Repository@USM
Welcome to closed access digital repository of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
This repository contains multiple types of scholarly materials, especially USM theses and exam papers.
To access the full text, please log in with your USM email account.
Research outputs
6568
Projects
0
People
0
Recent Additions
- PublicationEffects Of Improvisational Chinese Bamboo Flute Course On Autistic Traits, Emotion Regulation, And Perceived Stress Among The Music Major University Students In Hunan Province, China(2025-06)This study explores the effects of a 12-week improvisational Chinese bamboo flute course on first-year university music students, analyzing changes in autistic traits, emotion regulation, and perceived stress. In summary, this research enriches the field of music and inclusive education by showcasing how adaptive pedagogical approaches can effectively foster academic success, personal growth, and overall well-being among music majors at the university level, particularly for those students who exhibit high autistic traits.
- PublicationThe association between degenerative spine disease on MRI of the lumbar spine and functional disability(2021)Introduction: Degenerative spinal disease is one of the spinal conditions that can cause a person to be unable to work. Various forms of questionnaires are available in determining the lack of function. The purpose of this study was to investigate and determine the relationship between degenerative spinal diseases on MRI lumbar spine and work disability. Various causes of degenerative spine disease. In this study, we wanted to investigate the different such as facet joint arthropathy, degenerative disc disease, and nerve root impingement. Methodology: Patients with degenerative spine disease were undergone a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Images that have been taken were viewed on Pictures Archiving and Communication System (PACS). The patient’s MRI images showed facet joint with degenerative disc disease/nerve root compression at the level of L4/L5 or L5/S1 vertebra were requirted. This patient were given a copy of the questionnaire. This questionnaire were answered by the selected patients within one houre. Each copy of the questionnaire produced the degree (grade) of disability, i.e., minimum disability (0-20%), moderate disability (21-40%), severe disability (41-60%), crippled (61-80%), and the patient is bedbound (81-100%). Using logistic regression analysis, the associations between the functional disability (PDI score) and the binary outcomes of the three study focuses were analysed. Results: A total of 137 study subjects were recruited in this study. The participants over 40 years old constitute about 82% of the study subjects. The proportion of male to female was almost similar. At the sa me time, the majority of the study subject was Malays, followed by Chinese and Indians. The proportion of the patient with facet joint osteoarthritis patients on MRI at the level L4/L5 and L5/S1 were 51 (37%) and 86 (63%), respectively. From the logistic regression analysis, the degenerative disc disease on MRI at the level L4/L5 and L5/S1 showed no significant interaction with the functional disability using Pain Disability Index (PDI) in a patient with facet joint osteoarthritis. On the other hand, the logistic regression analysis of PDI grades versus nerve root compression in patient with facet joint osteoarthritis also shows no significant interaction with each other. However, there is significant interaction between the PDI and level of vertebral involved. Conclusions: Our study shows that facet joint with degenerative disc disease/nerve root compression has no significant association with functional disability. However, the different level of vertebral involved gives a significant level of PDI.
- PublicationA multicentre study of clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of cutaneous melanoma in Malaysia(2020)INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer with high mortality rate. This study aimed to describe the clinicopathological characteristics and to identify the independent prognostic factors and median survival time of patients diagnosed with primary cutaneous melanoma in Malaysia. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This was a retrospective study conducted in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah and Hospital Queen Elizabeth I, Malaysia. All traceable medical records on patients with primary cutaneous melanoma between January 2012 till December 2018 were investigated based on the demographic data, histopathological and management. Median survival time was analysed using Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analysis of prognostic factors associated with survival were performed. RESULTS: Nighty-nine patients were included and analysed. The mean age during diagnosis was 60.4 years old, with female: male ratio of 1:1.1. Majority of the patients were Malays (52%) and 44.4% had clinical stage II on presentation. Nodular melanoma was the commonest subtype (50.5%) in Malaysia. Histologically, the mean Breslow thickness was 7.9 mm. The median survival time was 673 days. The 1-, 3-, 5- year survival rates were 47.5%, 11.1% and 15.2%. Mitotic rate and Breslow thickness were independent risk factors for poor prognosis (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Most patients with cutaneous melanoma in Malaysia diagnosed with locally advanced disease and had poorer prognosis as compared to other Asia countries. Much work is needed to create an awareness of cutaneous melanoma based on the local data for early detection and treatment
