Editorial Says on Malaysian Journal of Sport Science and Recreation (MJSSR) / Dr. Tan Chee Hian

Malaysian Journal of Sport Science and Recreation (MJSSR) was grown from the early Dean of Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation (FSR) UiTM, Professor Dr Muhd Kamil Ibrahim and it is a continuous affort and conjoined vision of all other FSR deans since 2001. The first journal’s editor-in-chief was Associate Professor Dr Kwame Ampofo-Boateng, who moved from FSR for career advancement. However, MJSSR is apparently considered as the one’s issue of Malaysian’s setting of Sports Science and Recreation (broadly-defined) journal. It is hoped that this journal would be an avenue for high quality academic research papers aimed in sharing ideas, findings and reflections of academic world in Malaysia or abroad

Physical intelligence of UiTM Sport Science undergraduates

The purpose of this investigation is to determine the physical intelligence among the Sports Science undergraduates who are currently enrolled at the Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam campus and branch campuses (Arau and Kuching campuses). The model of this study is based on Denis Postle’s (The Mind Gymnasium,1989) Model of multiple intelligence. Denis Postle’s model includes four types of intelligence : 1) Emotional Intelligence, 2) Intuitive Intelligence, 3) Physical Intelligence and 4) Intellectual Intelligence. This study only examine Physical Intelligence. Further, this study adopted 5 dimensions of the 6 dimensions of Postle’s Physical Intelligence which were fitness and health, enjoyment of physical activities, pride in manual skills and dexterity, sensible and balanced diet and love of the outdoors. A total of 215 Sport Science undergraduates enrolling in the Diploma and Degree courses were examined. Data were collected through a questionnaire formulated by the researchers. Results indicated that there was no significant difference in physical intelligence among undergraduates from different age groups. However, when undergraduates from different programmes were compared, significant difference was found in the ‘love of outdoor’ dimension. Multiple comparisons results showed that significant difference was between Diploma and Bachelor of Sport Science undergraduates with Diploma undergraduates love the outdoor more than Bachelor of Sport Science undergraduates

Awareness education of sport supporters on aggressiveness phenomena in sporting events / Tan Chee Hian … [et al.]

Study showed awareness education that learnt and performed by sport supporters were no matter whatsoever factors: Gender, Age, Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) Attended, Types of sport, Favorite sports or Ethnicity were highly alert and aware especially on the phenomena of aggressiveness in sporting events. Supporters had learned skills of managing on those incidences were in good form as far as awareness education perspective was concerned where it involved sociological that emphasizing on “outside” of one person which involved surrounding of the person whom take part. As conclusion, the level of study among supporters played a vital factor to influent the awareness level among them toward aggressiveness phenomena in sporting events, this study managed to roundup several research questions with hypotheses investigated

Effects of a 4-Week Plyometric Training on the Jumping Performance of Basketball Players / Wee Eng Hoe,Floreta Mudah and Tan Chee Hian

This study examined the effect of 4-week plyometric training programme on the jumping performance of undergraduate male basketball players. A total of 20 basketball players from the inter-faculty game at a public university were selected to participate in this study. The subjects were aged 20-23 years (mean = 21.3 + 1.12). Convenience sampling was used to select the students and subsequently randomly assigned to the control (n=10) and experimental (n=10) groups. Both groups were trained according to the compulsory training programme three times a week for four weeks. Additional plyometric training was provided to the experimental group, twice a week on non training days. The Vertec equipment (VER Vertec Jump Trainer) was used to measure the vertical jumping ability of the subjects. Control and experimental groups showed significant improvement in the mean vertical jump scores during the post-test as compared with the pre-test (t= -2.45; p < 0.05; and t=-21.00; p<0.05 respectively). Experimental group exhibited greater improvement (11.17%) as compared to the control group (2.12%). In short, plyometric training improved the jumping performance of basketball players and it is recommended to be used as a training strategy in improving jumping performance not only in basketball but in other sport as well

Identify self – fitness profiling among urban Malaysian individuals age 50’s / Chee Hian Tan … [et al.]

