Assessing the intention to use technology among pre-service teachers in Singapore and Malaysia: A multigroup invariance analysis of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)

This study assesses the pre-service teachers' self-reported future intentions to use technology in Singapore and Malaysia. A survey was employed to validate items from past research. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a research framework, 495 pre-service teachers from Singapore and Malaysia responded to an 11-item questionnaires containing four constructs: intention to use (ITU), attitude towards computer use (ATCU), perceived usefulness (PU), and perceived ease of use (PEU). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed as the main method of analysis in this study. A multi-group analysis of invariance was performed on the two samples. The results show that configural and metric invariance were fully supported while scalar and factor variance invariance were partially supported, suggesting that the 11-item measure of the TAM may be robust across cultures and that the factor loading pattern and factor loadings appeared to be equivalent across the cultures examined. While all the paths in the structural model were significant, the variance accounted for in the dependent variable (ITU) was much larger in the Malaysian sample relative to the Singaporean sample

Prevalence of ultrasound diagnosed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among rural indigenous community of Sarawak and its association with biochemical and anthropometric measures

Although the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome has been previously firmly established, the prevalence of NAFLD and its risk factors in rural communities remains incompletely defined. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with ultrasound-diagnosed NAFLD amongst a rural community in Sarawak. An indigenous village was randomly selected where all adults aged 21 years and above underwent an abdominal ultrasound, biochemical tests and an anthropometric assessment. Respondents with a score ≥ 8 on an alcohol-use disorders-identification test (AUDIT) indicating harmful or hazardous drinking were excluded. Seventy-seven respondents (46.8% male, mean age 48.4 SD 16.64), met inclusion criteria. The prevalence of ultrasound diagnosed NAFLD was 44.2% (n=34), among them 52.9% had moderate NAFLD. There were no significant age or gender differences between respondents with and without NAFLD, although those with NAFLD were older. Respondents with NAFLD had a significantly higher BMI than those without NAFLD (p<0.001). Both male and female respondents with NAFLD had a significantly higher waist circumference than those without NAFLD (p<0.001). Prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia were significantly higher among those with NAFLD. However, there were no significant differences in terms of percentage of unhealthy body fat and muscle, and serum HDL levels. Risk factors independently associated with NAFLD included male gender (odd ratio 0.06; 95% CI 0.008-0.523) and waist circumference (odd ratio 1.2; 95% CI 1.036-1.421). There was a high prevalence of NAFLD and the presence of more severe stages of disease in this indigenous population. Life-style related diseases, such as fatty liver disease, can occur in rural as well as urban populations

A novel risk factor associated with colonization by Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae: Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors in addition to Antimicrobial Treatment

published_or_final_versio

Intrathecal Morphine and Post-Operative Pain Relief in Robotic Surgeries : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Distribution of <i>salmonella</i> serovars in humans, foods, farm animals and environment, companion and wildlife animals in Singapore

We analyzed the epidemiological distribution of Salmonella serovars in humans, foods, animals and the environment as a One-Health step towards identifying risk factors for human salmonellosis. Throughout the 2012&ndash;2016 period, Salmonella ser. Enteritidis was consistently the predominating serovar attributing to &gt;20.0% of isolates in humans. Other most common serovars in humans include Salmonella ser. Stanley, Salmonella ser. Weltevreden, Salmonella ser. Typhimurium and Salmonella ser. 4,5,12:b:-(dT+). S. Enteritidis was also the most frequent serovar found among the isolates from chicken/chicken products (28.5%) and eggs/egg products (61.5%) during the same period. In contrast, S. Typhimurium (35.2%) and Salmonella ser. Derby (18.8%) were prevalent in pork/pork products. S. Weltevreden was more frequent in seafood (19.2%) than others (&le;3.0%). Most isolates (&gt;80.0%) from farms, companion and wildlife animals belonged to serovars other than S. Enteritidis or S. Typhimurium. Findings demonstrate the significance of a One-Health investigative approach to understand the epidemiology Salmonella for more effective and integrated surveillance systems

Perspectives of vector management in the control and elimination of vector-borne zoonoses

The complex transmission profiles of vector-borne zoonoses (VZB) and vector-borne infections with animal reservoirs (VBIAR) complicate efforts to break the transmission circuit of these infections. To control and eliminate VZB and VBIAR, insecticide application may not be conducted easily in all circumstances, particularly for infections with sylvatic transmission cycle. As a result, alternative approaches have been considered in the vector management against these infections. In this review, we highlighted differences among the environmental, chemical, and biological control approaches in vector management, from the perspectives of VZB and VBIAR. Concerns and knowledge gaps pertaining to the available control approaches were discussed to better understand the prospects of integrating these vector control approaches to synergistically break the transmission of VZB and VBIAR in humans, in line with the integrated vector management (IVM) developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2004