- PublicationEvaluation of TNF-α and Il-6 in saliva among diabetic retinopathy patients(2021)Introduction: Diabetes retinopathy (DR) is one of the major microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). It is known as the second most common cause of blindness in Malaysia and the 5th worldwide. The burden cause by DM and blindness due to DR is high. Multifactorial etiology involves in DR pathogenesis include genetic backgrounds and environmental risk factors. Recent evidence had showed that inflammatory process plays a crucial role in the development of DR. Increase in Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) were associated with DR. Saliva protein biomarkers are a novel technique for clinical diagnosis. Thus, identification of TNF-α and IL-6 in saliva perhaps provide insight in the role of saliva as a diagnostic alternative in future. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare TNF and IL-6 level in saliva between DM patients and No DM, and also in between the different DR groups. Besides that, it also to determine the relationship between TNF-α and IL-6 level in saliva with level of HbA1c and duration of DM. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted exclusively at a tertiary hospital in Malaysia, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) between January 2018 and November 2020. This study involved DM patients with DR, no DR and No DM. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected. Laboratory analysis using commercial Human TNF-α and IL-6 ELISA kit (LEGEND MAX™, BioLegend, Inc.) was performed to measure TNF-α and IL-6 levels in saliva. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Inc. Version 26. Results: A total of 120 patients were included into the study (DM no DR: 33 patients, DM with NPDR: 30 patients, DM with PDR: 32 patients, No DM: 25 patients). There was significantly higher mean saliva IL-6 in DM group (0.033 SD 0.005 pg/ml) compared to No DM group (0.027 SD 0.001 pg/ml) after adjusted with covariates (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference of mean TNF-α in saliva between DM and No DM after adjusted with covariates. Mean IL-6 in saliva were significantly higher in NPDR (0.036 SD 0.003 pg/ml) and PDR (0.093 SD 0.023 pg/ml) compare to No DR (0.027 SD 0.001 pg/ml) (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 respectively). Mean TNF-α in saliva were significantly higher in NPDR (0.086 SD 0.022 pg/ml) and PDR (0.093 SD 0.023 pg/ml) compare to No DR (0.049 SD 0.011 pg/ml) (p = 0.015 and p = 0.003) respectively. However, there was no significant difference of mean IL-6 and TNF-α in saliva between NPDR and PDR. The HbA1c level and duration of DM were not associated with TNF-α and IL-6 in saliva. Comorbidities and DR stages were the factors associated with TNF-α in saliva. While only DR stages was the significant factor associated with IL-6 in saliva. Conclusion: This study showed that there is significant association between TNF-α and IL-6 level in saliva among DM patients. DR pathogenesis involved multiple pathway which is mediated by inflammatory mediators. They are found to be in high concentration in the eye and systematically compare to non-DR patients. Further study with larger cohort and longer duration of follow-up needed to confirmed this finding
- PublicationDischarge against medical advice in emergency department Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia; Associated factors, reasons, and short term follow up rate(2020)Introduction: Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) is studied worldwide in multiple setting alongside the quality improvement of health service delivery. There were currently limited studies on DAMA in the emergency department in Malaysia. This study aims to look at the prevalence of DAMA in the study setting, their associated factors, reasons, and short term follow up rate. Methods: This was a prospective case-control study among 264 patients (88 cases and 176 control) over a three- month period of June 2019 until August 2019 in Emergency Department (ED) of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan. Consented phone call interviews were conducted day three to day five after the discharge of DAMA patients to find out on any 72-hour follow-up to any health facility and their reason for DAMA. Results: Prevalence of DAMA in ED was 6.36 in 1000 patient population. When adjusted with other confounding factors, in every year increase of age, the odds of