Hijri Month Determination in Southeast Asia: An Illustration Between Religion, Science, and Cultural Background.

This paper investigates the procedure for determining the new Hijri Month between Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. It endeavours to understand the reason for dissimilarity in terms of practice between these four nations in commencing Hijri Month of and despite sharing the same lunar crescent visibility criterion. This study is conducted through the examination of literature with regards to regulations of the lunar crescent visibility criterion between these countries.

Alteration of twilight sky brightness profile by light pollution.

The phenomenon of twilight has been stipulated as naturally dependent on the variables of solar depression, aerosol concentration and ozone composition. The unique color spectrum of twilight is attributed by ozone layer and aerosol, whereas its brightness is heavily relying on the altitude of sun below horizon. While all the natural dependence is being researched extensively, the impact of light pollution on the brightness of the twilight is not being explored thoroughly.

Nurses' perceptions of patient handoffs and predictors of patient handoff perceptions in tertiary care hospitals in Kelantan, Malaysia: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To study nurses' perceptions of patient handoffs in tertiary care hospitals in Kelantan, Malaysia, and to identify predictors of these perceptions.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Three tertiary care hospitals in Kelantan, Malaysia, February-March 2023.

Highly Durable Antibacterial Textiles: Cross-Linked Protonated Polyaniline-Polyacrylic Acid with Prolonged Electrical Stability.

This study addressed the limited antibacterial durability of textile materials, which has suppressed their applications in preventing infectious disease transmission. A class of highly durable antibacterial textiles was developed by incorporating protonated polyaniline (PANI) textile with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as the functional binder via cross-linking polymerization. The resulting PAA-PANI textile exhibits exceptional electrical conductivity, reaching 8.

Drug addictions in Malaysia: a mini-review on drug types, rehabilitation centers and therapeutic programs.

Drug addiction remains one of the most complex social problems worldwide that has yet to be resolved. In Malaysia, abuse of various types of drugs has been reported which warrants the government to take immediate strategies in managing drug addicts. Despite implementing various strategies to treat drug addiction, statistics show the number of relapses continues to skyrocket over the years.

Environmental effects from petroleum product transportation spillage in Nigeria: a critical review.

Nigeria has struggled to meet sustainable development goals (SDGs) on environmental sustainability, transportation, and petroleum product distribution for decades, endangering human and ecological health. Petroleum product spills contaminate soil, water, and air, harming humans, aquatic life, and biodiversity. The oil and gas industry contributes to environmental sustainability and scientific and technological advancement through its supply chain activities in the transport and logistics sectors.

Antibacterial Performance of Protonated Polyaniline-Integrated Polyester Fabrics.

During the last few years, there has been an increase in public awareness of antimicrobial fabrics, as well as an increase in commercial opportunities for their use in pharmaceutical and medical settings. The present study reports on the optimized fabrication of protonated polyaniline (PANI)-integrated polyester (PES) fabric. -toluene sulfonic acid (TSA) was used to protonate the PANI fabric and thus grant it antibacterial performance.

Applying Discrete Event Simulation to Reduce Patient Wait Times and Crowding: The Case of a Specialist Outpatient Clinic with Dual Practice System.

Long wait times and crowding are major issues affecting outpatient service delivery, but it is unclear how these affect patients in dual practice settings. This study aims to evaluate the effects of changing consultation start time and patient arrival on wait times and crowding in an outpatient clinic with a dual practice system. A discrete event simulation (DES) model was developed based on real-world data from an Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) clinic in a public hospital.

Synthesis and Characterization of Porous, Electro-Conductive Chitosan-Gelatin-Agar-Based PEDOT: PSS Scaffolds for Potential Use in Tissue Engineering.

Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of electro-conductive chitosan-gelatin-agar (Cs-Gel-Agar) based PEDOT: PSS hydrogels for tissue engineering. Cs-Gel-Agar porous hydrogels with 0-2.0% (/) PEDOT: PSS were fabricated using a thermal reverse casting method where low melting agarose served as the pore template.

A successful pregnancy outcome of homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia patient on statin therapy.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HoFH) is a rare genetic disorder of lipoprotein metabolism mainly due to mutation of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-receptor gene (LDLR). It is a life-threatening disease that causes accelerated, multi-vessel atherosclerosis presented in early childhood. Pregnancy in HoFH may pose early coronary morbidity and mortality to both the foetus and mother.

The effect of structural heterogeneity upon the microviscosity of ionic liquids.

The behaviour of two molecular rotors, one charged - 3,3'-diethylthiacarbocyanine iodide (Cy3) and one neutral - 8-[4-decyloxyphenyl]-4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3,4-diaza--indacene (BODIPY-C10), have been studied in various ionic liquids. The fluorescent decay lifetime has been used to elucidate the structure of the immediate region around the rotor. The neutral BODIPY-C10 was found to prefer the non-polar alkyl chain environment, leading to two trends in the lifetime of the dye: one when it was fully partitioned into the non-polar domain, and one when it also sampled polar moieties.

