The antibacterial activities and chemical composition of extracts from Carica papaya cv. Sekaki/Hong Kong seed

Ten solvents were used to extract phytochemicals from the peel of Carica papaya cv. Sekaki/Hong Kong to evaluate antibacterial activities and determine chemical composition of Carica papaya cv. Sekaki/Hong Kong seeds. The antibacterial activities of ten solvent extracts were tested against 14 microorganisms vis Shigella sonnei, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Corynebacterium diphtheria, Clostridium perfringens, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Bacillus subtilis using disk diffusion test (DDT). The Carica papaya seed of ACN and MeOH extracts inhibited 11 microorganisms, indicating their broad spectrum activity. The disk diffusion test exhibited moderate and clear inhibition on C. diphtheria, S. pneumonia, B. subtilis and C. perfringens. MeOH extract inhibited S. enteritidis, V. vulnificus, P. mirabilis and B. cereus with the lowest MIC at 11.25 mg/mL each, thus was chosen as the best extract. The hierarchy of extract potency can be ranked as MeOH > acetone > ACN > CHCL3 > hexane > DE = PE > EtOH > DCM based on clear and moderate inhibition and the lowest MIC. TPC and TFC of the extracts ranged between 4.83 to 22.59 mg GAE/g DW and 1.32 (water) and 17.15 mg QE/g DW respectively. The GC/MS analysis of MeOH extract identified potential antibacterial compounds such as isothiocyanatomethyl benzene, 9-octadecenoic acid, hexadecanoic acid and β-sitosterol. The Carica papaya seed cv. Sekaki/ Hong Kong possessed significant antibacterial activities when extracted by different solvents in particular MeOH solvent

Nutritional risk according to Mini Nutritional Assessment– whort form among community dwelling elderly in Kuantan, Pahang: a pilot study

Introduction: The risk of developing malnutrition increases with advancing age. It has the potential to place significant burdens on healthcare and other support services. However, studies with regards to malnutrition among community-dwelling elderly population in Malaysia is scarce specifically in Kuantan. The objective of this study was to determine malnutrition risk using the Mini Nutritional Assessment- Short Form (MNA-SF) among community-dwelling elderly people in Kuantan and to investigate its associated factors. Methods: A pilot study was conducted among 73 community-dwelling elderly in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia aged 60 years and above. Malnutrition risk of the elderly was evaluated by using Mini Nutritional Assessment– Short Form (MNA-SF). A standardized questionnaire was used to record the factors associated with malnutrition: demographic characteristics, income level, percentage of food expenditure per month, body mass index, physical activity level and disease status. Chi Square test was performed for statistical analysis. Results: The subjects comprised of 39 (53.4%) males and 34 (46.6%) females. Mean age of the subjects was 65.4 ± 5.4 years old. Among 73 subjects, 36.0% were well nourished and 64.0% were at malnutrition risk. Low income (p= 0.045) and physically inactive among elderly subjects (p= 0.039) appeared to be significantly associated with malnutrition risk. Other results were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The findings provide preliminary evidence that malnutrition risk was high among elderly living in Kuantan. Therefore, nutrition screening in a full-scale study is recommended for elderly in order to further identify those at risk of malnutrition in a timely manner. Hence, intervention can be implemented to improve the health status of this population

A Knowledge-Based E-mail System Using Semantic Categorization and Rating Mechanisms.

Knowledge-based e-mail systems focus on incorporating knowledge management approach in order to enhance the traditional e-mail systems. In this paper, we present a Knowledge-based e-mail systems called KS-Mail where people do not only send and receive e-mail conventionally but are also able to create a sense of knowledge flow. We introduce semantic processing on the e-mail contents by automatically assigning categories and providing links to semantically related e-mails

Pengaruh Media Pembelajaran Multimedia Audio Visual Terhadap Hasil Belajar Siswa SD

The purpose of this research was to determine the significant influence on the application of Multimedia Audio Visual to learning out comes of students class IV SD Negeri 1 Qurnia Mataram. The this research was an experiment with non equivalent control group design. The population of  this research was 41 students class IV. The sample of research is 41 respondents.  Instruments research used test and questionnaire. research the data analysing technique used tests statistic t-test pooled varians which was began by of normality test and homogenity test. The results of research showed that are influence multimedia audio visual to learning results of students with tcount 3,450 ttable 2,022 (with α = 0,05). Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh yang signifikan pada penerapan media pembelajaran multimedia audio visual terhadap hasil belajar siswa. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode eksperimen dengan desain penelitian yang digunakan yaitu non equivalent control group design.  Populasi penelitian ini adalah siswa kelas IV. Sampel penelitian berjumlah 41 responden. Instrumen penelitian yang digunakan yaitu soal tes dan angket. Teknik analisis data menggunakan uji statistik t-test pooled varians yang diawali dengan uji normalitas dan uji homogenitas. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan terdapat pengaruh yang signifikan model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe group investigation terhadap hasil belajar siswa dengan thitung  3,450 ttabel 2,021 (dengan α = 0,05). Kata kunci: media, multimedia audio visual, hasil belaja