having DAMA was 8% higher (AOR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.17), and female was lower compared to male (AOR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.12 - 0.62). For the interaction effect between age and triage, the odds of having DAMA was 9% lower (AOR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.83 - 0.99) in green zone patients interacting with increasing age compared to the red zone. DAMA was 35% higher (AOR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.00 - 1.82) in green zone patients interacting with the increasing length of stay in ED compared to red zone patients. One-fifth of DAMA patient came for short term follow up, and most others were well. DAMA were due to socioeconomic reasons mostly, but the highest percentage of reason subcategory expressed for DAMA was the 'relief of symptoms or feeling well'. Conclusion: DAMA was associated with increasing age, male patient, and interaction of triage factor to the age and length of stay in the hospital. Although the prevalence of DAMA was low, tailored finding in the studied facility could prompt further improvisation in administrative and practice setting by further understanding of DAMA associated factors and reasoning
Most viewed
- ItemMR volumetric study of cerebellum related to age ang sex(Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2015)Introduction: The advancement of MRI techniques has open up many neuroanatomical studies of normal brain growth and atrophy. Numerous neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, which can cause changes in cerebellum volumes have been identified particularly epilepsy, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s dementia, depression and autism among others. Investigations of aging effects on the cerebellum are important, not only to understand normal aging process, but also for comparative study of the pathophysiology of degenerative brain disorders. Sex differences in gross cerebellar neuroanatomy have been observed in several studies. Currently there is no normative data of MR cerebellum volumetry available for Malaysian population. Objectives: The general objective for this study is to determine the age and sex difference of the volume of cerebellum in healthy volunteers. Methods and materials: This was a cross sectional study involving 164 subjects who underwent MRI. The age of the subjects ranged from 7 to 77 years old. MRI was performed using Signa Horison LX 1.0 Tesla scanner by General Electric. MRI images were obtained in T1 sagittal sections with 5milimeter thickness with 2-millimeter gap. Cerebellum volumes were measured using manually traced slice volumetry method. The mean (SD) of total cerebellum volume was calculated and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20. Anatomical boundaries for cerebellum volumetry done with manual tracing. Normalization of cerebellum volume with intracranial volume was done by using co-variance methods introduced by Jack et al. (1989). Manual tracing using alternate slice method was utilized in obtaining intracranial volume as described by Eritaia et al. (2000). Image display and manual tracing of the cerebellum and intracranial areas were performed using Osirix software ver.3.7.1 (Pixmeo Sarl). Data was compiled and analyzed using PASW Statistic ver.18 (SPSS Inc.). Results: The overall mean normalized cerebellar volume is 181.1 ± 24.8 cm3. When analyzed separately among gender, normalized cerebellar volume was significantly higher in male (p value= 0.035; 95% +- CI). There is a statistically significant negative correlation between age and total cerebellum volume (r is - 0.492). Cerebellar volume becomes smaller at older age with moderate to good correlation. Conclusion: The study provided a reference data of cerebellar volumes in original and normalized formats for normal Kelantan population for a valuable reference in many physiological and pathological conditions for local population. The mean normalized cerebellar volume was statistically significant in genders with larger volumes in male subjects. They also had larger intracranial volumes than female. There is significant relationship between normalized cerebellum volume with age.
- PublicationDesign, Development And The Effects Of Emotionally Sound Web-Based Instruction On Performance, Satisfaction, Engagement And Retention(2018-11)This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of the emotionally sound web-based instruction on performance, satisfaction, engagement and retention in learning English grammar among students with different levels of emotional intelligence. The sample consisted of 183 Form Two students from a secondary school in the Northern region of the Peninsular Malaysia. The data were collected with the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire - Short Form (TEIQue-SF), End-User Computing Satisfaction (EUSC), Post-Test 1, Retention Questionnaire (Post-Test 2) and E-Learning Engagement Instrument (ELEI). The research design for this study is Quasi-experimental with pre-test and post-test design.