The EMPOWER-SUSTAIN e-Health Intervention to improve patient activation and self-management behaviours among individuals with Metabolic Syndrome in primary care: study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial.

Background: Epidemiological studies conducted in various parts of the world have clearly demonstrated that metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an increasing global health problem, not only in Western societies but also in Asian populations. Web-based and mobile phone-based self-management applications have been proven to be effective in improving self-management behaviour of patients with MetS components (i.e.

Ficus deltoidea suppresses endothelial activation, inflammation, monocytes adhesion and oxidative stress via NF-κB and eNOS pathways in stimulated human coronary artery endothelial cells.

Background: Ficus deltoidea (FD) has been shown to have antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antioxidant properties. However, its effects on key events in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis are unknown.

Aim: To investigate the endothelial activation, inflammation, monocyte-endothelial cell binding and oxidative stress effects of four FD varieties.

Correlation and assessment of coronary artery luminal stenosis: Post-mortem computed tomography angiogram versus histopathology.

Background: Post-mortem Computed Tomography (PMCT) allows non-invasive or minimally invasive detection of findings that may or may not be visible during conventional autopsy, however, it does not allow the investigator to draw any conclusions regarding patency of the vessel's lumen. To address this deficiency, Post-mortem Computed Tomography Angiography (PMCTA) utilizing different contrast media and techniques have been introduced with various studies looking at the correlation between PMCTA, autopsy (gross) findings and coronary artery histology in diagnosing coronary artery disease.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of PMCTA in diagnosing coronary artery stenosis using water-based contrast media introduced though the vessels of the neck, compared to the gold standard of diagnosis i.

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia in a pair of identical twins: a case report and updated review.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is the most common inherited metabolic disease with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. It is characterised by raised serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), leading to premature coronary artery disease. Children with FH are subjected to early and enhanced atherosclerosis, leading to greater risk of coronary events, including premature coronary artery disease.

Genotype-phenotype correlation among Malaysian patients with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic bone disease characterized by bone fragility and low bone mass. OI was mainly caused by genetic mutations in collagen genes, COL1A1 and COL1A2. Nevertheless, new genes have been identified to be causally linked to OI.

Comparable Enhanced Prothrombogenesis in Simple Central Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome.

Objective: There is limited data comparing prothrombogenic or fibrinolysis biomarkers (tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)) simultaneously in subjects with Metabolic Syndrome (MS), simple central obesity without MS (COB) and normal controls (NC). We investigated the concentrations of fibrinolysis biomarkers in subjects with MS, COB and NC.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 503 drug naive subjects (163 males, aged 30-65 years old (mean age ± SD = 47.

Effects of ranibizumab on the extracellular matrix production by human Tenon's fibroblast.

Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (Anti-VEGF) agents have received recent interest as potential anti-fibrotic agents for their concurrent use with trabeculectomy. Preliminary cohort studies have revealed improved bleb morphology following trabeculectomy augmented with ranibizumab. The effects of this humanized monoclonal antibody on human Tenon's fibroblast (HTF), the key player of post trabeculectomy scar formation, are not fully understood.

Assessment of the reliability of reproducing two-dimensional resistivity models using an image processing technique.

This study attempts to combine the results of geophysical images obtained from three commonly used electrode configurations using an image processing technique in order to assess their capabilities to reproduce two-dimensional (2-D) resistivity models. All the inverse resistivity models were processed using the PCI Geomatica software package commonly used for remote sensing data sets. Preprocessing of the 2-D inverse models was carried out to facilitate further processing and statistical analyses.

Growth mechanisms of MgO nanocrystals via a sol-gel synthesis using different complexing agents.

In the preparation of nanostructured materials, it is important to optimize synthesis parameters in order to obtain the desired material. This work investigates the role of complexing agents, oxalic acid and tartaric acid, in the production of MgO nanocrystals. Results from simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis (STA) show that the two different synthesis routes yield precursors with different thermal profiles.

A discrete event simulation model for evaluating the performances of an m/g/c/c state dependent queuing system.

M/G/C/C state dependent queuing networks consider service rates as a function of the number of residing entities (e.g., pedestrians, vehicles, and products).

Rehydration after exercise with fresh young coconut water, carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage and plain water.

This is to cross-over study to assess the effectiveness of fresh young coconut water (CW), and carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage (CEB) compared with plain water (PW) for whole body rehydration and blood volume (BV) restoration during a 2 h rehydration period following exercise-induced dehydration. Eight healthy male volunteers (mean age and VO2max of 22.4 +/- 3.