Microwave welding with SiCNW/PMMA nanocomposite thin films: Enhanced joint strength and performance.

Most previously reported susceptors for microwave welding are in powder form. In this study, a thin-film susceptor was employed due to its uniform heating rate and ease of handling. Silicon carbide nanowhisker (SiCNW) were incorporated into a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix to create a nanocomposite thin film, which served as the susceptor.

Evaluation of Feasibility of Medial Plantar Artery Flap With Computed Tomography Angiography in Diabetic Patients: A Pilot Radioanatomic Study.

Background A soft tissue defect resulting from a diabetic heel ulcer can be difficult to address due to limited reconstructive options and unique local area demand. The medial plantar artery flap is ideal for heel defect coverage as it provides a thick glabrous skin with good sensory feedback. The prerequisite of medial plantar artery flap surgery is a patent medial plantar artery, which is a branch of the posterior tibial artery (PTA).

Numerical Analysis of the Effect of Liquid Water during Switching Mode for Unitised Regenerative Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell.

As unitised regenerative proton exchange membrane fuel cell (URPEMFC) is progressing in terms of its performance, more emphasis should be placed on the understanding of the interaction between multiphase reactants and products and its effect during the switching mode. A 3D transient computational fluid dynamics model was utilised in this study to simulate the supply of liquid water into the flow field when the system switched from fuel cell mode to electrolyser mode. Different water velocities were investigated to identify their effect on the transport behaviour under parallel, serpentine, and symmetry flow fields.

The development of empathy in the healthcare setting: a qualitative approach.

Background: Healthcare professionals' empathetic behaviors have been known to lead to higher satisfaction levels and produce better health outcomes for patients. However, empathy could decrease over time especially during training and clinical practice. This study explored factors that contributed to the development of empathy in the healthcare setting.

Outcomes of Femoral Neck Fractures in Young Patients and the Factors Associated With Complications: A Multicenter Study From Malaysia.

Background and objective Femoral neck fractures are relatively rare in young adults, but they result in prolonged loss of function in these patients, thereby placing a huge burden on a country's healthcare and economy. Femoral neck fractures in young adults are normally treated with head salvage surgery. However, primary head replacement surgeries have been gaining traction recently to expedite the recovery of these patients.

Understanding healthcare worker's intention to donate blood: an application of the theory of planned behaviour.

This study aims to identify the influencing factor towards the intention to donate blood using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) model among healthcare workers (HCWs). A random sample of 400 HCWs from the population received the survey via a web-based link. The hypothesised model was tested using structural equation modelling.

Comparison and optimization of conventional and ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction for synthetization of lemongrass ()-infused cooking oil.

The lemongrass plant, which is widely cultivated in Asia, Australia, and Africa, has been reported to have many significant health benefits such as antimicrobial, insecticide, anticancer, fight fever, and disinfection. Therefore, it is an added benefit to have lemongrass compounds in cooking oil. This study was aimed to compare the conventional (CSE), and ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction (UASE) for citral compounds from lemongrass () leaves and to optimize the best extraction method using the response surface methodology (RSM) and ANOVA.

Modelling knowledge, health beliefs, and health-promoting behaviours related to cardiovascular disease prevention among Malaysian university students.

Background: Healthy lifestyle habits formed during young adulthood may have a sustaining impact on health across later life. The current study aimed to test the theoretical model of factors (selected demographic variables, knowledge of heart disease, health belief related to cardiovascular disease (CVD), self-efficacy, cues to action, and screening intention) influencing health-promoting behaviours among Malaysian university students.

Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, the undergraduate students in Universiti Sains Malaysia were invited to complete the self-administered questionnaires.

Nurse-Led Vital Signs Monitoring Can Safely Identify Low-Risk Hematology-Oncology Patients For De-Escalation.

Purpose: It is routine practice for patients to be on vital signs monitoring (VSM) once every 4 hours, which is laborious and disruptive. VSM de-escalation has been demonstrated to be safe in low-risk (LR) patients, but it has not been well studied in the hematology-oncology setting.

Methods: A quality improvement project was conducted in 3 hematology-oncology inpatient wards within a comprehensive cancer center, from March 2017 to July 2017 (pilot phase) and from October 2017 to Sept 2018 (maintenance phase).

Impact of migrancy on cancer clinical trial participation: Factors associated with approach and consent in Australian-born versus migrant groups.

Background/aims: This study compared rates of clinical trial participation and perceived adequacy of information provided prior to consent in migrant and Australian-born cancer patients, and explored factors associated with being approached and agreeing to participate.

Methods: We utilized data from a larger cross-sectional survey assessing disparities in patient-reported outcomes in Chinese, Arabic, or Greek migrant versus English-speaking Australian-born cancer patients. Participants completed a questionnaire eliciting demographic and disease details, communication challenges, whether invited and consented to a clinical trial, and if so, adequacy of information received.

