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- PublicationAcute abdominal pain and potential life-threatening outcome in adult patients presenting in emergency department Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia(2020)Background Abdominal pain is one of the most common reasons for patient visits to the emergency department (ED). We aim to study the presentation of acute abdominal pain (AAP) in ED, the prevalence of potentially life-threatening AAP, and its associated factors. Methods This was a retrospective medical record review of ED visits for AAP among patients aged ≥12 years old from January to May 2018 at our suburban, academic tertiary centre ED in the east coast of Malaysia. A total of 945 cases were identified and 390 cases were selected by simple randomization. Results A total of 335 patients were included in the analysis. The mean age was 39.23±16.42 years. The majority were female (52.8%), Malays (95.2%), and came within 24 hours of the symptom (50.4%). The prevalence of potentially life-threatening AAP was 26% or 87 out of 335 patients. Its most frequent diagnosis was acute appendicitis (55.2%) followed by acute cholecystitis (11.5%) and ectopic pregnancy (6.9%). Factors predictive towards potentially life-threatening AAP were right iliac fossa pain (AOR 11.8, 95% CI 3.89 to 36.34, p<0.001), right hypochondriac pain (AOR 6.29, 95% CI: 1.61 to 24.67, p=0.008), generalized abdominal pain (AOR 6.28, 95% CI 1.39 to 28.43, p=0.017), loss of appetite (AOR 7.64, 95% CI 1.85 to 31.55, p=0.005), tachycardia (AOR 7.64, 95% CI 1.4 to 9.93, p=0.008), fever (AOR 2.8, 95% CI 1.05 to 7.44, p=0.039), leucocytosis (AOR 3.34, 95% CI 1.44 to 8.7, p=0.006) and low haemoglobin level (AOR 18.26, 95% CI 2.45 to 136, p=0.005). ConclusionA comprehensive history and clinical examination such as location of pain, loss of appetite, fever and tachycardia combined with laboratory testing to look for leucocytosis and anaemia may facilitate effective assessment in detecting potentially life-threatening AAP in ED
- PublicationThe three-dimensional mapping of the surface analysis of electromagnetic navigation systems using surface registration in ethnic Malaysian features(2019)Introduction Since its introduction, surgical navigation systems have become integrated into surgical practices that include complex nasal endoscopic procedures to avoid serious complication such as injury to the optic nerve, the carotid artery, the dura mater and the brain parenchyma. Objective We aimed to determine the accuracy of image guided system (IGS) by using different timing interval of computed tomography scan of paranasal sinus and our experience in performing the surface marking. Methods A cross sectional study was done. Subjects were recruited from patients planned for endoscopic sinus surgery with IGS, who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The image guided navigation measurements were compared to the actual anatomical measurements of intercanthal distance of both eyes and the tangential line of inverted triangle to the philtrum. The estimated time to register the IGS was recorded. All measurements were done at the same time as the calibration of the IGS. Results The mean intercanthal distance measured by IGS was 38.17 mm (SD 3.34) whereas the actual intercanthal distance was 38.17 mm (SD 3.37 mm). The tangential line measured by IGS was 46.62 (SD 3.39) whereas the actual measurement of the tangential line was 46.47mm (SD 3.27). The was no significant difference in both measurements between IGS and actual anatomical measurements (p=0.804 and 0.496, respectively).Conclusions Even with the different intervals there was not much deviation from the actual anatomical distance. The IGS is accurate and is applicable for use in Asian patients
- PublicationKesan Intervensi Pekerja Sosial Ke Atas Dinamik Kelompok Masyarakat: Kes Rancangan Pemdasmian Kemiskinan Di Jawa Darat, Indonesia(1996-02)Kajian lni mengenal kesan intervensi pekerja sosial ke atas dinamik kelompok masyarakat, kes kelompok sasaran rancangan pembasmian kemiskinan. Kajian dilakukan di jawa barat, indonesia pada bulan mei sampai ogos 1995. Kajian ini bertujuan; (i) untuk memahami kesan intervensi pekerja sosial ke atas dinamik kelompok masyarakat. (ii) untuk mengenal pasti petunjuk-petunjuk yang boleh digunakan dalam menjelaskan dinamik kelompok masyarakat, dan (iii) untuk menilai dinamik kelompok masyarakat yang telah memperoleh intervensi pekerja sosial (kelompok ujikaji) dan kelompok masyarakat yang tidak memperoleh pekerja sosial (kelompok kawalan). Intervensi pentingnya kajian lni adalah kerana la dapat memberi gambaran mengenai ke atas masalah keberkesanan intervensi pekerja sosial yang dihadapi masyarakat lapisan bawahan dan juga dapat memberi panduan kepada .Pembuat dasar tempatan dan atau di indonesia dalam bekerja dengan kelompok-kelompok sasaran dari suatu rancangan pembangunan.
