E-SeniArca on IoT Platform in Education of Sculpture Arts

Purpose: In education, by using any media method is one of the most important elements of an educational institution, especially in order to make a consistent learning session. It also can give the two ways communication between teachers and students. Based on E-SeniArca learning tool, it will provide a new way to deliver the information with more effectively. By the lack of references material of sculpture arts topics, it was difficult for students to learn and perform their achievement. In fact, students can purpose to design, transfer, construct and test the effectiveness of the E-SeniArca learning tool in sculpture topics. Design: The methods are used to the production of E-SeniArca learning tool on technology are the ADDIE Model. Findings: The actual image depiction of the sculpture arts through the images is shown to clearly explain the shape of arc that have in sculpture concepts. Research limitations: This study has developed an application of 12 flip cards for scanning by E-SeniArca learning tools to generate 3D images on each of the different picture cards. Practical implications: Much of the software used to produce this learning tool has been able to attract students to learn the basics of sculpture arts. Paper type: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Business Development (IJEBD

Efficiency of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia Prevention Protocol in a mixed intensive care unit in Pahang, Malaysia

Introduction Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rate in adult ICU varies between 8.0 and 46.3 episodes/1000 ventilator days. A National Audit of Adult Intensive Care Units (NAICU) in 2003 reported a high incidenceof 26.9/1000 ventilator days. A subsequent multiple one day prevalence study found a high VAP rate (42.8/1000 ventilator days) in our ICU in Kuantan. We developed an ICU guidelines called Ventilator Associated Pneumonia Prevention Protocol (VAPP) and conducted a study to asses the efficiency of VAPP in our ICU setup. Methods This comparative study was done in Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA). The following data were collected pre (from 1st April to 31st March 2004) and post (from 1st September 2004 to 31st August 2005) VAPP: patients’ demographics, medical history, both hospital and ICU admissions and discharges dates, SAPS II scores, admission categories, organ failures, status on ICU and hospital discharge, duration on mechanical ventilation. Results There were a total of 941 patients in pre (n=480) and post (n=461) VAPP periods. Patients’ demographics, SAPS II scores and premorbid states were similar in both. VAP rate was 21.9/1000 ventilator days (37 episodes over 1689 ventilator days) pre VAPP and 8.35/1000 ventilator days (14 episodes over 1676 ventilator days) post VAPP. The relative risk reduction of VAP post implementation of VAPP was 68% with p value < 0.0001. When we look at the NNIS benchmarking on ventilator-associated pmeumonia for quality improvement, the incidence of VAP pre guidelines was 21.9% and this is above 90th percentile of the NNIS benchmark. In the post guideline group, the incidence of VAP has been reduced to 25th percentile. There was also a reducing trend of gram positive organisms as the cause of VAP in the post VAPP group. Conclusion Our study has shown that local evidence-based VAPP guidelines could significantly reduce the rate of VAP in a large state hospital

Project brief for IIUM Hospital (Phase 1), International Islamic University Malaysia (Medical Campus)Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur

A project brief on medical requirements for the planning and design of IIUM teaching hospital in IIUM Kuantan Campus. There are two versions of the brief, i.e. the 2009 version and the 2010 version. The march 2010 version was revised after the site visit was made to Kuantan by the bidders and as an outcome of the dialogue

Compliance to national guidelines on the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Malaysia: a single experience

Introduction: Malaysia has a high rate of smoking prevalence and the figure is increasing. Although there has been many local and regional studies on the prevalence and symptomatology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, data is lacking on the degree of compliance to national management guidelines in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods: 86 patients who attended the respiratory outpatient clinic of the Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia were enrolled into a prospective, observational study. Results: 88 percent of the patients were male and the majority was ethnically Chinese (65 percent). The majority of patients were in the moderate to very severe categories, with a mean FEV1 of 0.97 +/− 0.56 L/sec and predicted mean FEV1 percentage of 43.1 +/− 21.3 percent. 58 percent of the patients were on long-acting beta-agonist, 65 percent were on inhaled steroids, and only 16 percent were on scheduled pulmonary rehabilitation. Conclusion: The low uptake rate for long-acting beta-agonist and pulmonary rehabilitation could be attributed to several factors. Financial cost, the need for strict compliance to a structured rehabilitation regime, lack of significant social support and clear up-to-date guidelines are possible reasons

