Disaster readiness of medical records in Malaysian hospitals / Mohd Nizam Yunus

Medical records are an important asset to medical institutions especially hospitals. They document information including patient's identification data, medical and health history, physical examination findings, laboratory results and reports, medical diagnosis, medical treatment, length of stay in hospital, results from medical care and also future course of action. Medical records must be protected from danger or harm as it is vital for the medical institution's operation. There is a need to identify whether medical record is being well safeguarded from any disaster. This study focuses on the readiness of three hospitals in facing disaster on their medical records. Studies were conducted in the Klang Valley area where previous disaster incidents had been reported nearby. Elements of disaster readiness were being constructed from various guidelines and literatures and were being used as a base for interviewing respondents. Data from interviews were analyzed together with findings obtained from literatures and observation at the interview sites. This research suggested that while respondents were aware of the risks that can damage their medical records, some obstacles had hampered their efforts in minimizing or eliminating these risks. While conducting this research, cases of disaster incidents on the existing medical records had been found in all three cases. This shows that incidents had happened before to their medical records. One of the main factors that need to be overcome is the lack of financial support. Hospitals already spent a large amount of money on their manpower, medical operations and medications. An increase of expenditure spent on managing disaster is not possible. It is hope that this study will highlight the importance of a high level of readiness in facing disaster on medical records. To maintain a high level of readiness, various factors are needed including the increase of budget allocation

Penilaian nano zink oksida keatas campuran asfalt terhadap kerosakan kelembapan

Malaysia mempunyai iklim khatulistiwa yang menerima intensiti hujan yang tinggi sepanjang tahun. Untuk keadaan jalan, turapan asfalt dikenakan dengan beban yang tinggi dan sistem saliran tidak mencukupi untuk musim hujan. Semua faktor yang digabungkan menghasilkan kebarangkalian kerosakan kelembapan yang tinggi [1]. Kerosakan kelembapan adalah salah satu masalah utama bagi turapan berasfalt di mana ianya mempengaruhi jangka hayat disebabkan oleh keadaan lekatan dan lekitan asfalt pengikat [2]. Kehilangan pelekatan merujuk kepada pengurangan keupayaan pelekat pada permukaan agregat dan asfalt. Ini berlaku akibat air dan tekanan dari air yang bertindak pada campuran asfalt. Sementara itu, kehilangan lekitan adalah disebabkan oleh pelembutan atau kemerosotan keupayaan lekitan didalam asfalt pengikat yang tertumpu kepada kelembapan [3]. Pelucutan dan penguraian adalah disebabkan kehilangan ikatan pelekat antara agregat dan asfalt. Sementara itu, kehilangan keupayaan lekitan boleh membawa kepada kelemahan turapan yang mudah terdedah kepada kerosakan pramatang dan kerosakan tekanan pori [4]

Penggunaan kaca buangan sebagai agregat halus dalam turapan asfalt

Agregat merupakan juzuk utama dalam reka bentuk campuran asfalt atau hot mix asphalt (HMA). Permintaan yang tinggi terhadap agregat semulajadi boleh menyebabkan kekurangannya. Ini boleh menyebabkan masalah yang besar terhadap pembinaan jalan raya. Terdapat pelbagai cadangan bagi menyelesaikan masalah ini. Salah satu daripadanya adalah dengan menggunakan kaca buangan sebagai agregat halus. Kaca buangan merupakan bahan yang 100% boleh dikitar semula. Matlamat kajian ini adalah untuk menilai kesesuaian kaca sebagai agregat halus di dalam campuran berasfalt. Dalam kajian ini, campuran jenis ACW20 (Asphaltic Concrete Wearing course) disediakan. Ujian makmal yang dilaksanakan adalah ujian Marshall dan ujian Modulus Kekenyalan. Campuran tanpa kaca juga dibuat sebagai perbandingan. Ujian Marshall dilaksanakan bagi mendapatkan kandungan bitumen optimum dan kandungan kaca maksimum, manakala ujian Modulus Kekenyalan dilaksanakan untuk menentukan kesan beban terhadap campuran ACW20 berkaca. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa kandungan kaca maksimum yang boleh digunakan sebagai agregat halus dalam turapan asfalt ialah 19%