- PublicationPenggunaan Natrium Glukonat Sebagai Agen Pengkompleks Dalam Proses Penyaduran Tanpa Elektrik Kuprum(1996-12)Kajian tentang penggunaan natrium glukonat sebagai agen pengkompleks dalam larutan penyaduran tanpa elektrik kuprum bagi pelaplsan kuprum ke atas plastik akrilonitril butadiena stirena (ass) telah dijalankan. Pengkompleks asid etilena diamina tetraasetik (edta) dan natrium kalium tartrat telah digunakan sebagai perbandingan terhadap glukonat. Kajian beberapa gabungan glukonat-edta dengan nisbah kompleks glukonat-edta 1 :1, 1:2 dan 2:1 juga dilakukan untuk mengetahui kesannya terhadap kestabilan, ph, kadar pelapisan, suhu dan kepekatan komponen aktif. Didapati penggunaan pengkompleks glulmnat-edta (1 :1) [komposisi larutan terdiri daripada kuprum sulfat 5-hidrat sebanyak 8.0 gil, natrium glukonat -. Sebanyak 3.5 gil, edta sebanyak 6.0 gil, formaldehida (37 ok) sebanyak 90.0 mill dan natrium hidroksida sebanyak 10.0 gil] adalah lebih stabil berbanding dengan larutan yang hanya mengandungi pengkompleks glukonat sahaja [komposisi larutannya terdiri daripada kuprum sulfat 5-hidrat sebanyak 8.0 gil, natrium glukonat sebanyak 7.0 g/l, formaldehida (37 o..{,) sebanyak 90.0 mill dan natrium hidroksida sebanyak 10.0 gil]. Larutan penyaduran tanpa elektrik kuprum yang menggunakan penqkornpleks tartrat paling tidak stabil. Keadaan operasi yang optimum bagi pengkompleks glukonat ialah ph antara 12.4-12.6 dan pada suhu bilik. Kadar pelapisan bagi larutan menggunakan pengkompleks glukonat adalah paling perlahan manakala kadar pelapisan bagi pengkompleks edta yang paling cepat.
- PublicationEmbriogenesis Somatik Dan Penginokulatan In Vitro Tebu (Saccharum Officinarum) Dengan Kulat(1997-06)Three types of explants used in this experiment were spindle, . Apical meristem and subapical meristem. From the culturing process, the production of calli were identified as compact callus, soft callus and mucilagenous callus. The first two calli are embryogenic. From the comparison done, the spindle explant was capable in producing the embryogenic calli when cultured on the ms medium with the presence of 2,4-d (2,4- dichloro phenoxy acetic acid) and activated carbon. Explants on the ms medium + 3.0 mg/l 2,4-d and 2.5 gil activated carbon produced the largest quantity of calli. Somatic embryogenesis process was achieved through the culturing of embryogenic callus on the ms medium + 0.25 mg/i kinetin + 2.5 g/l activated carbon for the purpose of multiple shoots formation. Ms medium + 5.0 mg/l naa (ce-naphtalene acetic acid) and 2.5 gil activated carbon were used in roots induction. However, the additional of 7% of sucrose in this medium increased the quality of roots produced. The somatic embryogenesis process produced the complete somatic embryo which consists of scutellum, coleoptile, shoot meristem, col eorhiza and root meristem from the embryogenic callus. A complete plantlet was produced within 3 months of culturing. The presence of somaclonal variation were observed amongst plantlets which include these characteristic; colour and shape of the leaves, as well as the height of the plantlets.
