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- PublicationKnowledge and prevention practices of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) among parents who visited Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM)(2025-08)Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral illness that primarily affects children. While typically mild, severe complications may arise without timely intervention. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and preventive practices regarding HFMD among parents who visited Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM), and to examine the relationship between knowledge and preventive behaviour. A total of 191 parents participated using a validated, self-administered questionnaire adapted from previous studies. The instruments measured socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of HFMD, and preventive practices. Responses were classified using Bloom’s cut-off points. Results showed that 52.8% of respondents had a high level of knowledge, 44.6% moderate, and 0.5% low. In terms of preventive practices, 87.2% reported good practices, 10.8% moderate, and none reported poor practices. Common measures included frequent handwashing, avoiding crowded areas during outbreaks, and cleaning toys and surfaces. However, some misconceptions persisted, particularly regarding modes of transmission and the severity of the disease. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a weak, positive but statistically insignificant relationship (r = 0.118, p = 0.103) between knowledge and preventive practices. This suggests that knowledge alone may not sufficiently influence behaviour, and that other factors such as risk perception and social norms may also play a critical role. Overall, the study indicates a generally high level of knowledge and good preventive practices among parents at HPUSM. Nonetheless, targeted health education initiatives remain necessary to address knowledge gaps and promote sustained hygiene practices to curb the transmission of HFMD
- PublicationAssessing knowledge and awareness of multiple sclerosis among adults attending Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM) outpatient clinics(2025-08)Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, idiopathic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the central nervous system, leading to demyelination and subsequent axonal degeneration, and typically affecting young adults (Calabresi, 2004). This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of MS among adults attending the outpatient clinic at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM) and to determine whether there is any association between knowledge or awareness and selected socio-demographic factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 147 adult participants at HPUSM outpatient clinic using a validated self-administered questionnaire, the MS Knowledge Questionnaire (MSKQ-25) and awareness questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to identify associations between knowledge and awareness levels and socio-demographic variables. The mean knowledge score was 7.88 ± 4.626 with 84.4% of participants demonstrating poor knowledge. The mean awareness score was 2.90 ± 1.98, and only 22.4% of participants had high awareness. There was a statistically significant association between source of information and awareness level (p = 0.018). However, no significant associations were found between knowledge and age (p = 0.363), gender (p = 0.076), or educational level (p = 0.119). In conclusion, the findings indicate a generally low level of knowledge and awareness about MS among the studied population
- PublicationKnowledge and attitude toward providing oral healthcare for older adults among degree nursing students at School Of Health Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia(2025-08)This study investigates the knowledge and attitudes of degree nursing students toward providing oral healthcare for older adults at the School of Health Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia. Oral healthcare is an important aspect of overall health, especially for older adults. However, this aspect is still underemphasised in nursing education. The objectives were to determine the levels of knowledge and attitude toward oral healthcare provision for older adults and to examine the correlation between these two factors among nursing students. A cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling. A total of 107 degree nursing students participated in this study through a structured questionnaire distributed online. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire adapted from Bhagat et al. (2023), focusing on knowledge, attitude, experience in providing oral healthcare to older adults, and personal oral health behaviours. Analysis revealed a weak positive correlation (r = 0.017, p = 0.068) between students’ knowledge and attitude levels, indicating no statistically significant correlation. These findings indicate the need for specialised modules and practical training on oral healthcare in the nursing curriculum to enhance knowledge, positive attitudes, and holistic care for older adults
