Process Control of Pink Guava Puree Pasteurization Process: Simulation and Validation by Experiment

Recently, process control has been applied extensively in many food processes include pasteurization process. The purpose is to control and maintain the product temperature at desired value. In order to be able to control the process properly, the model of the process needs to be obtained. This research aims to obtain the empirical model and to determine the best control strategy in pasteurization process of pink guava puree. The PID controller tuned by different tuning methods was simulated using Simulink and closed loop responses were observed. Simulation results revealed that PID controller tuned by minimizing of integral absolute error (IAE) method were satisfactory adaptable in this process in term of faster settling time, less overshoot, smallest values of IAE and ISE that less than 1. Then, experiment was performed using this method in order to validate simulation results. In general, a good agreement was achieved between experimental data and dynamic simulation result in control of pasteurization temperature process with  R2=0.83. As the conclusion, the results obtained can be used as the recommendation for a suitable control strategy for the pasteurization process of pink guava puree in the industry

Prevalence of needle stick injuries and compliance to infection control guidelines among health care workers in a teaching hospital, Malaysia

Introduction: Health care workers (HCW) are constantly exposed to blood-borne illnesses through needle stick injuries (NSI). Despite the increasing trend of NSI, evidence regarding the actual practice of universal precautions among these HCWs is lacking. This study assessed the practice of universal precautions towards prevention of NSI among HCWs in a teaching hospital setting. Methods: This cross-sectional survey involved a newly-designed self-completed questionnaire assessing demographic data, exposure to NSI and practice of universal precautions. Questionnaires were distributed to every ward and completed questionnaires were collected after a period of 7 days. Results: A total of 215 HCWs responded to the survey. 35.8% were exposed to bodily fluid, with 22.3% had NSI in the last 12 months. Blood taking was the commonest procedure associated with NSI. Of practices of universal precautions, recapping needle and removing needle from syringe were still wrongly practiced by the HCWs assessed. Conclusion: NSI among HCW are still common despite the introduction of universal precautions in our hospital. Incorrect practices in handling sharps should be looked into in order to reduce the incidence of blood-borne illnesses through NSI in the hospital

Characterization of fabricated optical fiber for food irradiation dosimetry

Food irradiation is a process carried out in order to improve hygienic quality and germination control, retarding sprouting, also enhancing physical attributes of the food product. In order to provide for food safety, radiation dosimetry in irradiated foods is required. In present studies use is made of germanium doped (Ge-doped) optical fibres of various form and dimensions. The fibres are irradiated using a gamma source irradiator (Gamma Cell 220 Excel), with doses from 1 kGy up to 10 kGy. For the particular Ge-doped optical fibres, investigation has been made of linearity with dose, reproducibility, and fading, intercomparisons being made. The fibres all exhibit TL yields that are linear with dose from 1 kGy up to 10 kGy, exceeding the dose range of all commercial high dose dosimeters used in the food irradiation industry. In respect of the flat fibre dosimeters, the mean reproducibility was found to be within 0.53% to 4.96%, also offering low signal loss (fading), within 13.41% (for fibres of cross-sectional dimensions 60 x 180 μm) to 20.12% (for fibres of cross-sectional dimensions 200 x 750μm), after 22 days of storage

Textile diamond dipole and artificial magnetic conductor performance under bending, wetness and specific absorption rate measurements

Textile diamond dipole and Artificial Magnetic Conductor (AMC) have been proposed and tested under wearable and body centric measurements. The proposed antenna and AMC sheet are entirely made of textiles for both the substrate and conducting parts, thus making it suitable for wearable communications. Directive radiation patterns with high gain are obtained with the proposed AMC sheet, hence minimizing the radiation towards the human body. In this study, wearable and body centric measurements are investigated which include bending, wetness and Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). Bending is found not to give significant effect to the antenna and AMC performance, as opposed to wetness that yields severe performance distortion. However, the original performance is retrieved once the antenna and AMC dried. Moreover, notable SAR reduction is achieved with the introduction of the AMC sheet, which is appropriate to reduce the radiation that penetrates into human flesh

The application of one health concept to an outdoor problem based learning activity for veterinary students

Background: The One Health (OH) approach, which seeks to bring together human and animal health, is particularly suited to the effective management of zoonotic diseases across both sectors. To overcome professional silos, OH needs to be taught at the undergraduate level. Here, we describe a problem-based learning activity using the OH approach that was conducted outdoors for 3rd-year veterinary students in Malaysia. Materials and Methods: A total of 118 students, divided into two groups, completed the activity which spanned 1½ days at a deer park adjacent to a wilderness area. Students were asked to evaluate the activity using an online survey that had quantitative and qualitative components. Results: Response rate was 69.5%. The activity was rated excellent by 69.5% and good by 30.4%. Levels of satisfaction were high on a range of criteria. 97.5% of students intended to take action in their studies as a result of what they had learned. Conclusions: Delivery of an outdoor problem-based learning activity using OH approach was very successful in terms of participation, knowledge delivery and understanding, and the willingness of students to integrate OH into their future practice. For the improvement of future programs, the involvement of other disciplines (such as Medical, Biology, Biotechnology, Biomedical, and Public Health) is being considered

Super yatch design study for Malaysian sea (Langkawi Island)

Malaysia as a country surrounded by water has a huge economic and geographical potential in the development of super yacht industry in South East Asia. There is lack of super yacht design study specifying to Malaysian marinas and seas. Most of the super yacht operates in Malaysia were built and bought directly from oversea, and chartered by foreign companies. It is hence the purpose of this study to survey on Malaysian sea water, particularly Langkawi Island, to introduce a design methodology in producing a preliminary design of super yacht that suits Langkawi Island, and serves as a guideline for future super yacht design for Malaysian sea in different marinas. Suitable dimensions of super yacht were derived by using dimensional relationship via statistical method. Two types of hull form designs (round bilge and V-bottom hull) were designed using Maxsurf Pro software. Resistance analysis on the two hull forms were carried out using Savitsky Pre-Planing and Compton methods via MaxsurfHullspeed software, and stability performance of the two hull forms was analyze using Hydromax software. VBottom hull form is found to have better resistance performance as compared to round bilge hull form, and both hull forms are found to be in stable conditions and comply with IMO requirements

ToyBox Malaysia Panduan Umum Guru

Konsep ToyBox Study diadaptasi daripada program ENERGY, program intervensi Cretan Health and Nutrition, manakala teks dan bahan diadaptasi daripada TigerKids. Bahan berkaitan Pinggan Sihat Malaysia digunapakai dengan izin daripada Bahagian Pemakanan, Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia

Lymphoma incidence, survival and prevalence 2004–2014 : sub-type analyses from the UK’s Haematological Malignancy Research Network

Background: Population-based information about cancer occurrence and survival are required to inform clinical practice and research; but for most lymphomas data are lacking. Methods: Set within a socio-demographically representative UK population of nearly 4 million, lymphoma data (N ¼ 5796) are from an established patient cohort. Results: Incidence, survival (overall and relative) and prevalence estimates for 420 subtypes are presented. With few exceptions, males tended to be diagnosed at younger ages and have significantly (Po0.05) higher incidence rates. Differences were greatest at younger ages: the o15 year male/female rate ratio for all subtypes combined being 2.2 (95% CI 1.3–3.4). These gender differences impacted on prevalence; most subtype estimates being significantly (Po0.05) higher in males than females. Outcome varied widely by subtype; survival of patients with nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma approached that of the general population, whereas less than a third of those with other B-cell (e.g., mantle cell) or T-cell (e.g., peripheral-T) lymphomas survived for Z5 years. No males/female survival differences were detected. Conclusions: Major strengths of our study include completeness of ascertainment, world-class diagnostics and generalisability. The marked variations demonstrated confirm the requirement for ‘real-world’ data to inform aetiological hypotheses, health-care planning and the future monitoring of therapeutic changes