Showing papers by "National University of Malaysia published in 2005"
TL;DR: In this article, surface integrity of rough machining of titanium alloy with uncoated carbide cutting tools was investigated under dry cutting conditions, and the results showed that the machined surface experienced microstructure alteration and increment in microhardness on the top white layer (≤10μm).
446 citations
National Institutes of Health1, Eötvös Loránd University2, Slovak Academy of Sciences3, Pusan National University4, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile5, University of Tartu6, Complutense University of Madrid7, Keele University8, Sapienza University of Rome9, University of Iowa10, University of Malta11, Cayetano Heredia University12, University of Melbourne13, University of Paris14, University of Ouagadougou15, University of Coimbra16, University of the Philippines Diliman17, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign18, University of Otago19, Victoria University of Wellington20, Al Akhawayn University21, Koç University22, Lund University23, The Catholic University of America24, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic25, University of Copenhagen26, University of Iceland27, American University of Beirut28, University of Belgrade29, University of Buenos Aires30, Susquehanna University31, National University of Malaysia32, San Francisco State University33, Queen's University Belfast34, International University, Cambodia35, University of Botswana36, Iwate Prefectural University37, Makerere University38, University of Virginia39, University of Ibadan40, University of British Columbia41, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras42, Andhra University43, University of Lausanne44, University of Ljubljana45, Queensland University of Technology46, Bunkyo Gakuin University47, Ramapo College48, Jagiellonian University49, University of Sussex50, University of Winnipeg51, Peking University52, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology53
TL;DR: Perceptions of national character appear to be unfounded stereotypes that may serve the function of maintaining a national identity.
Abstract: Most people hold beliefs about personality characteristics typical of members of their own and others' cultures. These perceptions of national character may be generalizations from personal experience, stereotypes with a "kernel of truth," or inaccurate stereotypes. We obtained national character ratings of 3989 people from 49 cultures and compared them with the average personality scores of culture members assessed by observer ratings and self-reports. National character ratings were reliable but did not converge with assessed traits. Perceptions of national character thus appear to be unfounded stereotypes that may serve the function of maintaining a national identity.
403 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a solar cooling system that has been designed for Malaysia and similar tropical regions using evacuated tube solar collectors and LiBr absorption unit is carried out with TRNSYS program, the typical meteorological year file containing the weather parameters for Malaysia is used to simulate the system.
272 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the antibacterial potential of aqueous and acetone extracts of galls of Quercus infectoria by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) values was evaluated.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antibacterial potential of aqueous and acetone extracts of galls of Quercus infectoria by determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) values. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The extracts from the galls of Q. infectoria at 10 mg/ml were screened against three Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus subtilis) and three Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli NCTC 12079 serotype O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium NCTC 74 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853). The MIC of the extracts were then determined using the twofold serial microdilution technique at a concentration ranging from 5 mg/ml to 0.0024 mg/ml. The MBC values were finally obtained from the MIC microtiter wells which showed no turbidity after 24 hrs of incubation by subculturing method. RESULTS: Out of the six bacterial species tested, S. aureus was the most susceptible. On the other hand, the extracts showed weak inhibitory effect against S. epidermidis, B. subtilis, S. typhimurium and P. aeruginosa while there was no inhibition zone observed for E. coli O157. The MIC values of the extracts ranged from 0.0781 mg/ml to 1.25 mg/ml whereas the MBC values ranged from 0.3125 mg/ml to 2.50 mg/ml. The MBC values of aqueous extract against S. aureus and S. typhimurium were higher than their MIC values. The MBC value of acetone extract against S. aureus was also higher than its MIC value. Interestingly, however, the MIC and MBC values of acetone extract against S. typhimurium were the same (1.25 mg/ml). CONCLUSION: The aqueous and acetone extracts displayed similarities in their antimicrobial activity on the bacterial species and as such, the galls of Quercus infectoria are potentially good source of antimicrobial agents.
248 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used the survey method to investigate the influence of several contingent variables on the design of MCS in service organizations, including service process type, business strategy, and stage in the organizational life cycle.
218 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a double-pass photovoltaic-thermal solar air collector with compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) and fin attached to the back side of the absorber plate was designed and evaluated.
212 citations
TL;DR: Irrespective of the type of nasal device used, nasal trauma is common during nCPAP treatment, which should therefore be terminated as soon as possible.
