Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity and mental health among undergraduate students

With the sudden change of environment and limited studies on the effects of COVID-19 lockdown among university students, this study therefore aims to examine the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity level and mental health among university students in Malaysia. This is a cross-sectional study involving university students studying in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Demographics information, living status during COVID-19, physical activity level and mental health status were obtained through online questionnaire via Microsoft forms. Paired T-test was used to compare the effect of physical activity level and mental health status during COVID-19 lockdown. Data on falls was available for 383 participants with 254 (66.3 %) women and 129 (33.7%) men. Overall, the metabolic equivalent task (MET) of vigorous, moderate, mild, and total MET has decreased during COVID-19 lockdown as compared to before COVID-19 lockdown. Approximately an increment of 6% of participants reported having depression and anxiety during COVID-19 lockdown. In conclusion, significant impact on physical activity level and mental health was found in our study. Our study findings could therefore assist educational institutions and policymakers in forming strategies to improve student’s overall health, yet further longitudinal studies should be performed to examine the long-term effects of COVID-19 lockdown

Isolation and characterization of floral transcripts from mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.)

The understanding of flower initiation, development, and maturation in mangosteen is of paramount importance to shorten its long juvenile phase and to synchronize its flowering or fruiting time. In this study, we have identified 97 tentative unique genes with higher expression levels in young flower buds compared to young shoots by using suppressive subtraction hybridization and reverse northern analysis. Sequence analysis showed that 63.9% of these transcripts had non-significant matches to sequences in the non-redundant protein database in Gen- Bank, 19.6% had significant matches to unknown proteins while the remaining 16.5% had putative functions in transcription, stress, signal transduction, cell wall biogen-esis, photosynthesis and miscellaneous. The full-length cDNA of GmAGMBP encoding AG-motif binding protein(a zinc finger transcriptional factor), and 3 0 termini cDNA sequences of GmHSA32 and GmBZIP, encoding heat-stress-associated 32 (HSA32) and bZIP transcription factor,respectively; were cloned and further analysed. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that these three genes have different transcript profiles in flowers of different developmental stages and young shoots. The highest abundance of transcripts was achieved in flowers with diameters ranging from 0.5 to 0.9 cm for GmAGMBP and GmBZIP and in flowers with diameters less than 0.5 cm for GmHSA32. Southern analysis suggested that GmAGMBP might be single copy gene while GmHSA3A could possibly belong to a small gene family in the mangosteen genome

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Genetic Associations of Type 2 Diabetes with Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Processing and Degrading Pathways in Asian Populations

10.1371/journal.pone.0062378PLoS ONE86

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

A vision-based infrared decoy tracking algorithm for air conditioner spot cooling

Air conditioner has become one of the most common electrical appliances in every household. With the increase in their demand, the challenge to reduce the energy usage of air conditioner has become a subject of intense study in recent years. Spot cooling is one of the methods that can reduce the energy wastage. In this method, a control algorithm is implemented to actively track the location of users and direct the air conditioner's air flow to these targeted areas. This can make the cooling more efficient since the air conditioner does not need to cool down the entire room. By selectively directing the air flow, the users can still achieve the same cooling comfort. This paper proposed a technique of spot cooling for air conditioner using infrared (IR) camera and a decoy. The decoy is based on IR light emitting diodes arranged in a specific pattern. The IR camera captures the video of the room to locate the position of the decoy. Image processing techniques include thresholding and template matching are used for the decoy detection. Once the decoy is detected, the movement of the decoy is tracked by using a Kalman filter. To test the performance of the proposed method, a prototype system was implemented on a Raspberry Pi board and the accuracy of detection was evaluated. Experimental results showed that the system is able to detect the position of decoy with 98% accuracy in both day and night-time conditions

Marine cadastre legal framework for Malaysia

Malaysia has emerged as one of the most important country in the world maritime, and all activities in the maritime sector in the country leading national income accounting. This situation requires Malaysia to better manage the elements of the marine space for marine activities in line with the concept of sustainable development. Malaysia has a long coastline of about 4,384 km which is about 1,823 miles in the peninsula and the rest of 2561 km in Sabah and Sarawak. This paper underlines the conceptual model of marine cadastre in Malaysia and the important requirement in marine cadastre legal framework as the pillar to implement the marine cadastre in Malaysia. This aspect should be given attention by the stakeholders in the effort to make a reality the marine cadastre or similar that in Malaysia perspective is marine spatial alienation. The methodology used through the discussion and meeting activities with marine stakeholders and also produce the resolution from colloquium was made. It is also introduce the new suggestion to amend the existing law were used to parallel in marine element perspective and characteristic. The review on marine legal about the governance of Malaysia territorial water was done and result show that the issues on marine space detail is not touch in legal for administer the marine area. The legal framework is needed to ensure that implementation is running without the argument from other parties. And follow up from this, the new amendment to existing legal can be polished and modified towards the realize of marine cadastre practices in future

Towards Malaysian LADM Country Profile for 2D and 3D Cadastral Registration System Towards Malaysian LADM Country Profile for 2D and 3D Cadastral Registration System

SUMMARY This paper proposes a comprehensive Land Administration Domain Model (LADM, ISO 2012) country profile for 2D and 3D cadastral registration system for Malaysia. The proposed Malaysian country profile is partly based on the existing spatial (including survey) and administrative registration systems, and partly based on new developments inspired by the LADM standard. Within the country profile, an attempt is made to cover all Malaysian land administration related information, which are maintained by different organisations. The different types of spatial units include customary areas, reserved lands (forest, wildlife), lots (both of private and public land; e.g. roads), buildings and building parts (strata, all in 3D), strata land parcel (with house no more than 4 storeys) and utilities (legal spaces). The lots can have 2D or 3D representations, this include lots for qualified title and temporary occupation licence (TOL), where there is not yet a certified plan available. What makes the development of the Malaysian country profile unique is the support for a wide range of spatial units. Each of them having different requirements: some need sketches and text descriptions, others need 2D geometry and topology, while yet others need 3D geometry. The country profile includes the content of the various code lists, which are an important aspect of standardization. It is the first time ever that objects related to strata titles are modelled within LADM: building and land parcel (both within a single lot), which can be refined with parcel unit, accessory unit, and (limited) common property unit including support for provisional and multilayer/underground aspects. This is not only important for Malaysia, but also useful for many other countries, that also have the strata title system. Several novel aspects for the Malaysian land administration are introduced, such as: 3D representations (for building units and option for lots), full version management and inclusion of historic information, explicit linking of all land administration information and source documents (titles, certified plans), possibility to group multiple spatial units in one basic administrative unit with same rights attached, and legal spaces around utilities (in 3D). The country profile helps to establish the national SDI enabling meaningful exchange of information between different (type of) organizations in different parts (states) of the country. As LADM is an international standard it will also support international exchange of information, as part of Global SDI (GSDI)