Validity and Reliability of Health Belief Model Questionnaire for Promoting Breast Self-examination and Screening Mammogram for Early Cancer Detection.

Background: Early detection of breast cancer is essential in improving overall women’s health. The researchers sought to develop a comprehensive measure that combined the basic components of the health belief model (HBM) with a focus on breast self-examination (BSE) and screening mammogram amongst women. Methods: Questionnaire items were developed following a review of relevant literature of HBM on BSE and screening mammogram.

Factors Associated with Deep Surgical Site Infection Following Spinal Surgery: A Pilot Study.

Introduction Surgical site infection (SSI) is the most common healthcare-related infection in surgical patients. Patients who have undergone spinal surgeries and have contracted postoperative SSI face increased morbidity and mortality, which invariably leads to additional burden on the healthcare system and higher costs. The risk factors for the increase in SSI in patients who have undergone spinal surgery have been investigated in numerous studies but no studies have been performed in Malaysia.

Health literacy and cancer care coordination in Chinese migrant patients and their carers: A cross-sectional survey.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the levels of health literacy and experience of care coordination among Chinese migrant patients with cancer and their carers in Australia, and to examine factors associated with these.

Methods: Patients' self-reported data were collected using the Health Literacy and Cancer Care Coordination questionnaires. We conducted multivariate linear regression analyses to investigate predictors of patients' health literacy and their care experience.

Challenges and perceived unmet needs of Chinese migrants affected by cancer: Focus group findings.

Objectives: Chinese migrant cancer survivors and carers face multiple barriers to accessing quality cancer information and support. This study aimed to explore the challenges and unmet needs experienced by the Australian Chinese community affected by cancer, and understand the contexts that hindered optimal care for this community.

Methods: Adult cancer survivors and carers, whose native language is Mandarin or Cantonese, were recruited through community cancer support organizations.

A quality improvement project to reduce hypothermia in preterm infants on admission to the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: To study effectiveness of quality improvement interventions in reducing hypothermia in preterm infants on admission to neonatal intensive care unit.

Design: Quality improvement methodologies including multidisciplinary planning and implementation of evidence-based interventions. Data during and post-implementation were collected.

Chikungunya virus nsP4 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase core domain displays detergent-sensitive primer extension and terminal adenylyltransferase activities.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an important arboviral infectious agent in tropical and subtropical regions, often causing persistent and debilitating disease. The viral enzyme non-structural protein 4 (nsP4), as RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP), catalyzes the formation of negative-sense, genomic and subgenomic viral RNAs. Here we report a truncated nsP4 construct that is soluble, stable and purified recombinantly from Escherichia coli.

Challenging some assumptions about empathy.

Background: In New Zealand little nursing or medical curricula time, if any, is specifically devoted to the enhancement of empathy. If being empathic is important in the context of patient care, it is a quality that is already present in students or is learned by students during their practicum in the company of experienced clinicians. This study aimed to compare self-reported empathy ratings between different groups of medical students and one cohort of nursing students who were either exposed or not exposed to explicit empathy training or learning in clinical settings in the presence of patients.

Information needs of the Chinese community affected by cancer: A systematic review.

Objective: The information needs of patients and carers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including from the Chinese community, are not well understood, and there has been no previous synthesis of the literature. We conducted a systematic review of the information needs of the Chinese community affected by cancer.

Methods: Database, reference list, and author searches were conducted to identify studies reporting information needs of the Chinese community affected by cancer.

Psychometric Properties of the Heart Disease Knowledge Scale: Evidence from Item and Confirmatory Factor Analyses.

Background: Heart disease knowledge is an important concept for health education, yet there is lack of evidence on proper validated instruments used to measure levels of heart disease knowledge in the Malaysian context.

Methods: A cross-sectional, survey design was conducted to examine the psychometric properties of the adapted English version of the Heart Disease Knowledge Questionnaire (HDKQ). Using proportionate cluster sampling, 788 undergraduate students at Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia, were recruited and completed the HDKQ.

Generation of a naïve human single chain variable fragment (scFv) library for the identification of monoclonal scFv against Salmonella Typhi Hemolysin E antigen.

Antibody phage display is a useful tool for the isolation and identification of monoclonal antibodies. Naive antibody libraries are able to overcome the limitations associated with the traditional hybridoma method for monoclonal antibody generation. Antibody phage display is also a preferred method for antibody generation against toxins as it does not suffer from toxicity mediated complications.

Screening neonatal jaundice based on the sclera color of the eye using digital photography.

A new screening technique for neonatal jaundice is proposed exploiting the yellow discoloration in the sclera. It involves taking digital photographs of newborn infants' eyes (n = 110) and processing the pixel colour values of the sclera to predict the total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels. This technique has linear and rank correlation coefficients of 0.