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- ItemPengetahuan Dan Tingkah Laku Pengguna Dadah Secara Suntikan (IDU) Yang Mengikut Program Pertukaran Jarum Dan Alat Suntikan (NSEP) Di Pulau Pinang(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2017-07)Kajian kualitatif ini dijalankan bagi meningkatkan tahap kualiti dan keberkesanan penyampaian perkhidmatan dalam Program Pertukaran Jarum dan Alat Suntikan (NSEP) kepada pengguna dadah secara suntikan (IDU). Objektif kajian ini meliputi: (1) mengenal pasti ciri-ciri sosiodemografi IDU yang terlibat dalam NSEP; (2) meneroka pengetahuan IDU yang terlibat dalam NSEP berkaitan HIV/AIDS, HCV, VCT dan NSEP; (3) meneroka bentuk tingkah laku IDU yang terlibat dalam NSEP berkaitan dengan tingkah laku suntikan dan tingkah laku hubungan seks; (4) menganalisis halangan dan cabaran IDU dalam mengamalkan tingkah laku pengurangan risiko; dan (5) mencadangkan strategi atau peranan yang boleh dipraktikkan oleh pekerja sosial dalam meningkatkan lagi keberkesanan NSEP ke arah pembentukan tingkah laku pengurangan risiko dalam kalangan IDU. Kajian ini telah dijalankankan di Pulau Pinang dengan melibatkan seramai 20 orang responden. Kaedah temu bual mendalam berlandaskan panduan temu bual separa berstruktur telah digunakan dalam proses pengumpulan data. Penemuan kajian mendapati dalam konteks pengetahuan bahawa: (1) IDU mempunyai pengetahuan mengenai HIV/AIDS yang baik; (2) IDU tidak mempunyai pengetahuan mengenai HCV yang baik; (3) IDU mempunyai pengetahuan mengenai VCT yang baik; dan (4) IDU mempunyai pengetahuan yang baik mengenai NSEP. Dalam konteks tingkah laku menyuntik dadah dan hubungan seks pula, didapati bahawa: (1) tingkah laku penggunaan jarum dan picagari adalah secara amalan pengurangan risiko; (2) tingkah laku menggunakan pad alkohol adalah secara amalan pengurangan risiko; (3) penggunaan kapas adalah secara amalan pengurangan risiko; (4) tidak menggunakan tourniquet secara amalan pengurangan risiko; (5) mengamalkan pemilihan urat berbanding arteri; (6) mengamalkan penukaran kawasan anggota badan bagi tujuan menyuntik dadah; (7) tidak mengamalkan penyimpanan jarum dan alat suntikan yang telah digunakan di tempat yang selamat; dan (8) IDU tidak aktif dalam tingkah laku hubungan seks.
- PublicationFabrication and characterization of electrospinning biodegradable fabric layer for face mask application(2022-08-19)The increased use of 3-ply facemasks has raised concerns about the pollution they cause to the environment. The non-biodegradability of current 3-ply facemasks is highlighted because it is difficult to manage the waste and much more pollution is created when facemasks are discarded. Several studies have been conducted in order to improve the filtration layer on a consistent basis by using biodegradable polymers as an alternative. The present study aimed to fabricate polylactic acid (PLA), poly (butylene adipate-co terephthalate) (PBAT) and PLA/PBAT fibre mat layers. The effect of different needle sizes on the properties and morphology of PLA and PBAT fibre mats was identified by using the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) tabletop, ImageJ and Universal Tensile Machine (UTS). In addition, the effect of single and binary solvents was investigated to produce PLA/PBAT fibre mat layer. Results showed that small size needles produced small-diameter fibres. The best needles to use for the fabrication of the PLA and PBAT fibre mats are 25G and 23G, respectively based on the fibre diameter and tensile properties. A 25G needle produced the smallest diameter and compact fibre mat. However, a 21G needle produced a PLA fibre mat with the highest tensile strength and Young’s modulus. On the other hand, a 25G needle is the best needle size to produce a PBAT fibre mat with good tensile properties. Binary solvents using DCM and DMF produced continuous and thinner fibres and showed higher tensile properties compared to the single solvent system.