This study aimed to identify self- fitness profiling and describe effectiveness of “APecR” on Malaysian individuals aged 50’s in the complications modern life concerned. Twenty (n = 20) participants [(age = 52 ± 3 years)., (weight = 83 ± 1.5kg)., & (height = 168 ± 30cm)] voluntarily recruited. Workload, heart rate, sleeping pattern, blood pressure and energy intake and expenditure were recorded for 3 continuous cycles (3 months). Findings revealed 42.2% participants were very active (> 12,000 steps), 9.7% was active (> 10,000 steps), 0.11% was moderately active (7,500- 9,999 steps), 22.6% was not active (5000 – 7499 steps) and 16.2% was sedentary (< 5,000 steps). Participants’ average running steps, active time, total distance covered and energy expenditures during the first, second and third month were [(11,161 steps, 2 hours 5 min, 247.1 km distance and 1394 kcal)., (13,197 steps, active time 2 hours 19 min, , 296.8 km distance covered and 10,090 kcal)., and average of 11, 005 steps, active time 2 hours 5 mins, distance covered of 235.5 km and energy expenditures of 8528 kcal)] respectively. 30% of the participants blood pressure were normal (120/80 mm Hg), 43% was pre - high blood pressure (130-140/80-90 mm Hg) and 27% participants were in the high blood pressure category. Findings also revealed the participants gained longer sleeping time (7 hours 7 mins) at post “APecR” compared to pre – “APecR” (6 hours 46 mins). All participants demonstrated an average of moderate level of intensity. These finding suggested by identifying fitness status and delivering individuals’ fitness profile were vital important role in promoting active lifestyles in elderly age 50’s population

Metabolic health status and fecundability in a Singapore preconception cohort study

Background: Obesity compromises metabolic health and female fertility, yet not all obese women are similar in metabolic status. The extent to which fecundability is influenced by the metabolic health status of women who are overweight or obese before conception is unknown. Objective: This study aimed to: (1) determine the metabolic health status, and (2) examine the association between metabolic health status and fecundability of overweight and obese women trying to conceive in the Singapore PREconception Study of long-Term maternal and child Outcomes cohort study. Study Design: We conducted a prospective preconception cohort study of Asian women (Chinese, Malay, and Indian) aged 18 to 45 years trying to conceive who were treated from 2015 to 2017 in KK Women's and Children's Hospital in Singapore (n=834). We defined women to have metabolically unhealthy status if they: (1) met 3 or more modified Joint Interim Statement metabolic syndrome criteria; or (2) had homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index ≥2.5. Body mass index was categorized as normal (18.5–22.9 kg/m2), overweight (23–27.4 kg/m2), or obese (≥27.5 kg/m2) on the basis of cutoff points for Asian populations. Fecundability was measured by time to pregnancy in menstrual cycles within a year of enrolment. Discrete-time proportional hazards models were used to estimate fecundability odds ratios, with adjustment for confounders and accounting for left truncation and right censoring. Results: Of 232 overweight women, 28 (12.1%) and 25 (10.8%) were metabolically unhealthy by metabolic syndrome ≥3 criteria and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance ≥2.5, respectively. Of 175 obese women, 54 (30.9%) and 93 (53.1%) were metabolically unhealthy by metabolic syndrome ≥3 criteria and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance ≥2.5, respectively. Compared with metabolically healthy normal-weight women, lower fecundability was observed in metabolically unhealthy overweight women on the basis of metabolic syndrome criteria (fecundability odds ratios, 0.38 [95% confidence interval, 0.15–0.92]) and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (fecundability odds ratios, 0.68 [95% confidence interval, 0.33–1.39]), with metabolic syndrome criteria showing a stronger association. Metabolically unhealthy obese women showed lower fecundability than the healthy normal-weight reference group by both metabolic syndrome (fecundability odds ratios, 0.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.17–0.72) and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance criteria (fecundability odds ratios, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.26–0.71). Reduced fecundability was not observed in overweight or obese women who showed healthy metabolic profiles by either definition. Conclusion: Overweight or obesity was not synonymous with having metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance. In our preconception cohort, metabolically unhealthy overweight and obese women showed reduced fecundability, unlike their counterparts who were metabolically healthy. These findings suggest that metabolic health status, rather than simply being overweight and obese per se, plays an important role in fecundability.acceptedVersionPeer reviewe