Hybrid RSM-fuzzy modeling for hardness prediction of TiAlN coatings

In this paper, a new approach in predicting the hardness of Titanium Aluminum Nitrite (TiAlN) coatings using hybrid RSM-fuzzy model is implemented. TiAlN coatings are usually used in high-speed machining due to its excellent surface hardness and wear resistance. The TiAlN coatings were produced using Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) magnetron sputtering process. A statistical design of experiment called Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used in collecting optimized data. The fuzzy rules were constructed using actual experimental data. Meanwhile, the hardness values were generated using the RSM hardness model. Triangular shape of membership functions were used for inputs as well as output. The substrate sputtering power, bias voltage and temperature were selected as the input parameters and the coating hardness as an output of the process. The results of hybrid RSM-fuzzy model were compared against the experimental result and fuzzy single model based on the percentage error, mean square error (MSE), co-efficient determination (R2) and model accuracy. The result indicated that the hybrid RSM-fuzzy model obtained the better result compared to the fuzzy single model. The hybrid model with seven triangular membership functions gave an excellent result with respective average percentage error, MSE, R2 and model accuracy were 11.5%, 1.09, 0.989 and 88.49%. The good performance of the hybrid model showed that the RSM hardness model could be embedded in fuzzy rule-based model to assist in generating more fuzzy rules in order to obtain better prediction result

Factors associated with glycaemic control among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus has become one of the most serious global health problems recently. The Malaysian National Diabetes Registry has reported that 76.2% of the population have poor glycaemic control (HbA1c ≥6.5%). Thus, the objective of this study is to determine the association between sociodemographic and medical profiles with glycaemic control among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in five health clinics in the Tampin district. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in five health clinics in the Tampin district, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Three hundred and twenty four type 2 diabetes mellitus patients participated in this study. A face-to face interview was conducted with each respondent using validated questionnaire. Descriptive analyses, such as the chi square test, were performed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences version 22 software. Results: The response rate was 90%. The percentage of poor glycaemic control was 66.4%. They were associated with age (χ²=10.405, p 0.006), marital status (χ ²=5.718, p 0.017), and education status (χ²=7.312, p 0.026). In addition, types of medication intake (χ²=18.058, p=<0.001), family history (χ²=7.234, p 0.007), and co-morbidities (χ²=5.718, p 0.017) are also associated with the percentage. Conclusion: The majority of the respondents of this study had poor glycaemic control. The factors that contribute to the poor glycaemic control are among respondents who are: of older age (≥65 years); single/widowed/separated/divorced; of non-formal education; on insulin alone / combination of oral agent and insulin; no family history; and do not experience co-morbidities. For the future wellbeing of all type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, a good glycaemic control is important. Therefore, plans with appropriate significance on early preventive measures to diabetic treatment need to be strengthened in order to boost quality of life among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

A Review Of Cloud Manufacturing: Issues And Opportunities

Cloud Manufacturing (CM) is the latest manufacturing paradigm that enables manufacturing to be looked upon as a service industry.The aim is to offer manufacturing as a service so that an individual or organization is willing to manufacture products and utilize this service without having to make capital investment.However,industry adoption of CM paradigm is still limited.This paper compared the current adoption of CM by the industry with the ideal CM environment.The gaps between the two were identified and related research topics were reviewed. This paper also outlined research areas to be pursued to facilitate CM adoption by the manufacturing industry.This will also improve manufacturing resource utilization efficiencies not only within an organization but globally.At the end,the cost benefits will be passed down to end customer

Barriers to modern contraceptive practices among selected married women in a Public University in Malaysia.

In Malaysia, only 30% of the married women use modern contraceptive methods. Low usage of contraceptive methods, results in high rates of unwanted pregnancies and its consequence which includes; psychological problems physical health and unsafe abortion. The main purpose of this study is to understand the barriers of modern contraceptive practices among women in University Putra Malaysia. This study was carried out through two main research questions: 1.What is the women’s perceptions of modern contraceptive methods? 2. Why women do not use modern contraceptive methods? A qualitative research method was used for exploring misconceptions and barriers to contraceptive use among married female staff in University Putra Malaysia (UPM). The data was collected using the non probability, purposive sampling method, from 6 women by face to face interviews, which was also audio-recorded. The records were then transcribed verbatim and analyzed consecutively. This study finding showed there were personal, cultural, and health system barriers to modern contraceptive use. The women have been surrounded by fears, and misconceptions which serve as obstacles to initiation and continuation of contraceptive use. Strong socio-cultural norms and health services barriers including negative response of service providers, and low male family planning activities influence contraceptive use negatively. This study suggests that the promotion of modern contraceptive methods should be considered in women and men educational programs. Further studies should examine health providers’ views and quality of family planning services