Effects of Electronic Records Management Best Practices and Records Professionals in Malaysia

Records management operation is vital as it can protect the organization and also helps in achieving its goal. Proper record keeping is critical to ensuring the administration's successful and productive record management. A wide range of records management difficulties and problems in dealing with electronic records, requires a qualified records manager in an organization to implement records management best practices, including how records are kept and maintained. This paper suggests a qualitative study on records managers to find a solution to the problems mentioned. The findings can benefit organizations dealing with electronic records, thus contributing to the body of knowledge

Physical and Chemical Properties of Nano Zinc Oxide Modified Asphalt Binder

Recently, nanotechnology has been used in all fields of science, including pavement engineering due to promising and improvement of materials offered. The modification of asphalt binder has evolved gradually, with several types of nanomaterials being employed to modify the asphalt binder. In this study, nano zinc oxide with flake structure was used as a modifier in asphalt binder. The nano modifiers were blended with penetration grade 60/70 asphalt binder at 3%, 5%, and 7%, respectively. Physical properties of the modified asphalt binders were then examined, including storage stability, penetration, softening point, and viscosity. Meanwhile, the chemical property was determined using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. It was discovered that 3% nano zinc oxide produced the best results. Nano zinc oxide was found not to show separation at high temperatures in a storage stability test. The addition of nano zinc oxide to the asphalt binder also reduced the penetration, increased the softening point, and reduced the viscosity. The high penetration index value also indicates that the asphalt binder treated with nano zinc oxide is thermally resistant.   Keywords: Nanotechnology, asphalt binder, nano zinc oxide, physical properties, chemical properties

Properties of particleboard made from pretreated particles of rubberwood, EFB and rubberwood-EFB blend

The increasing use of low formaldehyde emission adhesives such as Melamine Urea Formaldehyde (MUF) for bonding particleboard and other wood composites has led researchers to find ways to improve the durability of these products against biodeterioration agents. A study on the treatment of particleboard through soaking of particles with 2% boric acid and 0.2% deltamethrin solutions was conducted. Particleboards were produced utilizing treated particles of rubberwood (clone RRIM 2002), Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) and rubberwood-EFB blend (70:30). A low formaldehyde emission MUF resin (E1-grade) was used as a binder. The boards were evaluated for resistance against termite and fungal attack, static bending, internal bonding and dimensional stability. The properties were compared with those of untreated boards. The results of this study showed that the resistance of E1 grade MUF-bonded rubberwood and EFB particleboards against white rot fungus (Pycnoporous sanguiness) and termite (Coptotermes curvignathus) can be enhanced through the proposed treatment method. The particleboards made from both rubberwood and rubberwood-EFB blend require longer pressing time (> 6 min). Boric acid offered better protection against white rot wheras deltamethrin was more effective against termite. The bonding quality of both treated rubberwood and rubberwood-EFB blend boards was inferior compared to that of untreated board. Nonetheless, all treated EFB particleboards have higher IB. The strength and stiffness properties of rubberwood and rubberwood-EFB blend particleboards for both dry and wet conditions were markedly reduced by the treatments. The treatments increased the dry MOR and MOE values of EFB boards but lowered the wet MOR and MOE values. The study also indicated that the presence of preservatives had markedly decreased the stability of rubberwood and rubberwood-EFB blend particleboards

Physical and Chemical Properties of Nano Zinc Oxide Modified Asphalt Binder

Recently, nanotechnology has been used in all fields of science, including pavement engineering due to promising and improvement of materials offered. The modification of asphalt binder has evolved gradually, with several types of nanomaterials being employed to modify the asphalt binder. In this study, nano zinc oxide with flake structure was used as a modifier in asphalt binder. The nano modifiers were blended with penetration grade 60/70 asphalt binder at 3%, 5%, and 7%, respectively. Physical properties of the modified asphalt binders were then examined, including storage stability, penetration, softening point, and viscosity. Meanwhile, the chemical property was determined using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. It was discovered that 3% nano zinc oxide produced the best results. Nano zinc oxide was found not to show separation at high temperatures in a storage stability test. The addition of nano zinc oxide to the asphalt binder also reduced the penetration, increased the softening point, and reduced the viscosity. The high penetration index value also indicates that the asphalt binder treated with nano zinc oxide is thermally resistant.   Keywords: Nanotechnology, asphalt binder, nano zinc oxide, physical properties, chemical properties