Nocturnal Lifestyle Behaviours and Risk of Poor Sleep during Pregnancy

The extent to which lifestyle practices at night influence sleep quality in pregnant women remains unknown. This study aimed to examine whether nocturnal behaviours were associated with poor sleep during pregnancy. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of a prospective cohort of pregnant women at 18–24 gestation weeks recruited from KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore, between 2019 and 2021. Nocturnal behaviours were assessed with questionnaires, and sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) with a global score ≥5 indicative of poor sleep quality. Modified Poisson regression and linear regression were used to examine the association between nocturnal behaviour and sleep quality. Of 299 women, 117 (39.1%) experienced poor sleep. In the covariate-adjusted analysis, poor sleep was observed in women with nocturnal eating (risk ratio 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12, 2.04) and nocturnal artificial light exposure (1.63; 1.24, 2.13). Similarly, nocturnal eating (β 0.68; 95% CI 0.03, 1.32) and light exposure (1.99; 1.04, 2.94) were associated with higher PSQI score. Nocturnal physical activity and screen viewing before bedtime were not associated with sleep quality. In conclusion, reducing nocturnal eating and light exposure at night could potentially improve sleep in pregnancy.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Modifiable Risk Factor Score and Fecundability in a Preconception Cohort in Singapore

Importance: Although multiple modifiable risk factors have been identified for reduced fecundability (defined as lower probability of conception within a menstrual cycle), no scoring system has been established to systematically evaluate fecundability among females who are attempting to conceive. Objective: To examine the association of a risk score based on 6 modifiable factors with fecundability, and to estimate the percentage reduction in incidence of nonconception if all study participants achieved a minimal risk score level. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based cohort study obtained data from the S-PRESTO (Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes) prospective cohort study. Females of reproductive age who were trying to conceive were enrolled from February 2015 to October 2017 and followed for 1 year, ending in November 2018. Data were analyzed from March to May 2022. Exposures: A reduced fecundability risk score was derived by giving participants 1 point for each of the following factors: unhealthy body mass index, unhealthy diet, smoking, alcohol intake, folic acid supplement nonuser, and older maternal age. Total scores ranged from 0 to 6 and were classified into 5 levels: level 1 (score of 0 or 1), level 2 (score of 2), level 3 (score of 3), level 4 (score of 4), and level 5 (score of 5 or 6). Main Outcomes and Measures: Fecundability, measured by time to conception in cycles, was analyzed using discrete-time proportional hazards models with confounder adjustment. Results: A total of 937 females (mean [SD] age, 30.8 [3.8] years) were included, among whom 401 (42.8%) spontaneously conceived within 1 year of attempting conception; the median (IQR) number of cycles before conception was 4 (2-7). Compared with participants with a level 1 risk score, those with level 2, 3, 4, and 5 risk scores had reductions in fecundability of 31% (adjusted fecundability ratio [FR], 0.69; 95% CI, 0.54-0.88), 41% (FR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.45-0.78), 54% (FR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.31-0.69) and 77% (FR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.07-0.73), respectively. Assessment of the population attributable fraction showed that all participants achieving a minimal (level 1) risk level would be associated with a reduction of 34% (95% CI, 30%-39%) in nonconception within a year. Conclusions and Relevance: Results of this study revealed the co-occurrence of multiple modifiable risk factors for lowered fecundability and a substantially higher conception rate among participants with no or minimal risk factors. The risk assessment scoring system proposed is a simple and potentially useful public health tool for mitigating risks and guiding those who are trying to conceive.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Identification of glaucomatous optic nerve progression by scanning laser tomography

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Free cash flow model : a first evaluation of Singapore stocks, 1994-1998.

Using the Free Cash Flow Model to evaluate the overprice or underpricing of the companies listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX).This project aims to evaluate the feasibility of the model as another tool to be used for financial analysis over and above the existing valuation models