- ItemCrash recovery support for variable strength t-way test generation strategy(2016-06-01)Often, the biggest challenge in software testing relates to the fact that it is not feasible to test for all the input parameters exhaustively owing to constraints in costs, resources and time. Considering these factors, software testers must appropriately sample the test cases in order to best utilize the resources at hand. Within the context of Combinatorial Testing, testers often resort to t-way test generation strategy (where t indicates the strength of interaction). Empirical evidence in the literature indicated that t-way test generation strategy has managed to minimize the test cases significantly whilst maintaining the fault detection capability of the testing process. Much useful progress has been achieved as far as the development of t-way test generation strategy is concerned. Nevertheless, some issues remain especially in the context of addressing ever increasing complexity and size of software (i.e. lines of code) resulting into high number of interaction among input parameters. Firstly, the test generation can be painstakingly long, interruption is expensive as the whole generation process needs to be restarted from scratch. Time and efforts will also be wasted. Secondly, existing strategies commit too early on selection of the best value of input parameters when sampling of the test cases. For this reason, these strategies were less sufficient in terms of generating optimal test suite size. Here, to enhance the t-way testing capability, there is also a need to consider variable-strength strategy. This approach is often favored because of the compromise in terms of test suite size as the strategy focuses testing where it has the most potential value which usually is associated with a risk analysis and priority. In order to address these issues, this research develops a variable-strength (VS) interaction t-way test generation strategy, called Test Suite Generator with Crash Recovery support (TSGCR). Unlike existing strategies, TSGCR adopts Multilevel Greedy algorithm, which delays choosing the best value until it satisfies certain rules. To provide a reliable operation, TSGCR also permits crash recovery support integrated as part of the strategy itself. As the test generation can potentially be long lasting processes (i.e. due to large selection of input parameters and values), TSGCR tolerates involuntary transaction failures (e.g. such as power failure or system errors) or voluntary execution suspension (e.g. to give ways for other computations) enabling restoration of state and data to the last consistent state. To evaluate the competitiveness of TSGCR, the test generator is tested with uniform and mixed input parameters and the performance (in terms of the generated test suite size) is compared with existing variable strength t-way test generation strategies using well-known standard benchmark configurations (based on six sets of experiments). Benchmarking results showed that for VS interaction configurations for uniform input parameters, TSGCR is able to get seven Δ with 0 value, i.e. similar value to the best solution obtained by other strategies, seven Δ with +ve values, i.e. able to get the best solution; from fourteen out of forty four experimental results. While for VS interaction configurations for mixed input parameters, TSGCR is able to get twenty seven Δ with 0 value, eight Δ with +ve values; from thirty five out of forty one experimental results. Hence, the results demonstrated that TSGCR produces competitive results as far as the size of the test suite is concerned against most existing strategies.
- ItemKaedah Kepimpinan Dan Perancangan Strategik Dalam Pengurusan Kualiti Di Institusi Pembangunan Berteraskan Islam Brunei Darussalam(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2017-03)Tesis ini bertujuan mengkaji kaedah kepimpinan dan perancangan strategik dalam pengurusan kualiti di institusi pembangunan berteraskan Islam (IPBI). Sekalipun pengurusan kualiti lazim dilihat lebih dominan pada masa kini, namun terdapat pengkaji sudah mula menilai pengurusan kualiti dari perspektif Islam. Ini merupakan satu perkembangan yang baik bertujuan membina pengurusan kualiti yang berteraskan Islam sepenuhnya. Penelitian terhadapnya memerlukan evolusi secara perlahan-lahan. Oleh sebab itu, kajian ini hanya melihat sebahagian aspek utama dalam pengurusan kualiti iaitu kaedah kepimpinan dan perancangan strategik sahaja. Memandangkan IPBI di Malaysia secara dominannya masih terikat dengan konsep pengurusan kualiti lazim, maka ada keperluan untuk mengkaji negara lain yang cuba melaksanakan pengurusan secara Islam. Negara tersebut ialah Negara Brunei Darussalam (NBD). NBD telah memperkenalkan konsep dan falsafah yang Islamik untuk negaranya seperti Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) dan Negara Zikir. Konsep dan falsafah ini memperlihatkan bahawa NBD berusaha membangunkan aspek politik, ekonomi dan sosial menggunakan pendekatan Islam. Pembangunan NBD juga mengambil berat tentang aspek pengurusan kualiti. Maka timbul persoalan, apakah kaedah pengurusan kualiti yang dijalankan oleh IPBI di NBD ini? Bagaimanakah kaedah kepimpinan dan perancangan strategik yang dilaksanakan oleh IPBI di NBD? Untuk tujuan kajian ini, terdapat tiga objektif. Pertama, mengenal pasti kaedah pengurusan kualiti khususnya kaedah kepimpinan dan perancangan strategik yang dilaksanakan di IPBI terpilih NBD; kedua, menganalisis kaedah kepimpinan dan perancangan strategik dalam pengurusan kualiti di IPBI terpilih NBD; dan ketiga, merumuskan kaedah kepimpinan dan perancangan strategik di IPBI terpilih NBD.