Abstract: Objective: To compare the incidence of nasal trauma associated with the use of prong or mask during nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) support in very low birthweight ( Design: Randomised controlled clinical trial. Setting: Tertiary care university hospital, Department of Paediatrics, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Methods: All very low birthweight infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit between July 2001 and December 2003 who received nCPAP through the Infant Flow Driver were randomised to the use of either nasal prong or mask. The nasal cavity of these infants was inspected daily during the first week and then weekly until they were weaned off nCPAP. Results: Of the 89 infants recruited, 41 were randomised to the mask group and 48 to the prong group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of nasal trauma between the two groups (p = 0.5). The primary site of trauma was at the junction between the nasal septum and the philtrum in infants in the mask group and the walls of the nasal septum in the prong group. Logistic regression analysis showed that duration of nCPAP was the only significant risk factor associated with development of nasal injury, after birth weight, gestational age, and nasal device used had been controlled for (adjusted odds ratio 1.04; 95% confidence interval 1.01 to 1.07; p = 0.003). Conclusion: Irrespective of the type of nasal device used, nasal trauma is common during nCPAP treatment, which should therefore be terminated as soon as possible.
183 citations
TL;DR: Using an extended empirical orthogonal function (EEOF) analysis, it is shown that the dominant EEOF mode of SEAR anomalies evolves northeastward throughout a period from the summer when El Nino develops to spring the following year when the event weakens as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The Southeast Asia rainfall (SEAR) anomalies depend strongly on phases of El Nino (La Nina). Using an extended empirical orthogonal function (EEOF) analysis, it is shown that the dominant EEOF mode of SEAR anomalies evolves northeastward throughout a period from the summer when El Nino develops to spring the following year when the event weakens. This evolution is consistent with northeastward migration of the ENSO-related anomalous out going radiation field. During boreal summer (winter), the strong ENSO-related anomaly tends to reside in regions south (north) of the equator. The evolution of dominant mode of SEAR anomalies is in tandem with the evolution of ENSO-related sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies. The strengthening and weakening of “boomerang-shaped” SST in western Pacific, the changing sign of anomalous SST in Java Sea and the warming in Indian Ocean and South China Sea are all part of ENSO-related changes and all are linked to SEAR anomaly. The anomalous low-level circulation associated with ENSO-related SEAR anomaly indicates the strengthening and weakening of two off-equatorial anticyclones, one over the Southern Indian Ocean and the other over the western North Pacific. Together with patterns of El Nino minus La Nina composites of various fields, it is proposed that the northeastward evolution of SEAR anomaly is basically part of the large-scale eastward evolution of ENSO-related signal in the Indo-Pacific sector. The atmosphere–ocean interaction plays an important role in this evolution.
183 citations
TL;DR: In 2002, the government of Malaysia as mentioned in this paper announced a reversal of policy, calling for a switch to English as a medium of instruction at all levels, and analyzed the pressures to which the government was responding.
Abstract: After Independence in 1957, the government of Malaysia set out on a program to establish Bahasa Melayu as official language, to be used in all government functions and as the medium of instruction at all levels. For 40 years, the government supported a major program for language cultivation and modernization. It did not however attempt to control language use in the private sector, including business and industry, where globalization pressure led to a growing demand for English. The demand for English was further fuelled by the forces of the internationalization of education which were met in part by the opening of English-medium affiliates of international universities. In 2002, the government announced a reversal of policy, calling for a switch to English as a medium of instruction at all levels. This paper sets out to analyze the pressures to which the government was responding.
176 citations
TL;DR: The authors examined discretionary accruals in distressed firms that have undertaken debt contract renegotiation subsequent to debt covenant violation with a view to determining whether managers adopt income-decreasing accrual during debt renegotiation.
Abstract: Empirical evidence on earnings management by financially distressed firms is very limited. This study examines discretionary accruals in distressed firms that have undertaken debt contract renegotiation subsequent to debt covenant violation with a view to determining whether managers adopt income-decreasing accruals during debt renegotiation. Using four established models for detecting discretionary accruals during the recent financial crisis in Malaysia, we find evidence that distressed firms manipulate earnings downward. The results show that the magnitude of discretionary accruals is statistically significantly negative during the year surrounding renegotiations with lenders, and that these accruals are significantly more negative than those of a control sample of firms which have not undertaken debt renegotiation during the same period but experienced similar financial performance. The results are robust after controlling for changes in top management, audit qualifications, audit firm size, a...
160 citations
TL;DR: This study may popularize the use of silicone gel in all types of surgery to minimize the formation of hypertrophic scars in the early postoperative period with promising effect on the incidence of sternotomy scarring.