- PublicationKnowledge and attitude towards long acting- reversible contraceptive (LARC) among married women who attended the outpatient clinic at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM)(2025-08)Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) are modern contraceptive methods known for their high effectiveness and long-term protection with minimal user intervention. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and attitude towards LARC among married women who attended the outpatient clinic at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM). A cross-sectional study was conducted at HPUSM from January to March 2025 involving 136 conveniently selected married women, using a self-administered questionnaire to assess their knowledge and attitude. The questionnaire included items on socio-demographic data, knowledge of LARC methods (such as IUCD and Implanon), and attitudes regarding their use. The findings showed that 32.4% of respondents had high knowledge, 39.7% moderate, and 27.9% low knowledge; while 30.1% had a positive attitude, 24.3% moderate, and 45.6% negative attitude toward LARC. The mean age of respondents was 35 years (SD = 7.89), ranging from 19 to 49 years. A significant association was found between knowledge and attitude levels (p < 0.001), and socio-demographic factors such as age, occupation, education, and parity were also significantly associated with knowledge and attitude (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although general awareness of LARC exists among married women at HPUSM, detailed knowledge and positive attitudes remain limited, highlighting the need for targeted educational interventions to improve informed contraceptive choices
- PublicationNutritive and physical quality analysis of black pepper dried with optimized-hybrid solar drying systems(2025-01)Black pepper holds significant commercial importance in Malaysia. Consumer preference is driven by its nutritional and physical properties. While open sun drying (OSD) is widely used in tropical countries by virtue of its cost effectiveness, it presents several limitations, including labour intensive, time consuming, weather dependency and contamination risks. Hybrid Solar Drying System (HSDS) have emerged as an alternative to address these limitations. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the efficiency of HSDS compared to OSD and assess the nutritional composition and physical quality of HSDS-dried black pepper relative to commercial black pepper. The efficiency of HSDS drying the black pepper was evaluated by plotting a moisture removal graph to analyse the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) in the curve. Nutritional composition (moisture, ash, protein, oil, crude fiber and carbohydrate (CHO)) of HSDS-dried and commercial samples were determined using standard methods. Physical properties including colour, density, geometric mean diameter, and sphericity, were also analyzed. Drying kinetics demonstrated that HSDS was more efficient than OSD in removing moisture from black pepper. Proximate analysis revealed significantly higher oil content (6.23%) and lower ash content (3.08%) in HSDS-dried pepper compared to commercial pepper (4.71% and 3.70% respectively, p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in moisture, protein, crude fiber, carbohydrate, density, geometric mean diameter, sphericity and a* value between HSDS-dried and commercial black pepper. Significant differences were observed in L* and b* values, indicating that HSDS-dried pepper exhibited a darker colour and a bluish hue compared to commercial black pepper which increase the market value. dE*ab value of 4.50 represented significant colour difference between HSDS-dried black pepper and commercial black pepper. In conclusion, these outcomes highlight the effectiveness of Black pepper holds significant commercial importance in Malaysia. Consumer preference is driven by its nutritional and physical properties. While open sun drying (OSD) is widely used in tropical countries by virtue of its cost effectiveness, it presents several limitations, including labour intensive, time consuming, weather dependency and contamination risks. Hybrid Solar Drying System (HSDS) have emerged as an alternative to address these limitations. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the efficiency of HSDS compared to OSD and assess the nutritional composition and physical quality of HSDS-dried black pepper relative to commercial black pepper. The efficiency of HSDS drying the black pepper was evaluated by plotting a moisture removal graph to analyse the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) in the curve. Nutritional composition (moisture, ash, protein, oil, crude fiber and carbohydrate (CHO)) of HSDS-dried and commercial samples were determined using standard methods. Physical properties including colour, density, geometric mean diameter, and sphericity, were also analyzed. Drying kinetics demonstrated that HSDS was more efficient than OSD in removing moisture from black pepper. Proximate analysis revealed significantly higher oil content (6.23%) and lower ash content (3.08%) in HSDS-dried pepper compared to commercial pepper (4.71% and 3.70% respectively, p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in moisture, protein, crude fiber, carbohydrate, density, geometric mean diameter, sphericity and a* value between HSDS-dried and commercial black pepper. Significant differences were observed in L* and b* values, indicating that HSDS-dried pepper exhibited a darker colour and a bluish hue compared to commercial black pepper which increase the market value. dE*ab value of 4.50 represented significant colour difference between HSDS-dried black pepper and commercial black pepper. In conclusion, these outcomes highlight the effectiveness of HSDS in maintaining quality through controlled drying conditions, minimizing colour degradation and ensuring better preservation of key characteristics.
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- ItemFluks nutrien dan sedimen di Lembangan Sungai Merbok, Kedah.(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2017)Kajian ini adalah untuk menganggarkan fluks beban nutrien dan sedimen di Lembangan Sungai Merbok. Pengumpulan data dan aktiviti persampelan dilakukan secara berskala iaitu dua minggu sekali dan dijalankan bermula dari Disember 2012 hingga Disember 2013 yang melibatkan sungai utama Merbok serta cawangannya. This study was conducted to investigate and estimate the flux of nutrient and sediment load in Merbok River basin. Data collection and sampling activities were carried out once in two weeks starting from December 2012 to December 2013 involving the main river of Sungai Merbok and it’s tributaries.