Risk factors for anti tuberculous drugs induced hepatitis: a prospective survey from a chest clinic in a general hospital

A prospective survey on 14 consecutive cases with tuberculous drug induced hepatitis was done at our chest clinic in a state general hospital over a period of 15 months. There were 30 controls chosen randomly from the chest clinic register. The cases had lower mean body mass index (P<0.008), serum albumin (P<0.005) and higher serum globulin (P<0.04). Serum liver transaminases and total bilirubin rose significantly during the acute episode of drug induced hepatitis. Among the risk factors studied, only chronic hepatitis B carrier status was found to be more prevalent among the cases. There was one death (7.1%) over the whole study period

Metabolic changes during ramadan fasting in normal people and diabetic patients

Fasting is obligatory on all Muslims every year during the 9th Islamic lunar month of Ramadan with exemption to sick, travelers and pregnant women. In spite of the fact that Islam provides exemption from fasting to people suffering from illnesses like diabetes, many patients still want to fast for personal convictions. Physicians often face a dilemma as to how to advise them. Several studies have been published on the effects of fasting; some of the results are controversial. The present study was undertaken to establish the effects of Ramadan fasting on various physiological parameters in normal people and in diabetic patients. This could be used as basis for advice to such patients. The study group consisted of 53 diabetic patients (31 male and 22 female) and 56 (21 male 35 female) healthy volunteers as controls. Inclusion criteria of diabetic patients were: to be non-insulin dependent, and be stable and under reasonable control on oral hypoglycemic drugs and or diet control alone. The subjects were evaluated 1-2 weeks before commencement of fasting (visit 1), at the 4th week of Ramadan fasting (visit2) and one month after the end of the Ramadan fast (visit3). Blood samples were collected on each occasion at least 8 hours after the last meal. Our results showed statistically significant weight reduction (P<.001) at the end of Ramadan fast in both groups, however it was not maintained in both groups when values were compared before Ramadan and one month after Ramadan. Fasting blood sugar and HBA1C showed significant reduction (P<.001) among diabetics but not in control group. The other parameters e.g. cholesterol, blood urea and creatinine did not show any significant changes before and during Ramadan. There was statistically significant increase in serum cholesterol and triglyceride and uric acid (P<.001) among healthy volunteers (control group) one month after Ramadan compared to before Ramadan; however no such changes were seen among diabetic group. There was no reported case of serious complication due to fasting in both groups. Conclusion: Ramadan fasting lead to significant body weight reduction and improvement of glycaemic control in diabetic patients with out other significant metabolic changes

The effect of Stichopus chloronotus aqueous extract on human osteoarthritis articular chondrocytes in three-dimensional collagen type I hydrogel in vitro

Autologous chondrocyte-seeded scaffolds have proved to be one of the most promising alternative therapies for articular cartilage defects. However, the chondrocytes have specific nutritional requirements and risk of dedifferentiation during in vitro expansion. Stichopus chloronotus aqueous extract (SCAE) was investigated as a medium supplement for three-dimensional (3D) collagen type I hydrogel scaffold seeded with chondrocytes to determine whether SCAE is capable of maintaining phenotype and sustaining extracellular matrix synthesis and deposition. Human osteoarthritis articular chondrocytes were isolated from the knee joint cartilage of patients underwent total knee replacement surgery. Human osteoarthritis articular chondrocytes were encapsulated in collagen type I hydrogel and cultured in basic medium with 0, 0.1 and 0.2% of SCAE. The chondrocytes in 3D culture were evaluated by means cell morphology and proliferation, quantitative phenotypic expression of collagen type I, II, aggrecan core protein and sox-9. H&E, toluidine blue staining and sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) production were analyzed after 7 days in culture. Chondrocytes cultured in 3D with various SCAE concentration appeared with polygonal morphology maintaining their chondrocytes characteristic. SCAE supplementation promoted chondrocytes proliferation and the ability of the cells to express gene encoding collagen type I decreased, whereas their ability to express collagen type II, aggrecan core protein and sox9 increased as compared to control. The cartilaginous matrices were positively stained toluidine blue concomitant with higher sGAG accumulation in SCAE-supplemented culture medium. This study shown that SCAE may be beneficial for in vitro development of 3D chondrocytes culture for use in cartilage tissue engineering therapies

