Nutritional status and health profile among single mothers in Kota Bharu, Kelantan

The objective of this cross-sectional study is to determine the nutritional status and health profile of single mothers in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. A total of 100 single mothers aged 18-59 years old were involved in this study. Assessment of blood glucose, blood pressure, height and weight and food consumption were done to each respondent. Results showed that the random blood glucose level of 82.0% single mothers was normal (within 4.4-8.0mmol/L), 18.0% exceeded 8.0mmol/L although only 10.0% of them were diagnosed with diabetes based on clinical history. Meanwhile, 46.0% had normal blood pressure level. The result showed that 33.0% of the subjects have normal BMI, 6.0% of them fall in the category of underweight, 39.0% were overweight and 22.0% were obese. It is suggested that future intervention programs should focus on preventing obesity problems related to chronic diseases.Keywords: nutritional status; single mother; health profile; Kelantan; obesit

The effect of feeding problems on the growth of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

This cross sectional study determine the growth, feeding problems and nutrient intakes of cerebral palsy children and adolescents. A total of 153 subjects (68 females, 85 males) aged between 2 to 15 years old (mean 8.93+3.5) from community rehabilitation centers and spestic centers around Kuala Lumpur, Muar and Penang were recruited using convenience sampling method. 61% of subjects had feeding problems especially in the severe level group (72.9%) as compared to the mild (50.6%) [(χ2=7.890), p<0.05], whereby choking and swallowing were significantly associated with their severity levels [(χ2choking=7.183), p<0.05; (χ2 swallowing=9.994), p<0.05]. Subjects with feeding problems have lower body weight, height, BMI, fold and MUAC (p<0.05 for all parameters). 60% of cerebral palsy subjects had poor nutritional status, feeding problems and the presence of feeding problems significantly affects their growth.Keywords: cerebral palsy; feeding problem; specific growth charts; gross motor classification system; wasting

Physical activity level among undergraduate students in Terengganu, Malaysia using pedometer

A cross-sectional study determine physical activity level among 95 undergraduate students at UniSZA using pedometer. Subjects consented and completed socio-demographic details, weight and height were measured. Each subject was supplied with a pedometer and wear it for a week and record steps per day from the pedometer each night before bed. Descriptive statistic and independent T-test coefficient analyze the data using IBM SPSS version 22.0. Results showed that 66.4% of the subjects were classified as sedentary according to pedometer determined physical activity. Males recorded significantly more steps than female per day. Subjects in the age group of 18-20 years old had the highest mean average steps count than the older age group of 21-24 years old and ≥ 25 years old per day. Only 5.2% were classified as active and highly active using pedometer determined physical activity level.Keywords: physical activity; pedometer; steps; body compositio

Tribological improvement using ionic liquids as additives in synthetic and bio-based lubricants for steel-steel contacts

This study investigates the performance of three ionic liquids (ILs), trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinate, trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium decanoate, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, as lubricant additives in synthetic oil polyalphaolefin (PAO8) and bio-based oil trimethylolpropane trioleate (TMPTO). The ILs were added at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 wt% concentrations and evaluated in terms of their miscibility with base oils as well as friction- and wear-reducing abilities. Four-ball and high-frequency reciprocating rig (HFRR) tribotesters were employed to evaluate the tribological performance under a boundary lubrication regime. Worn steel surfaces were characterized using optical microscopy, profilometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The results suggested that the addition of trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinate and trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium decanoate improved the tribological performance of both PAO8 and TMPTO at an optimum concentration of 1 wt%. They showed good friction reduction, lower overall surface wear, and improved surface finishing. 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate managed to improve the tribological performance of both base oils only at 0.5 wt%. A further increase in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate concentration caused detrimental effects on the steel surface due to the formation of halogenic compounds

Comparative study of nanoparticles and alcoholic fuel additives-biodiesel-diesel blend for performance and emission improvements

This study aims to investigate a CI diesel engine characteristic of diesel-biodiesel blend with oxygenated alcohols and nanoparticle fuel additives. Biodiesel was synthesized from a complementary palm-sesame oil blend using an ultrasound-assisted transesterification process. B30 was mixed with fuel additives as the base fuel to form ternary blends in different proportions before engine testing. The oxygenated alcohols (DMC and DEE) and nanoparticles (CNT and TiO2) were used to improve both the fuel characteristics and engine emission and performance parameters. B30 fuel was mixed with 5% (DEE) and 10% (DMC) by volume and 100 ppm concentration of CNT and TiO2 nanoparticles, respectively, which are kept constant during this study. Engine performance and emissions characteristics were studied using a CI diesel engine with variable engine rpm at full load condition. The results were compared with B30 fuel and B10 (commercial diesel). The main findings indicated that the B30 + TiO2 ternary blend shows an overall decrease in brake specific fuel consumption up to 4.1% among all tested fuels. B30 + DMC produced a higher 9.88% brake thermal efficiency, among other fuels. B30 + DMC ternary blend showed a maximum decrease in CO and HC emissions by 29.9% and 21.4%, respectively, collated to B30. B30 + CNT ternary blend showed a maximum reduction of 3.92% in NOx emissions compared to B30

Role of diet in asthma

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:DXN019590 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Feasibility of bioethanol and biobutanol as transportation fuel in spark-ignition engine: A review

Fossil fuels depletion is a globally main issue because it is the primary transportation fuel. Furthermore, environmental issues including global warming and climate changes are problems that need to be dealt with immediately. Therefore, biofuels (bio-based fuels), i.e. bio-alcohols (bioethanol and biobutanol) which are produced from natural materials have emerged as promising transportation fuels because of their sustainability and environmental benefits which can reduce the dependency on crude oil reserves. Today, bioethanol is widely used as an option for transportation fuel or additives to gasoline in spark ignition (SI) engine due to its attractive properties of high octane number and reduced exhaust emissions. The next promising and competitive biofuel is biobutanol which has superior properties to be used in SI engine without engine modification. The aim of the present review is to highlight on the feasibility of the bioethanol and biobutanol as alternative transportation fuels in SI engine. The first section of this paper is an overview on bioethanol and biobutanol as gasoline alternatives. In the next section, comparative physicochemical properties of gasoline, bioethanol and biobutanol and their potential sources of production are presented. The effect of bioethanol and biobutanol with gasoline blends on engine performances, combustion analysis, exhaust emissions, engine durability and their effect on lubricating oil are discussed in the next section. The review study acknowledges that the bioethanol and biobutanol are capable of improving engine performances, combustion and also reducing exhaust emissions. However, the addition of alcohols in fuel blends leads to negative impacts on the engine durability and lubricating oil properties

Ultrasound-assisted process optimization and tribological characteristics of biodiesel from palm-sesame oil via response surface methodology and extreme learning machine - Cuckoo search

The purpose of this study was the improvement of cold flow and lubricity characteristics of biodiesel produced from the palm-sesame oil blend. Extreme learning machine (ELM) and response surface methodology (RSM) techniques were used to model the production process and the input variables (time, catalyst amount, methanol to oil ratio, and duty cycle) were optimized using cuckoo search algorithm. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), coefficient of determination (R2), mean square error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE), and standard error of prediction (SEP) were calculated to evaluate the performance of RSM and ELM. The results showed that ELM model had better performance in prediction than RSM model. The optimum yield of P50S50 biodiesel obtained was 96.6138% under operating parameters of time (38.96 min), duty cycle (59.52%), methanol to oil ratio (60 V/V %) and catalyst amount (0.70 wt%). The cold flow characteristics of P50S50 biodiesel are significantly improved like cloud point (7.89 °C), pour point (3.80 °C), and cold filter plugging point (- 1.77 °C) with better oxidation stability 6.89 h. The average coefficient of friction P50S50 biodiesel was lower than palm biodiesel (B100) and B10 commercial diesel by 2.29% and 12.37% respectively