Risk assessment of upper respiratory health problems among workers exposed to biogas residues at palm oil plants in Sabah Malaysia

Objective: A cross-sectional study was carried out on the respiratory effects of biogas plant environment exposure in palm oil mills. The aim of this study was to determine whether respiratory health effects were more common among workers in biogas plant environment. Methods: Workers from 19 palm oil mills in Sabah with biogas plants were compared between the exposed and unexposed of the biogas plant environment. The workers were assessed with a questionnaire, physical examination, spirometry and oximetry tests. Then, the data obtained were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Result: Pearson Chi-square analysis (p =0.019, x2 =5.51) showed there was a significant relationship between the biogas plant environment exposure and lung function test (LFT) with risk estimates (OR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.12, 3.45). The exposed group showed a higher proportion of abnormal lung function test in comparison with the unexposed group. Conclusion: In conclusion, workers in biogas plants environment have two times higher odds of having abnormal lung function test. Thus, the findings from this study can be used in the future planning by execution the optimal control measures as efforts to reduce the risk of respiratory-related disease in the biogas plant environment

Lipoblastome de la fosse sous temporale

Le lipoblastome est une tumeur bénigne rare, formée d'adypocytes immatures associés à la présence d'une matrice myxoide, de septas fibreux, et d'une architecture lobulaire. Il survient généralement chez le nourrisson et l'enfant. Cette tumeur touche dans la majorité des cas les tissus sous-cutanés des extrémités et du tronc. Elle est extrêmement rare au niveau de la tête et du cou. Un total de moins de 100 cas ont été rapportés précédemment dans la littérature

Anomali halaju bunyi ricih dan atenuasi ultrasonik dalam TmBa2 Cu3 O7-δ (δ = 0.06 dan 0.6)

Halaju bunyi, vs dan atenuasi ultrasonik, α gelombang ricih dalam TmBa2 Cu3 O6.94 yang mensuperkonduksi dan TmBa2 Cu3 O6.40 yang tidak mensuperkonduksi telah diukur daripada 80 dan 200 K pada julat frekuensi MHz. Sampel superkonduktor TmBa2 Cu3 O6.94 menunjukkan histeresis terma dan peningkatan halaju ricih,

Stigma and posttraumatic growth among COVID-19 survivors during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: a multicenter cross-sectional study

BackgroundContracting COVID-19 can cause negative and distressing psychological sequelae, but traumatic stressors may also facilitate the development of positive psychological change beyond an individual’s previous level of adaptation, known as posttraumatic growth (PTG). As a result, studies have investigated the negative effects of COVID-19 on mental health, but data on PTG among patients who have recovered from COVID-19 remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the level of PTG and its associations with stigma, psychological complications, and sociodemographic factors among COVID-19 patients 6 months post-hospitalization.MethodA cross-sectional online survey of 152 COVID-19 patients was conducted after 6 months of being discharged from Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, MAEPS Quarantine Center, or Hospital Sungai Buloh, Malaysia. Patients completed a set of questionnaires on sociodemographic and clinical data. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-SF) was used to assess the level of PTG, the Kessler Psychological Distress (K6) was used to measure the degree of psychological distress, the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) was used to evaluate the severity of anxiety symptoms, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess the severity of depression symptoms, and the Explanatory Model Interview Catalog Stigma Scale (EMIC-SS) was used to record the degree of perceived stigma toward COVID-19.ResultsThe median PTGI SF score of the respondents was 40.0 (Interquartile range 16.0). Multivariable general linear model with bootstrapping (2,000 replications) revealed factors that significantly predicted PTG, which were at the higher level of the perceived stigma score, at 37 (B = 0.367, 95% CI = 0.041 to 0.691, p = 0.026), among the Malay ethnicity (B = 12.767, 95% CI 38 = 7.541 to 17.993, p < 0.001), retirees (B = −12.060, 95% CI = −21.310 to −2.811, p = 0.011), and those with a history of medical illness (B = 4.971, 95% CI = 0.096 to 9.845, p = 0.046).ConclusionExperiencing stigma contributed to patients’ PTG in addition to psychosocial factors such as ethnicity, history of medical illness, and retirement

Energy efficiency and Use of renewable energy for residential buildings - code of practice

This Malaysian Standard was developed by the Working Group on Architecture and Passive Design Strategy under the authority of the Industry Standards Commitee on Building, Construction and Civil Engineering

Stigma, Sociodemographic Factors, and Clinical Factors Associated with Psychological Distress among COVID-19 Survivors during the Convalescence Period : A Multi-Centre Study in Malaysia

High rates of psychological distress among COVID-19 survivors and stigmatisation have been reported in both early and late convalescence. This study aimed to compare the severity of psychological distress and to determine the associations among sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, stigma, and psychological distress among COVID-19 survivors across two different cohorts at two different time points. Data were collected cross-sectionally in two groups at one month and six months post-hospitalisation among COVID-19 patient from three hospitals in Malaysia. This study assessed psychological distress and the level of stigma using the Kessler Screening Scale for Psychological Distress (K6) and the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC) stigma scale, respectively. At one month after discharge, significantly lower psychological distress was found among retirees (B = −2.207, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = −4.139 to −0.068, p = 0.034), those who received up to primary education (B = −2.474, 95% CI = −4.500 to −0.521, p = 0.014), and those who had an income of more than RM 10,000 per month (B = −1.576, 95% CI = −2.714 to −0.505, p = 0.006). Moreover, those with a history of psychiatric illness [one month: (B = 6.363, 95% CI = 2.599 to 9.676, p = 0.002), six months: (B = 2.887, CI = 0.469–6.437, p = 0.038)] and sought counselling services [one month: (B = 1.737, 95% CI = 0.385 to 3.117, p = 0.016), six months: (B = 1.480, CI = 0.173–2.618, p = 0.032)] had a significantly higher severity of psychological distress at one month and six months after discharge from the hospital. The perceived stigma of being infected with COVID-19 contributed to greater severity of psychological distress. (B = 0.197, CI = 0.089–0.300, p = 0.002). Different factors may affect psychological distress at different periods of convalescence after a COVID-19 infection. A persistent stigma contributed to psychological distress later in the convalescence period

Normal incidence sound absorption measurement of circular perforated panels using sound intensity technique

It was ascenained that, sound intensity measurement based on fixed point scanning technique could be used to measure the normal incidence sound absorption (aN) of perforated panels accurately and reliably in this paper, the importance of sound field quality indicator (F1+ F2+ F3+ F4) and sound intensity probe measurements distance toward measured aN reliability will be discussed. Individual statistical regression models that suit the measured aN for 20% and 30% perforation ratio were obtained. in addition, overall model for 20% and 30% perforation ratio were also obtained and can served as a basis for aN prediction of perforated panels with the same perforation ratio. The findings suggest, circular perforated panels. which are the simplest form of direct piercing carved wood panels ( DPCWP ) are able to act as sound absorber

الٌُّلغَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ لَلسَنَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ = al-Lughatul al-Arabiyyah li al-sanat al-thalithah

ألف هذا الكتاب لتدريس اللغة العربية لغير الناطقين بالعربية في السنة الثالثة الثانوية حسب المنهج المعياري للمدارس الثانوية بوزارة التربية الماليزية. يحتوي هذا الكتاب على خمس وحدات تشمل المجالات الثلاث من المجال التعليمي والاجتماعي والمهني

HELECAR-D: A dataset for urban electro mobility in Moroccan context

The integration of electric vehicles (EV) into the global car fleet has seen a major shift boosted by the new environmental regulations. The adoption of this low-carbon vehicle is hampered by several constraints in emerging countries and particularly in Morocco, e.g. constraints related to the infrastructure (land purchasing for charging stations, integration with existing power infrastructures, funding and optimized deployment) [1], and constraints related to the lack of standards and regulatory frameworks [2]. For this purpose, our objective is to share with the community a dataset about EV exploitation in the Moroccan context. This dataset [3] could be used to improve the energy management system characterized by a limited driving range and restrictive charging infrastructures. Subsequently, several driving cycles have been done in three main trajectories using data collection in the region of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra (RSK). The collected data contains mainly the date, time, Battery State of Charge (SoC), speed, vehicle's position, weather information, traffic conditions and road speed limits. The dataset collection is done using an onboard developed electronic card that collects the vehicle's internal and external data. Collected data are pre-processes and then stored in a Comma Separated Values (CSV) file. The collected dataset could be used in applications that are related to EV management and planning, such as speed prediction, speed control strategies, rerouting and EV charging scheduling, vehicle-to-grid and grid-to-vehicle, and energy demand forecasting