

Keberkesanan perencatan benziltrietilamonium klorida (BK) terhadap perlindungan kakisan keluli karbon di dalam 1 M asid asetik telah dianalisis dengan menggunakan kaedah ujian kehilangan berat. Matlamat kajian adalah untuk menilai tahap kecekapan perencatan BK berdasarkan perubahan nilai kepekatan perencat berkenaan dan suhu. Analisis kehilangan berat menunjukkan kadar kakisan keluli karbon berjaya dikurangkan dengan penggunaan kepekatan BK yang lebih tinggi dan nilai kecekapan perencatan BK mencapai sehingga 70%. Namun kadar kakisan didapati meningkat selari dengan peningkatan suhu. Analisis termodinamik mendapati perencatan BK berjaya mengurangkan proses pelarutan ion-ion logam melalui pembentukan lapisan filem nipis pada permukaan keluli karbon. Analisis juga menunjukkan sebatian BK berupaya menjerap pada permukaan keluli karbon melalui kedua-dua kaedah penjerapan fizikal dan kimia. Proses penjerapan BK pada permukaan keluli karbon didapati lebih menjurus kepada model isoterma penjerapan Langmuir. Analisis morfologi menggunakan mikroskop imbasan elektron turut mengesahkan berlakunya perencatan BK pada tapak permukaan keluli karbon. Keseluruhan kajian mendapati sebatian BK berupaya melindungi keluli karbon daripada mengalami kakisan di dalam medium asid asetik

Mesoscale Simulation of Natural Convection in Square Cavity Driven by Discrete Two Source-Sink Pairs On One Sidewall

Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) was applied to predict fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics of natural convection in a two-dimensional square cavity driven by two discrete source-sink pairs on one vertical sidewall. The size of sources and sinks was L/4. The arrangement of the sources and sinks were alternately located. Simulations were conducted at Rayleigh number 1000 to 100000. The characteristics were represented by streamlines and isotherms. It was found that the solution is comparatively acceptable with other previous study applying conventional approach

DETERMINANTS OF NON-PERFORMING LOANS: EVIDENCE FROM CONVENTIONAL BANKS IN MALAYSIA

Purpose of the study: This paper attempts to determine the determinants of non-performing loans in commercial banks in Malaysia. This study attempts to explore the specific bank factors as well as macroeconomics factors that are contributing to the non-performing loans. Methodology: This paper analyzes the data using eight local commercial banks in Malaysia. The data collected from the annual report and Data Streams database for the year 2009 to 2018. A panel data approach has been used to analyze the data. All the determinants regressed against non-performing loans by using STATA 14 as a tool. Main Findings: The results of this study present that capitalization had a significant negative relationship with non-performing loans, while the real effective exchange rate had a significant positive correlation with non-performing loans. Applications of this study: This study highlights the crucial factors of the non-performing loans that can be used by the bank or financial institutions. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study includes one new variable for the macroeconomics factors, which is the real effective exchange rate, and the result shows it is significant towards non-performing loans. Therefore, this study enhances the existing model with the new variable that can be used to find what is affecting the non-performing loans

Prevalence and risk factors of prehypertension in university students in Sabah, Borneo Island of East Malaysia

Unhealthy lifestyle contributes mainly to an increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases including hypertension and cardiovascular diseases tend to increase in Malaysia. These diseases lead to an increased risk of end organ damage and cardiovascular complications. In this study, the prevalence of prehypertension and its associated risk factors among a cohort of university students in Sabah was determined. This is a prospective, cross-sectional study conducted among 365 undergraduate students irrespective of faculties at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). Standardized and validated World Health Organization (WHO) STEPS questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic data. Additionally, clinical and anthropometric data were measured and recorded by a trained staff, followed by descriptive and logistic regression analyses. A total of 365 UMS undergraduate students aged 18 years and above participated in the study. The prevalence of prehypertension among university students was high (31%) (95% CI [29.1%, 34.3%]). Well-known risk factors for hypertension including family history of hypertension, reduced sleep duration, reduced physical activity, smoking, being overweight or obese were significantly associated with the risk of developing prehypertension (P < .05) among UMS students. However, no association was observed between ethnicity, age, and gender with prehypertension. A worryingly high percentage of UMS students are prehypertensive, indicating the need of early preventive strategies aimed at increasing awareness, early screening, and lifestyle modification to reduce the rising burden of the disease and the associated complications in this age group

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: from an obstetrician point of view

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the commonest among the specific dermatoses of pregnancy. The disease is characterised by intense pruritus and specifically by elevated bile acid levels and owing to the rarity of data published in this context, the disease carries a great challenge in both diagnosis and management. The disease is associated with significant maternal as well as perinatal adverse effects, hence, this article aims at improving the knowledge of the women’s health careers with the up-to-date and evidence-based, whenever possible, recommendations while managing patients with ICP