- ItemPreparation and characterization of poly (L-Lactic acid plla) blends and plla scaffold.(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2011-02)Pengoptimunan gaulan poli(L-laktik asid) (PLLA) telah dihasilkan melalui pengaulan polimer bio liat seperti poli(kaprolakton) (PCL), poli(butil suksinat-ko-L-laktad) (PBSL) dan poli(butilena suksinat-ko-e-kaprolakton) (PBSC) dan penambahan agen perserasian seperti lysine triisosianat (LTI) dan tiga blok kopolimer polietilena oksida - polipropilena oksida - polietilena oksida (PEO-PPO-PEO). Penyediaan perancah berasaskan PLLA juga dipertimbangkan dalam kajian ini. Dalam siri pertama, kesan komposisi campuran (100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 50/50, 25/75 dan 0/100 % berat) ke atas sifat morfologi, mekanikal dan haba bagi campuran PLLA/PCL, PLLA/PBSL, dan PLLA/PBSC telah dilakukan. Didapati sifat kelenturan menurun dengan peningkatan kandungan PCL atau PBSL atau PBSC. Ini telah dikesan menerusi pelekatan antara muka yang tidak baik di antara PLLA dan PCL atau PBSL atau PBSC seperti yang diperhatikan dalam morfologi fasa pemisahan. Optimization of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) blends was carried out by blending with ductile biopolymers such as poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(butylene succinate-co-L-lactate) (PBSL) and poly(butylene succinate-co-e-caprolactone) (PBSC) and addition of compatibilizer such as lysine triisocyanate (LTI) and polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide-polyethylene oxide (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymer. Preparation of PLLA based scaffold was also been considered in the present study. In the first series, the effects of blend composition (100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 50/50, 25/75 and 0/100 wt%) on the morphological, mechanical and thermal properties of PLLA/PCL, PLLA/PBSL, and PLLA/PBSC blends were carried out. It is found that the bending properties decreased with increasing PCL or PBSL or PBSC contents. This was traced by the poor interfacial adhesion between PLLA and PCL or PBSL or PBSC as observed in the phase separation morphology.
- ItemPerformance of composite adsorbent in river water treatment(2017-06)This study was carried out in order to access the potential of composite media by a combination of activated carbon, limestone, alginate as a binder with two different ratio, to remove organic and inorganic pollution that measured by concentration of turbidity, colour and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in river water. In this present study, the batching experiment were conducted to decide the suitable factor for both ratio to effectively remove the involved parameter. Before the batching experiments, water characteristics were taken and COD were dismiss from batching experiment due to its low concentration. From the batch study, result and graph indicates that the suitable factor were 7g of dosage, 180 RPM of shaking speed, 75 minutes of contact and 90 minutes of settling time for ratio 7:3:2 (AC: LS: AG). Meanwhile for ratio 1:9:2 (AC: LS: AG), the suitable factor were 5g of dosage, 180 RPM of shaking speed, 95 minutes of contact time and 40 minutes of settling time. From the second batching experiments, for Ratio 7:3:2, the percentage removal of parameters were 92% for colour and 85% for turbidity. Meanwhile for Ratio 1:9:2, the percentage removal of parameters were 84% for colour and 60% for turbidity. This shows that 7:3:2 has been selected as the best ratio for composite adsorbent that consists of activated carbon, limestone and alginate. Meanwhile, the result from isotherms models for each of the parameters removal suggested that Freundlich isotherm was favourable with high coefficient of determination values for ratio 7:3:2 whereas the Langmuir isotherm were fit for adsorption process by ratio 7:3:2. For kinetic of adsorption, for each of the parameters removal by both ratios, pseudo-second-order model was suitable to describe kinetic of adsorption.
- PublicationDevelopment of design of experiment software for two-factor factorial design(2006-05-01)Regarding to the title, “Development Of A Design Of Experiment (DOE) Software For the case Two-Factor Factorial Designs (FD)”, this project is intended as to develop a simple software which will be able to analyze any experiment that involving only two factors as for this kind of experiment is being used widely by an industrial sectors. Therefore, the basic knowledge of FD technique is very important to engineering students especially whom involved in many experiments as to use it in solving an analysis problem. The essential of the DOE technique have been proven in the world as in Malaysia itself, many industries have supported their analyzer and the experimenter to apply one of this DOE technique in their researches and experiments. The effect reflected by seen that the several major companies such as Motorola, Hewlett-Packet, Petronas and other companies succeeding in controlling their quality level by this DOE technique. By isolating and removing the undetected factors. Those factors interrupt the product production process of several companies such as the manufacturing company. The most considerable effect is when those factors also affecting the quality level of a product produced. Therefore, as the preparation before entering the industry world, this project wants to help engineering students learning the effectiveness of this FD technique. Besides that, this project revealing the use of computer software to engineering students in analyzing an experiment. The development of this software is being constructed with a reason for students will be able to coup the computer skills and able to analyze any experiment data fast and effectively.
- PublicationSurface roughness analysis of co2 laser cutting of 304-stainless steel(2008-04-01)In this project, top, bottom and average surface have been investigated repetitively. Samples of stainless steel-304 were cut on a CO2 laser cutting system and the combined effects of power cutting speed and gas pressure on surface roughness and striation pattern have been studied. Design of Experiment (DOE) method will be used to understand the effect of various laser processing parameters changes on the surface finish. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the significant factor and the percentage of contribution that affect the quality of surface roughness. For the range of operation conditions tested, it was observed that cutting speed had a major effect on surface finishing which increase the surface roughness of the 5mm stainless steel, while power affects were secondary. Low feed rates gave good surface roughness and low striation. Taguchi method was used to determine the optimum parameter to produce minimum surface roughness on 5mm thickness stainless steel- 304 by COs laser cutting.