Pengetahuan HIV/AIDS dan faktor keterlibatan dalam hubungan romantik serta ketertarikan seks sesama jantina: kajian kes dalam kalangan mahasiswa gay

Kajian ini bertujuan meneroka pengetahuan mahasiswa tentang risiko jangkitan HIV/AIDS, faktor keterlibatan dalam hubungan romantik dan ketertarikan seks sesama jantina. Masih kurang kajian yang memberi tumpuan kepada amalan hubungan romantik dan ketertarikan seks sesama jantina serta kesedaran mahasiswa tentang HIV/AIDS impak daripada tingkah laku seks berisiko ini. Banyak kajian terdahulu lebih menumpu kepada faktor keterlibatan dalam hubungan romantik dan ketertarikan seks sesama jantina tanpa mengaitkannya dengan kesedaran mahasiswa gay terhadap jangkitan HIV. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kajian kes dan direkabentuk bersesuaian kaedah kajian kualitatif. Seramai empat informan dalam kalangan mahasiswa Institusi Pengajian Tinggi di Malaysia yang membuat pengakuan identiti gay telah terlibat dalam kajian ini. Pemilihan informan adalah menggunakan teknik Persampelan Snow Ball. Pengumpulan data telah dijalankan secara atas talian dengan menggunakan medium Google Meet. Semua informan ditemubual dalam talian secara konferen video. Data temu bual dianalisis menggunakan analisis tematik. Hasil analisis menunjukkan terdapat empat faktor risiko keterlibatan mahasiswa dalam hubungan romantik dan tingkah laku seksual sesama jantina iaitu (i) pengalaman menjadi mangsa gangguan seksual semasa kecil, (ii) faktor naluri semulajadi, (iii) pengaruh rakan/komuniti berisiko gay dan (iv) pengaruh negatif daripada media sosial dan internet. Informan juga mempunyai pengetahuan asas tentang risiko jangkitan HIV. Walau bagaimanapun, kesemua informan percaya tingkah laku mereka mempunyai risiko rendah dan tidak mudah untuk dijangkiti HIV. Salah faham tentang risiko jangkitan HIV bagi seks tidak selamat dan seks luar tabi’ dipercayai mendorong amalan hubungan seks sesama jantina dilakukan tanpa rasa takut dan menurunnya keprihatinan kepada seks selamat dalam kalangan mahasiswa gay. Kajian mencadangkan salah faham tentang risiko jangkitan HIV sebagai faktor baharu penyebab amalan seks sesama jantina yang berterusan dalam kalangan informan yang dikaji. Intervensi perlu dibentuk bersesuaian faktor risiko hubungan romantik dan tingkah laku seksual sesama jantina agar ia dapat dibendung daripada menular dalam kalangan mahasiswa gay

The influence of e-learning towards metacognitive enhancement in mathematical problem solving

This research aims to observe the influence of e-learning on metacognitive enhancement in mathematical problem-solving. The e-learning environment would encourage students to play more active roles in their learning. This research involves the students of Mechanical Engineering Department enrolled in the subject of Engineering Mathematics 4. It was found that the elearning method gives positive impacts on students' learning process. Therefore, it is suggested for educators to apply this method in their teaching. This is a suitable approach for students to be involved actively during their learning process. The lecturers should be more creative and innovative to vary their elearning to be lively, interesting, suitable, challenging while being in line with the students' cognitive development to provide comprehensible input

Effects of different mulching materials and planting distance on selected soil properties of organic farms planted with Orthosiphon stamineus

A field study was carried out to determine the impact of mulching and planting distance on the growth of Orthosiphon stamineus, soil properties and also to observe the changes in pH and EC of soil in response to mulching and planting distance. The experiment was carried out at Ladang 16, Faculty of Agriculture UPM. Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was incorporated with four replicates for each of the four treatments. The four treatments consisted of mulching, non-mulching, planting distance of 30 cm × 30 cm and planting distance of 45 cm × 45 cm. After eight weeks of planting, the plants were harvested while soil pH and EC were measured on a weekly basis throughout the planting period. Results showed that application of biochar and usage of mulching materials and suitable planting distance does helps to maintain the soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) at the suitable range for crop growth. The level of the acidity of the soil is in the range of 5.3 to 6.61 which is considered appropriate for O. stamineus. As for influence of planting distance, it is best to give longer time for O. stamineus grows. It is recommended that more planting distance and types of mulching materials to be used to grow O. stamineus