Abstract: Background:Hypertrophic scarring caused by sternotomy is prevalent among Asians. The effectiveness of silicone gel in scar prevention may influence the decision of surgeons and patients regarding its routine use during the postoperative period.Methods:The authors conducted a randomized, placebo-cont
TL;DR: In this article, three commercial nanofiltration membranes (NF90, NF270, N30F) have been used to treat highly concentrated (NaCl) salt solutions up to 25,000 ppm, a salinity level similar to that of seawater.
TL;DR: In this article, a fitted line using lognormal distributions was used to represent the pore size distribution of the nanofiltration membranes, which is fitted well with AFM experimental data.
TL;DR: This paper observed a period of famine in the lowland tropical rain forest of Sabah, Malaysia from August 1999 to September 2000, and they surmise that the famine resulted from prolonged scarcity of fruit during an intermast interval in the study area.
Abstract: We observed a period of famine in the lowland tropical rain forest of Sabah, Malaysia from August 1999 to September 2000. All six Malayan sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) that were captured and radio-collared were in poor physical condition, and two were later found dead. The physical condition of bearded pigs (Sus barbatus) that were captured, observed or photographed by camera traps also revealed that the pigs were in various stages of emaciation and starvation. We surmise that the famine resulted from prolonged scarcity of fruit during an intermast interval in the study area. These phenomena of emaciated animals and fruit scarcity have also been reported from other areas of Borneo. Lowland tropical rain-forest trees of Borneo display supra-annual synchronized general fruiting. We believe that the starvation we observed and the generally low density of large animals in Borneo forests is a consequence of a history of prolonged food scarcity during non-general-fruiting years, but may be accentuated by anthropogenic factors such as forest fragmentation, selective logging, and reduced density of fig trees in logged forests.
TL;DR: Engineered tissue resulted from ITS supplementation demonstrated higher quality of cartilage formation and the benefits of ITS supplementation in human chondrocytes monolayer culture and tissue engineering Cartilage formation.
Abstract: This study was to investigate the effects of insulin-transferrin-selenium (ITS) on the proliferation and quantitative gene expression of adult human nasal septum chondrocytes in monolayer culture expansion and the formation of tissue engineered hyaline cartilage. Effects of ITS on human nasal septum chondrocytes monolayer culture expansion and gene expression were evaluated in various culture media either added with 2% fetal bovine serum (FBS) or 1 ng/mL basic fibroblast growth factor plus 1 ng/mL transforming growth factor or both serum and growth factors supplementation in comparison with medium added with 10%FBS. Chondrocytes cultured in medium added with 2% fetal bovine serum and growth factors either supplemented with or without ITS were then mixed with pluronic F-127 hydrogel for in vivo tissue engineered cartilage formation in nude mice model. Engineered tissues were removed after 8 weeks of implantation and evaluated with histological staining, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy and quantitative gene expression analysis. ITS promoted human chondrocytes proliferation and reduced chondrocytes dedifferentiation in media supplemented with serum and growth factors. ITS with 2% FBS and growth factors provided 15-fold increased in chondrocytes number by the end of the culture period compared to the standard culture medium used in chondrocytes culture (medium added with 10% FBS). Engineered tissue resulted from ITS supplementation demonstrated higher quality of cartilage formation. In conclusion, our study has demonstrated the benefits of ITS supplementation in human chondrocytes monolayer culture and tissue engineering cartilage formation.
TL;DR: The effects of 2 mg/kg FeNTA on the levels of serum IL‐1 and IL‐6 with or without supplementation with a palm oil tocotrienol mixture or α‐tocopherol acetate in Wistar rats are investigated.
Abstract: 1. Free radicals generated by ferric nitrilotriacetate (FeNTA) can activate osteoclastic activity and this is associated with elevation of the bone resorbing cytokines interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6. In the present study, we investigated the effects of 2 mg/kg FeNTA (2 mg iron/kg) on the levels of serum IL-1 and IL-6 with or without supplementation with a palm oil tocotrienol mixture or alpha-tocopherol acetate in Wistar rats. 2. The FeNTA was found to elevate levels of IL-1 and IL-6. Only the palm oil tocotrienol mixture at doses of 60 and 100 mg/kg was able to prevent FeNTA-induced increases in IL-1 (P < 0.01). Both the palm oil tocotrienol mixture and alpha-tocopherol acetate, at doses of 30, 60 and 100 mg/kg, were able to reduce FeNTA-induced increases in IL-6 (P < 0.05). Therefore, the palm oil tocotrienol mixture was better than pure alpha-tocopherol acetate in protecting bone against FeNTA (free radical)-induced elevation of bone-resorbing cytokines. 3. Supplementation with the palm oil tocotrienol mixture or alpha-tocopherol acetate at 100 mg/kg restored the reduction in serum osteocalcin levels due to ageing, as seen in the saline (control) group (P < 0.05). All doses of the palm oil tocotrienol mixture decreased urine deoxypyridinoline cross-link (DPD) significantly compared with the control group, whereas a trend for decreased urine DPD was only seen for doses of 60 mg/kg onwards of alpha-tocopherol acetate (P < 0.05). 4. Bone histomorphometric analyses have shown that FeNTA injections significantly lowered mean osteoblast number (P < 0.001) and the bone formation rate (P < 0.001), but raised osteoclast number (P < 0.05) and the ratio of eroded surface/bone surface (P < 0.001) compared with the saline (control) group. Supplementation with 100 mg/kg palm oil tocotrienol mixture was able to prevent all these FeNTA-induced changes, but a similar dose of alpha-tocopherol acetate was found to be effective only for mean osteoclast number. Injections of FeNTA were also shown to reduce trabecular bone volume (P < 0.001) and trabecular thickness (P < 0.05), whereas only supplementation with 100 mg/kg palm oil tocotrienol mixture was able to prevent these FeNTA-induced changes.