The shaping of an ibadah friendly hospital : learnings from the bimaristan of the evergreen past and the practicality of today’s demands

The history of medicine and the healing environment we promote today in healthcare design is not a new phenomenon. It has been a continuous effort through centuries by caregivers that recognizes environment as contributing factors to human wellbeing with or without scientific evidences, to provide appropriate environment under their care. It is an intuitive, honest and sincere consideration that reflects the caring environment of people of that day based on their faith and not on any gains. Today, with advance medical technology and the circumstantial demand of healthcare services and industry, hospitals begin to mushroom seemingly beautiful but without the soul. Why is this so? Although the answer to the question lies on the basic intention or niyah, the transparent process of implementation, clear design outcomes that support the functions and finally the acceptance of the people-users and caregivers, the live on-going experiment on a teaching hospital for International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), as an Ibadah Friendly Hospital, will hopefully be the testament to this enquiry. This paper thus intends to share the findings on what makes the hospital with a soul or Ibadah friendly. Ibadah means to do good deeds and actions for Allah's blessings only. It is a spiritual connotation and fundamental way of life for those who submit to Islam. For the purpose of this design based paper, a vivid description on the initial conception of the hospital project for IIUM, based from learning of the bimaristan, the shariah or Islamic law and industry experiences were extracted. Through qualitative approach of literature reviews, observations, discussions, workshops, interviews and meetings from all parties (user-client of academic background, and the contractors (with design consultants)) team under the Private Public Partnership (PPP) procurement system, findings made through project briefing, design development to current development stage prior construction were consolidated. As a design based paper, exclusions to details irrelevant in the discussion is intentional. Though preliminary as the hospital is yet to be built, in the spirit of Ibadah, the findings made should be shared and discuss in the shaping of a hospital of the future, with a soul. Wallahualam

Digitising English language learning for early childhood educators in Malaysian context: The rationale

Nowadays, many kindergartens in Malaysia are striving toward using English in their daily activities with their children and some even use English language as their medium of instruction. However, some of the early childhood educators were not well equipped with the knowledge of English language. This paper aims to report the rationale for digitising English language learning through the development of Kindy Talk Application in terms of approach, content and design. Kindy Talk Application is a mobile application for Malaysian early childhood educators to utilize accurate language in their daily routine interactions and instructional language typically used at daycare centres. This development of the application stemmed from a series of workshops with 2 modules, namely Communication English and Storytelling techniques. These workshops aimed at increasing 30 Pahang early childhood educators' professional development. To ensure the sustainability of the training, the Kindy Talk Application, which uses augmented reality technology was developed to allow users to practice the daily routine and instructional language using their mobile phones in a safe autonomous learning environment. This enhances the language proficiency and confidence of Malaysian early childhood educators

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in a selected community at Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

Hypertension and obesity are established and independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. There are important inter-relationships between these two factors that may explain the aetiology of cardiovascular diseases. To determine the prevalence of hypertension and obesity in a rural community setting in Malaysia, and to identify their associated risk factors, a cross-sectional study was conducted among residents aged of 18 years and above at a Kampung, Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia from 2007 to 2008. Sample size was 219. Prevalence of hypertension was 35.6% (78), with the highest prevalence among those aged of 45 years and above (50.0%). The prevalence of hypertension was notably higher in males compared to females, (38.9 versus 34.0%). In addition, the prevalence of obesity was 54.8%, with the highest prevalence among those aged 55 to 64 years (66.7%). The obese respondents were at higher risk to be hypertensive (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 0.744, 2.277). The prevalence of hypertension and obesity in this study was high which herald the need for prevention programs for these risk factors in such rural communities at Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia