Persuasive technology as an intervention programs for Health care in Malaysia: a review

The statistics regarding health problem in Malaysia shows more than 50% of Malaysian adults have at least one of Non-Communicable Disease. Thus, effort to create awareness as well as promoting mind-set change with regards to health habit is paramount. Researches prove that ICT played significant role in influencing the way of thinking, behaviour and decision making. Intervention programs through computer application should be used to persuade and support health awareness, treatment and prevention. This paper investigate and review studies using persuasive technology in health intervention program in Malaysia. It presents the main objective, the technology persuasive principles and final findings of each study. In conclusion, the application of persuasive technology brings positive impact to awareness creation, aiding prevention and support to change as well as influencing people for a better healthy living.Keywords: persuasive technology; health intervention programs; health care; Malaysia

Application of Integrated AHP-TOPSIS Method in Hybrid Natural Fiber Composites Materials Selection for Automotive Parking Brake Lever Component

Hybrid natural fiber composites made from the combination of natural fiber and synthetic fiber offers the performance solution while in the same time able to provide further balance between cost and sustainability requirements for automotive structural application. Despite such advantages, the task of designing such hybrid composites during materials selection process such as for matrix materials selection are very challenging considering the involvement of multiple conflicting requirements with varying attributes which are needed to be complied simultaneously by the candidate material. In this paper, multi-criteria decision making technique (MCDM) through the integration of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method were applied in the materials selection of thermoplastic matrix for hybrid natural fiber composites formulation towards the design of automotive parking brake lever component. Based on literature review, four major types of automotive thermoplastic materials used for passenger car were selected as the materials candidate namely high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene and nylon 6. Moreover, four (4) main design criteria and ten (10) sub-criteria were applied in the selection process based on the product design specifications. The AHP method was first utilized to analyze the weightage of each criteria with respect to the goal and TOPSIS method was later applied to determine the best solution among the thermoplastic material candidates. The overall score shows that polypropylene is the most suitable thermoplastic matrix material for the hybrid natural fiber composites formulation for the intended application. The integrated AHP-TOPSIS method was also found able to provide systematic comparison and selection method to composites designers especially for automotive product development purposes involving hybrid natural fiber composites

Development of digestive tract of hilsa shad, Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton 1822) fry in the lower Meghna estuary, Bangladesh

This study was designed to describe the morphological development of the gut of Hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha from yolk sac to early juvenile stage. Samples were collected from the lower Meghna River, Bangladesh and laboratory analysis was conducted at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. Digestive tract was transparent and straight tube in structure at yolk sac stage. After yolk sac absorption, the digestive tract was differentiated into mouth opening, buccopharyngeal cavity, esophagus, stomach, intestines and rectum. Development of digestive tract was almost completed during pre-flexion stage. Gut loop was clearly observed at post flexion stage. Digestive tract was equal to more than three-quarter of standard length during larval development. The percentage of gut length compared with the standard length were 84.87 ± 4.87 %, 85.64 ± 4.47 %, 82.29 ± 6.18 %, 77.99 ± 4.98 %, 74.02 ± 3.27 % at yolk sac, preflexion, flexion, post- flexion and juvenile stages, respectively. There was a strong linear relationship between the gut length and standard length (R2 = 0.97). This is the first report on morphological changes of gut and its development of T. ilisha larvae, which might be very useful information for aquaculture development of T. ilisha

Selection of touch gestures for children’s applications: repeated experiment to increase reliability

This paper discusses the selection of touch gestures for children’s applications. This research investigates the gestures that children aged between 2 to 4 years old can manage on the iPad device. Two experiments were conducted for this research. The first experiment was carried out in United Kingdom. The second experiment was carried out in Malaysia. The two similar experiments were carried out to increase the reliability and refine the result. This study shows that children aged 4 years have no problem using the 7 common gestures found in iPad applications. Some children aged 3 years have problem with two of the gestures. A high percentage of children aged 2 years struggled with the free rotate, drag & drop, pinch and spread gestures. This paper also discusses the Additional Criteria for the use of Gestures, Interface Design Components and Research on Children using iPad and Applications

Evaluation of water quality parameters, growth and proximate composition of juvenile crab, Portunus pelagicus cultured in RAS and non RAS system

Juvenile blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus were reared over 31 days in two different systems namely recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) and conventional aquaculture system (CAS) to evaluate the water quality parameters, growth, and its body composition. The juvenile crab, weighing of 0.95 ± 0.18 g and stocking was at 40 crabs m-2 and fed twice per day with a commercial shrimp pellet. During the experimental time, significantly (P <0.05) increment in dissolved oxygen (DO) (6.42 ± 0.13), low level of ammonia- nitrogen (0.04 ± 0.10) and nitrite-nitrogen (0.04 ± 0.10) were recorded in RAS than conventional aquaculture system (CAS) (DO: 5.99 ± 0.24; ammonia- nitrogen: 3.83 ± 1.59; nitrite-nitrogen: 0.71 ± 0.58). The carapace width, weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) were significantly (P <0.05) higher in RAS. Protein content (22.65 ± 0.11%) in crab also were significantly (P <0.05) higher in RAS compared with crab protein (21.41 ± 0.12%) cultured in CAS. Although the survival rate was slightly higher in the juveniles reared at CAS, however it was not significantly different comparing with the individuals reared at RAS. The results strongly suggested that the use of RAS may improve the growth performance and maintain the better water quality for the crabs in captivity

Psychological traits influence autonomic nervous system recovery following esophageal intubation in health and functional chest pain

Background: Esophageal intubation is a widely utilized technique for a diverse array of physiological studies, activating a complex physiological response mediated, in part, by the autonomic nervous system (ANS). In order to determine the optimal time period after intubation when physiological observations should be recorded, it is important to know the duration of, and factors that influence, this ANS response, in both health and disease. Methods: Fifty healthy subjects (27 males, median age 31.9 years, range 20-53 years) and 20 patients with Rome III defined functional chest pain (nine male, median age of 38.7 years, range 28-59 years) had personality traits and anxiety measured. Subjects had heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), sympathetic (cardiac sympathetic index, CSI), and parasympathetic nervous system (cardiac vagal tone, CVT) parameters measured at baseline and in response to per nasum intubation with an esophageal catheter. CSI/CVT recovery was measured following esophageal intubation. Key Results: In all subjects, esophageal intubation caused an elevation in HR, BP, CSI, and skin conductance response (SCR; all p < 0.0001) but concomitant CVT and cardiac sensitivity to the baroreflex (CSB) withdrawal (all p < 0.04). Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that longer CVT recovery times were independently associated with higher neuroticism (p < 0.001). Patients had prolonged CSI and CVT recovery times in comparison to healthy subjects (112.5 s vs 46.5 s, p = 0.0001 and 549 s vs 223.5 s, p = 0.0001, respectively). Conclusions & Inferences: Esophageal intubation activates a flight/flight ANS response. Future studies should allow for at least 10 min of recovery time. Consideration should be given to psychological traits and disease status as these can influence recovery. The psychological trait of neuroticism retards autonomic recovery following esophageal intubation in health and functional chest pain

Exploration of (p,pi˚) as a Way of Studying Pionic Atoms

This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation Grant NSF PHY 87-1440

Psychophysiological responses to visceral and somatic pain in functional chest pain identify clinically relevant pain clusters

Background: Despite chronic pain being a feature of functional chest pain (FCP) its experience is variable. The factors responsible for this variability remain unresolved. We aimed to address these knowledge gaps, hypothesizing that the psychophysiological profiles of FCP patients will be distinct from healthy subjects. Methods: 20 Rome III defined FCP patients (nine males, mean age 38.7 years, range 28-59 years) and 20 healthy age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched controls (nine males, mean 38.2 years, range 24-49) had anxiety, depression, and personality traits measured. Subjects had sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system parameters measured at baseline and continuously thereafter. Subjects received standardized somatic (nail bed pressure) and visceral (esophageal balloon distension) stimuli to pain tolerance. Venous blood was sampled for cortisol at baseline, post somatic pain and post visceral pain. Key Results: Patients had higher neuroticism, state and trait anxiety, and depression scores but lower extroversion scores vs controls (all p < 0.005). Patients tolerated less somatic (p < 0.0001) and visceral stimulus (p = 0.009) and had a higher cortisol at baseline, and following pain (all p < 0.001). At baseline, patients had a higher sympathetic tone (p = 0.04), whereas in response to pain they increased their parasympathetic tone (p ≤ 0.008). The amalgamating the data, we identified two psychophysiologically distinct 'pain clusters'. Patients were overrepresented in the cluster characterized by high neuroticism, trait anxiety, baseline cortisol, pain hypersensitivity, and parasympathetic response to pain (all p < 0.03). Conclusions & Inferences: In future, such delineations in FCP populations may facilitate individualization of treatment based on psychophysiological profiling

Age, growth and length-weight relationships of Pinna bicolor Gmelin (Bivalvia: Pinnidae) in the Seagrass Beds of Sungai Pulai Estuary, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia.

Age and growth of Pinna bicolor were examined in the seagrass beds of Merambong shoal (N 1°19′55.62″; E 103°35′57.75″) off the south-western coast of Johor, Peninsular Malaysia between May 2006 and April 2007. Monthly growth increment data of P. bicolor were analyzed using FiSAT software (FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment Tools) to estimate the asymptotic length (L∞) and growth coefficient (K). Average growth rate of P. bicolor was 1.42 (±0.01) cm per month; the estimated asymptotic length (L∞) and growth coefficient (K) were 34.66 cm and 0.88 per year, respectively. In their natural habitat, P. bicolor attain shell heights of approximately 17, 25 and 30 cm at the end of their first, second and third years of growth. The length–weight relationship was estimated as Log W = −5.397 + 3.111Log L, and in exponential form the equation was W = 0.000004L3.111 (r2 = 0.99, P < 0.01). Habitat temperature and salinity ranged between 27.47 and 29.66°C and 28.66–33.00 ppt with a mean of 29.10 (±0.66) m°C and 30.52 (±1.41) ppt, respectively

Características físicas y químicas de jabones de tocador fabricados a partir de aceite de semilla de albaricoque y estearina de palma.

The objective of the present work was to use apricot kernel oil with palm stearin in toilet soap-making. Apricot kernel oil was obtained from apricot kernel seed (Prunus armeniaca) through hydraulic pressing (12000lb/in2). Kernel contained 43.3% oil. The fatty acids of apricot kernel oil had high oleic acid (81.73%) while, the major of the fatty acid in palm stearin was palmitic acid (55.17%). Eight of the toilet soap samples were prepared from apricot kernel oil, palm kernel oil and palm stearin at different ratios. The structure of soap samples nº1 and 8 were sticky and with bad physical properties. On the other hand, the physical characteristics of blends nos 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 had firm consistency and creamy lather while, in soap nº 7, its were moderatement; i. e. medium hard makeup with fairly lather. After storage (6 months) on a shelf at room temperature, all soaps (nº1-8) were declined in their moisture content. On contrary, the total fatty acids of the same samples were augmented at different ratios during storage. Physical characteristics of soap samples nos 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were increased after the storage time (6 months), their consistencies were very firm with creamy lather and reducement in their erosion from handwashing ratios was observed. It can be recommended that apricot kernel oil can be used in the manufacturing of toilet soap until ratio 50% of the fatty blend (the blend was bear palm stearin).El objetivo del presente trabajo fue el uso del aceite de semilla de albaricoque con estearina de palma en la fabricación de jabón de tocador. El aceite de semilla de albaricoque (Prunus armeniaca) se obtuvo por presión hidráulica (12000lb/in2), y la semilla contenía el 43.3% de aceite. Los ácidos grasos del aceite de semilla de albaricoque tenían altos contenidos de ácido oleico (81.73%) mientras, el ácido graso mayoritario en la estearina de palma fue el ácido palmítico (55.17%). Se prepararon ocho muestras de jabón de tocador a partir de aceite de semilla de albaricoque, aceite de semilla de palma y estearina de palma en diferentes proporciones. La estructura de las muestras de los jabones nº1 y 8 fueron viscosas y blandas con malas propiedades físicas. Por otro lado, las características físicas de las mezclas nos 2, 3, 4, 5 y 6 tuvieron una consistencia firme y espuma cremosa, mientras en el jabón nº 7 fueron moderadas, esto es dureza intermedia con espuma adecuada. Después del almacenamiento (6 meses) en estantería a temperatura ambiente, todos los jabones (nº 1-8) disminuyeron su contenido en humedad. Por el contrario, los ácidos grasos totales de las mismas muestras aumentaron en diferente proporción durante el almacenamiento. Las características físicas de las muestras de jabones nos 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 y 7 mejoraron después del tiempo de almacenamiento (6 meses), su consistencia fue muy firme con espuma cremosa y se observó una reducción en el desgaste en función del número de lavados. Se recomienda el uso del aceite de semilla de albaricoque en la fabricación de jabones de tocador hasta una proporción del 50% de la mezcla grasa (la mezcla fue estearina de palma corriente)