TL;DR: A cross-sectional study to examine the association of giardiasis with protein-energy malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia was conducted among Orang Asli children in Selangor, Malaysia and Giardiasis was statistically identified as a strong predictor of significant wasting.
Abstract: A cross-sectional study to examine the association of giardiasis with protein-energy malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia was conducted among Orang Asli children in Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 281 children aged 2-15 years were studied. The data were collected using structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and laboratory analysis of blood and faecal samples. The results showed that 24.9% of the children were infected with Giardia duodenalis, while 56.5, 61.3 and 15.1% had significant underweight, stunting and wasting, respectively. Giardiasis was statistically identified as a strong predictor of significant wasting in this study population.
TL;DR: In this article, the main objective of the study was to determine the kinetics of the polyphenol oxidation reaction in cocoa beans during air drying at various air temperatures and humidities.
Abstract: The main objective of the study was to determine the kinetics of the polyphenol oxidation reaction in cocoa beans during air drying at various air temperatures and humidities The temperatures used were between 40 and 60 °C and the relative humidities were between 50 and 80% The higher the temperature and relative humidity of the drying air, the lower the amount of polyphenol residue in the cocoa beans, because of enzymatic oxidation of polyphenols At higher drying temperatures, non-enzymatic oxidation of polyphenols could also occur Computer simulation results gave rate constants for the polyphenol oxidation reaction (k 1 ) and the condensation reaction (k 2 ), at various air conditions, in the range of 0055-0200 and 0136-0155 h -1 respectively The activation energies obtained for the polyphenol oxidation reaction were in the range of 27 800-30 312 J K -1 mol -1 The reaction kinetics of the enzymatic browning reaction fitted a pseudo first-order reaction
TL;DR: In this article, a sample of public universities and private colleges are compared in terms of their enrolments, costs, facilities and quality of provision, and the general findings are that public universities appear to appear to be more efficient in satisfying public demand in terms OF provision.
Abstract: A sample of public universities and private colleges are compared in terms of their enrolments, costs, facilities and quality of provision. The purpose is to illuminate an important policy issue for Malaysia and to contribute to the general debate on the role of the private sector in the provision of higher education. The general findings are that public universities appear to be more efficient in satisfying public demand in terms of quality of provision.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used solid phase microextraction (SPME) to evaluate six principal compounds of chilli aroma, namely hexanal, 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine, 2,3-butanedione, 3-carene, trans-2-hexenal and linalool, on SPME fibres.
TL;DR: Forty-nine methanol extracts of 37 species of Malaysian medicinal plants were investigated for their inhibitory effects on platelet-activating factor (PAF) binding to rabbit platelets, using 3H-PAF as a ligand to find new PAF antagonists.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: An 8-week clinical posting of fourth-year medical students in psychiatry was associated with an increase in positive attitudes to mental illness and to psychiatry among female students but not among male students.