Efficacy of Pyrethroid and Boron Preservatives in Protecting Particleboards against Fungus and Termite

Pyrethroid-formulated preservatives were investigated for their efficacy in protecting rubberwood and empty fruit bunches (EFB) particleboards against fungi and termites. Timberlife®, Stoprot® and Cislin® solutions (5% w/w of particles) were incorporated in rubberwood (clone RRIM 2002), EFB and rubberwood–EFB blend (70:30) particleboards by spraying the solutions separately into the furnish during blending. Boric acid (0.5% w/w) was used for comparison. A low formaldehyde emission melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF) resin (E1 grade) was used as binder. The pressing time of each type of board was determined by studying the gelation time of the adhesive mixture with added preser vatives. With the exception of Timberlife®, all preser vatives markedly increased the gelation time of the resulting adhesive mixture. The gel time for control mixture (without preservative) was 360 s. The resistance of treated particleboards against biodeterioration agents was evaluated based on weight loss of testing blocks after exposure to white rot fungus (Pycnoporus sanguineus) and subterranean termite (Coptotermes curvignathus). The resistance of particleboards either against white rot fungus or termite can be enhanced through incorporation of small amount of pyrethroid formulated preservatives through spraying during blending of furnish. Timberlife® provided the best protection of these particleboards against P. sanguineus. Cislin® offered the best protection for EFB particleboard against termite. Stoprot® gave fair protection to all particleboards against white rot fungus and termite, while boric acid still gave the best protection to rubberwood particleboard against termite

Undergraduates’ experience and satisfaction of massive open online course in Malaysia

While massive open online course (MOOC) is gaining popularity, studies have shown how negative user experience of the learning platform can lead to issues related to poor learning performance. OpenLearning, as the official national coordinated MOOCs program for higher education institutions in Malaysia, is still considerably gaining momentum in this country, thus much can still be observed in the usability aspect of this platform from the student’s perspective. This study aimed to evaluate the aspects of user experience and learning satisfaction of MOOC OpenLearning involving undergraduate students in a public university in Malaysia. Data were gathered through the online survey method which adapted questions from the user experience questionnaire (UEQ) and the usefulness, satisfaction, and ease of use (USE) questionnaire. Descriptive analyses revealed moderate positive levels of user experience and learning satisfaction towards MOOC OpenLearning among the respondents. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between both factors, suggesting the importance of considering user experience as the key factor in enhancing students’ satisfaction with MOOC. Recommendations arising from the students’ perceptions and concerns on the usability aspect contribute towards developing strategic guidelines for enhancing students’ learning experiences, especially during circumstances that necessitate effective online learning strategies

Effective communication skills for information professionals / Mohd Nizam Yunus ... [et al.]

An effective and good communication abilities are central to accomplishment in numerous parts of life. Numerous occupations require solid communication abilities and socially individuals with enhanced communication abilities more often than not appreciate better interpersonal associations with other parties. Effective communication provides useful benefits to a person especially if he or she is working in an organization that requires a good relation with clients and customers. In the field of records management, we do not only manage records but with the current situation, this area requires us to deal with external parties such as government departments and private sector and also from the members of the public. For example, some information institutions centers require external customers or clients for income generation. Clients and customers should be treated well and this requires an effective form of communication from information professionals. Imagine if the clients had to deal with staffs who do not know how to communicate effectively, the client may run away to other information institutions and they will lose their financial resources. This makes the information professionals should have the skills to communicate well in order to maintain the reputation of their records. An information professional also deals with government officials and also members of the public during their daily task. All of this requires good personal communication skills. Information institutions often received visitors such as libraries, archives, record centers and museums and one such way to handle visitors effectively is by using a good communication skills