- PublicationComparison of the three forensic DNA Sampling and extraction techniques on various mock crime scene samples for reliable and rapid DNA analysis.(2022-09)The capability to generate reliable DNA profiles rapidly via short tandem repeat (STR) analysis to identify the suspect could greatly assist in crime investigations. This study evaluated the performance of a compilation of sample collection and extraction techniques consisting of the Maxwell RSC 48 FSC DNA IQ Casework Kit, Casework Direct System, and the COPAN MicroFLOQ® Direct Swab. A total of 48 reactions consisting of 16 mock casework samples for each technique ranging from bloodstain, saliva stained and touch DNA samples that were commonly encountered in crime scene were used in this study. The samples extracted using the Maxwell RSC 48 FSC DNA IQ Casework Kit were quantified using the NanoDrop™ 2000 Spectrophotometer. Subsequently, the collected samples for the three techniques were amplified using the GlobalFiler™ Express PCR Amplification Kit. The amplified products were then loaded for capillary electrophoresis via the ABI 3500xL Genetic Analyzer before analyzed using the GeneMapper ID-X v1.4 software. Results demonstrated that the three techniques generated relatively high percentage of autosomal STR allele call in total (100%, 100% and 96% respectively). Particularly, the COPAN MicroFLOQ™ with 96% was possible to analyze wide range of DNA samples where seven out of 16 samples were typed successfully. Meanwhile, the same number of sample types (n=6) with 100% autosomal STR allele call percentage and full consistent profiles were generated via the extraction using the two extraction kits. Notably, the average peak height across the samples using the former extraction kit was the highest which attributed to the automated extraction and purification employed that corresponded to the high DNA concentration yielded. This were followed by Casework Direct System and COPAN MicroFLOQ . In terms of turnaround time and cost associated, the MicroFLOQ® Direct Swab outperformed the other two techniques followed by the Casework Direct System extraction which took one hour for complete extraction. Meanwhile, the Maxwell FSC DNA IQ Casework Kit which took a longer time and higher cost for the entire extraction (1 hour 30 minutes and average RM 76.15 per reaction respectively). Not to mention, the use of the kit coupled with the automated Maxwell RSC 48 instrument ( RM 450, 000 per instrument) were on the more expensive end as compared to the other two techniques. Overall, the three different techniques had their respective merits and pitfalls but the COPAN MicroFLOQ® Direct Swab had an edge over the other two methods in terms of time, cost-effectiveness and ease to use. It also offered numerous advantages due to its direct PCR amplification properties, relatively high detection ability and quality DNA profiles produced. This resulted in the COPAN MicroFLOQ® Direct Swab capable to generate DNA profiles reliably in a short time thus potentially become a novel preferable collection technique employed by law enforcement officers.
- PublicationFem analysis of solar water heater(2002-03-01)The direct use of solar energy has never before been accepted on a worldwide basis. The costs of constructing devices or systems to use the sun’s energy have always been greater than the costs of using the alternate energy sources available. In the immediate future, however, the price of energy will rise even more rapidly than in the recent past. Alternate sources of energy are dwindling, and their costs are increasing at rates of 10% or more every year. We must explore putting the sun’s energy to practical use in supplying a percentage of our ever-increasing energy needs. The “first” most appropriate large-scale application of solar energy use concerns the heating of water for domestic use. The sun is everyone’s life. Without its energy, the past, present, and the future of human beings would not be. The sun has provided us with stored chemical energy in the form of fossil fuels which is now rapidly being depleted, and this depletion is thus responsible for escalated social and economics costs. To curtail these adversities, the direct application of the sun’s radiant energy to alternative conversion processes such as photovoltaic, photochemical, thermionic, thermoelectric, and heat must be continuously developed and utilized. An economic “first” application for existing solar energy alternatives involves using solar collectors to convert the sun’s radiant energy into heat energy for domestic water heating.
- ItemSynthesis Of Ethyl Oleate Catalyzed By Immobilized Lipase Process Optimization(Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2022-06-01)Esterification synthesis by chemical synthesis, using strong acid as the catalyst causes drawbacks to the environment, formation of undesirable side products and the presence of high acidic conditions. Hence, esterification using lipase as biocatalysts is considered a promising alternative to produce ester through enzymatic esterification, because this method is more eco-friendly, as it proceeds at mild reaction conditions, thus reducing energy consumption and adverse environmental effects. In this study, ethyl oleate, a commercially valuable oleate ester, was synthesised by direct esterification reaction catalysed by immobilized lipase from Candida rugosa in batch system using n-hexane as organic solvent. The free C. rugosa lipase was successfully immobilised on functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes support. The influence of optimizing parameters including reaction time, enzyme loading, temperature, acid:ethanol molar ratio were studied using one-factor-at-a time (OFAT) method. Optimal conversion yield for ethyl oleate of 87% was obtained at 40 minutes incubation time with 30 U/ml of enzyme loading at 40℃ with a substrate molar ratio of 1:3 (oleic acid to ethanol). The comparison between bisubstrate kinetic models of enzyme catalysed esterification by correlating experimental findings from reported research study was also investigated using non-linear regression analysis. A model of Ping Pong Bi Bi with inhibition by both substrates was found to exhibit the best fit with the experimental value of where the model parameters were obtained as Vmax=11.93 mmol mg−1min−1 , Km,A=3.02×10−3 mmol L−1,Km,B=3.04×10−3 mmol L−1,Ki,A=6.94mmol L−1, Ki,B=1.14mmol L−1 which shows good agreement to the reported findings.