Abstract: Introduction: The stigma attached to mental illness and the mentally ill is a universal phenomenon and a major barrier to the provision of mental health services. Stigmatising attitudes among doctors themselves can result in compromised patient care. The aim of this research project is to study the impact of a clinical posting in psychiatry on the attitudes of medical students to mental illness and to psychiatry. This paper reports the results of the first phase of a longitudinal study. Materials and Methods: A total of 122 year 4 medical students responded to this study. The Attitudes Towards Mental Illness (AMI) and Attitudes Towards Psychiatry (ATP) questionnaires were administered before and after an 8-week attachment in psychiatry. Results: We found that students had somewhat favourable attitudes towards psychiatry and mental illness at the start of their attachment, with a mean score of 108.34 on ATP (neutral score, 90) and 68.24 on AMI (neutral score, 60). There was a significant increase in the mean scores of both scales following the psychiatric attachment for female students (ATP: P = 0.003; AMI: P <0.0005), but not male students (ATP: P = 0.435; AMI: P = 0.283). Conclusions: An 8-week clinical posting of fourth-year medical students in psychiatry was associated with an increase in positive attitudes to mental illness and to psychiatry among female students but not among male students. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2005;34:505-10
TL;DR: A cyclodextrin glucanotransferase was successively purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation, and affinity chromatography on α-CD (epoxy)-Sepharose 6B column, and SDS-PAGE showed that the purified CGTase was homogeneous and the molecular weight of the enzyme was about 75 kDa, indicating that Bacillus sp.
TL;DR: In this paper, the performance of glassy carbon electrodes modified with a random dispersion of bamboo type carbon nanotubes was compared with single walled carbon-nanotubes modified glassy and bare glassy electrodes and the electrochemical performance of all three types for electrode were compared by investigating the electrochemistry with solution species and DNA bases.
TL;DR: It is suggested that the essential oils containing high levels of benzyl benzoate and benzyl salicylate exhibited strong insecticidal activities against the larvae and adult mosquitoes.
Abstract: The leaf oils of eight Cinnamomum. species (C. rhyncophyllum. Miq., C. microphyllum. Ridl., C. pubescens. Kochummen, C. mollissimum. Hook. f., C. impressicostatum. Kosterm, C. scortechinii. Gamb., C. sintoc. Bl., and C. cordatum. Kosterm) were investigated for their larvicidal and adulticidal activities against Aedes aegypti. (Aedes aegypti Lynn) and Aedes albopictus. (Aedes albopictus Skuse). Acute mortalities of the fourth instar larvae and the adult mosquitoes were determined according to the standard WHO methods. Among the essential oils studied, the leaf oils of C. rhyncophyllum., C. microphyllum., C. pubescens., C. mollissimum., and C. impressicostatum. showed significant effects against the larvae of Ae. aegypti. and Ae. albopictus. with concentrations that caused 50% mortality (LC50) values of less than 12.8 and 11.8 µg ml−1, respectively. The essential oils that showed strong larvicidal effects also demonstrated relatively strong adulticidal effects on the mosquitoes after 3 h exposure wi...
TL;DR: Production of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) from Bacillus G1, a new bacterial isolate was optimized in shake-flask cultures using statistical design approach to elucidate the combined effect of five process variables.
TL;DR: Polyethersulfone membranes found to be capable to remove total ammonium and total phosphorus and will lead to a novel and efficient technique for the treatment of aquaculture wastewater and at the same time helps to improve the culture environment.
TL;DR: A new modified stilbene dimer, diptoindonesin D, was isolated from the acetone extract of the tree bark of Hopea dryobalanoides and found to be the most active with IC50 of 5.7 μm.
Abstract: A new modified stilbene dimer, diptoindonesin D (1), was isolated from the acetone extract of the tree bark of Hopea dryobalanoides, together with seven known compounds, parviflorol (2), (-)-balanocarpol (3), heimiol A (4), hopeafuran (5), (+)-alpha-viniferin (6), vaticanol B (7) and (-)-hopeaphenol (8). Cytotoxic properties of compounds 1-8 were evaluated against murine leukemia P-388 cells. Compound 8 was found to be the most active with IC50 of 5.7 microM.
TL;DR: Results showed that PVE had a greater potency to enhance wound repair and induce the increase in free radical-scavenging enzyme activities than α-Toc, which were potent antioxidants and significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation levels in the wounds as measured by the reduction in MDA levels.
Abstract: The effect of supplementing 200 mg/kg body weight palm vitamin E (PVE) and 200 mg/kg body weight α-tocopherol (α-loc) on the healing of wounds in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was evaluated. The antioxidant potencies of these two preparations of vitamin E were also evaluated by determining the antioxidant enzyme activities, namely, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the healing of dermal wounds. Healing was evaluated by measuring wound contractions and protein contents in the healing wounds. Cellular redistribution and collagen deposition were assessed morphologically using cross-sections of paraffin-embedded day-10 wounds stained according to the Van Gieson method. GPx and SOD activities as well as MDA levels were determined in homogenates of day-10 dermal wounds. Results showed that PVE had a greater potency to enhance wound repair and induce the increase in free radical-scavenging enzyme activities than α-Toc. Both PVE and α-Toc, however, were potent antioxidants and significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation levels in the wounds as measured by the reduction in MDA levels.