- ItemNanostructured materials as catalysts for the production of gasoline from used palm oil and crude palm oil:(2007)The objective of this research was to develop an efficient cracking catalyst with good hydrothermal stability, reusability, low deactivation rate and minimum side products with high selectivity towards gasoline fraction yield. In this research, the catalytic process for the production of gasoline from crude palm oil (CPO) and used palm oil (UPO) was studied at atmospheric pressure, temperature of 723 K, weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 2.5 h-1 and crude/used palm oil to catalyst ratio of 8 in a fixed bed micro-reactor. Six different types of composite catalysts namely; HZSM-5/alumina (CZA), HBeta/ silica-alumina (CBS), Al-MCM-41/alumina (CMA), Al-MCM-41/silica-alumina (CMS), Al-SBA-15/alumina (CSA) and Al-SBA-15/silica-alumina (CSS) were synthesized and tested as cracking catalysts. The composite CZA and CBS were characterized for their surface area, adsorption-desorption isotherm, pore size distribution, crystallinity, acidity and surface morphology. The composites CMA, CSA, CMS and CSS were characterized for their crystallinity, acidity and surface morphology. HZSM-5 gave 98.5 wt% UPO conversion with 45.2 wt% yield of gasoline fraction and 25.9 wt% gaseous products. Composite CZA35 gave 97 wt% UPO conversion, 47 wt% yield of gasoline fraction and 19.7 wt% gaseous products as compared to HZSM-5. The alumina coating increased the average pore size (APS) of the mesopores and reduced the acidity of composite catalyst. Steam treated HZSM-5 and CZA35 showed comparable activity as the fresh catalysts. St-ZSM5 gave 93.5 wt% UPO conversion with 46 wt% yield of gasoline fraction and UPO conversion was 92.3 wt% with 46.3 wt% yield of gasoline fraction over St-CZA35. The reduction in the surface area of St-CZA35 was lower as compared to St-ZSM5. The aromatics (BTX) present in the organic liquid product (OLP) were reduced from 33.9 wt% obtained with fresh CZA35 to 17.9 wt% over St-CZA35. Composite CBS25 gave comparable gasoline fraction yield with 62.9 wt% CPO conversion as compared to 74.5 wt% CPO conversion over H-Beta. Its activity was improved after steam treatment with increase in CPO conversion to 74.7 wt% with gasoline fraction yield of 31.8 wt%. H-Beta activity dropped after steam treatment with drop in conversion from 74.5 wt% to 65.5 wt% and gasoline fraction yield from 26 wt% to 23.8 wt%. The coating of silica-alumina helped to increase the cracking activity and hydrothermal stability of the composite due to change in the surface morphology. The coating of alumina improved Al-MCM-41 hydrothermal stability. St-CMA25 gave 62 wt% CPO conversion with 19.7 wt% gasoline fraction yield, higher than that obtained over St-AlMCM-41 (60.5 wt% conversion with 13.1 wt% gasoline fraction yield). The composites CSA, CMS and CSS gave low cracking activity due to changes in the surface morphology as observed from SEM analysis. Comparing the performances of all synthesized composites, CZA35 was found to be best cracking catalyst. The deactivation of catalysts was studied by obtaining time on stream data with palm oil to catalyst ratio in the range of 8 to 16. Composites with alumina, CZA and CMA showed lower deactivation as compared to HZSM-5 and Al-MCM-41 catalysts. The deactivation data were fitted using suitable activity model and deactivation parameters were obtained.