The Influence of E-Learning towards Metacognitive Enhancement in Mathematical Problem Solving

This research aims to observe the influence of e-learning on metacognitive enhancement in mathematical problem-solving. The e-learning environment would encourage students to play more active roles in their learning. This research involves the students of Mechanical Engineering Department enrolled in the subject of Engineering Mathematics 4. It was found that the e-learning method gives positive impacts on students’ learning process. Therefore, it is suggested for educators to apply this method in their teaching. This is a suitable approach for students to be involved actively during their learning process. The lecturers should be more creative and innovative to vary their e-learning to be lively, interesting, suitable, challenging while being in line with the students’ cognitive development to provide comprehensible input

FAMILY CONFLICT AMONG FORMER DRUG ADDICTS : AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Up until now, not many studies have been done to identify family conflict that occurs among former drug addicts in the rehabilitation period. If not being handled properly, this factor may lead to an increase in the drug relapse rate among former drug addicts. Therefore, this study is conducted to (1) identify the level of family conflict among former drug addicts during the rehabilitation period, and to (2) identify factors that influence family conflict among former drug addicts. This study was performed using a quantitative cross-sectional survey design. A total of 380 former drug addicts who have completed their rehabilitation program at the Cure and Care Rehabilitation Centre (CCRC) were chosen as the respondents of the study. The collected data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the study found that the level of family conflict among former drug addicts is only at a moderate level. Analysis of the study shows that their desire for drugs and the combination of emotional disturbance, social surrounding stress, and self-efficacy to avoid drugs are factors that contribute to family conflict among former drug addicts. This study gives implications on the need to enhance policies related to drug treatment programs and conflict resolutions towards relapse prevention

DietPal: A Web-Based Dietary Menu-Generating and Management System

BACKGROUND: Attempts in current health care practice to make health care more accessible, effective, and efficient through the use of information technology could include implementation of computer-based dietary menu generation. While several of such systems already exist, their focus is mainly to assist healthy individuals calculate their calorie intake and to help monitor the selection of menus based upon a prespecified calorie value. Although these prove to be helpful in some ways, they are not suitable for monitoring, planning, and managing patients' dietary needs and requirements. This paper presents a Web-based application that simulates the process of menu suggestions according to a standard practice employed by dietitians. OBJECTIVE: To model the workflow of dietitians and to develop, based on this workflow, a Web-based system for dietary menu generation and management. The system is aimed to be used by dietitians or by medical professionals of health centers in rural areas where there are no designated qualified dietitians. METHODS: First, a user-needs study was conducted among dietitians in Malaysia. The first survey of 93 dietitians (with 52 responding) was an assessment of information needed for dietary management and evaluation of compliance towards a dietary regime. The second study consisted of ethnographic observation and semi-structured interviews with 14 dietitians in order to identify the workflow of a menu-suggestion process. We subsequently designed and developed a Web-based dietary menu generation and management system called DietPal. DietPal has the capability of automatically calculating the nutrient and calorie intake of each patient based on the dietary recall as well as generating suitable diet and menu plans according to the calorie and nutrient requirement of the patient, calculated from anthropometric measurements. The system also allows reusing stored or predefined menus for other patients with similar health and nutrient requirements. RESULTS: We modeled the workflow of menu-suggestion activity currently adhered to by dietitians in Malaysia. Based on this workflow, a Web-based system was developed. Initial post evaluation among 10 dietitians indicates that they are comfortable with the organization of the modules and information. CONCLUSIONS: The system has the potential of enhancing the quality of services with the provision of standard and healthy menu plans and at the same time increasing outreach, particularly to rural areas. With its potential capability of optimizing the time spent by dietitians to plan suitable menus, more quality time could be spent delivering nutrition education to the patients