Factors Associated with Dengue Outbreaks in Pulau Pinang from the eDengue Database 2023: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Objectives: Dengue is now endemic in over 100 countries, with Asia bearing over 70% of the global burden. In Malaysia, dengue cases have increased dramatically, particularly in Pulau Pinang, where cases rose from 1,621 in 2022 to 7,343 in 2023. To examine factors associated with dengue outbreaks in Pulau Pinang in 2023 by comparing outbreak cases with single cases.

Unveiling the interplay of medical professionalism, mental well-being and coping in medical students: a qualitative phenomenological study.

Background: Medical students face significant stress and challenges that impact their professional development by affecting their levels of medical professionalism (MP), coping ability, and mental well-being (MWB). Given the high-stakes environment of medical education, understanding the interplay between these factors is crucial. This study aims to explore undergraduate medical students' lived experiences of MP, coping strategies (CSs), and MWB to inform the development of effective support systems.

Design of composite chitosan/algae/zeolite by freeze- or air-drying: A comparative adsorbent analysis for optimized removal of brilliant green dye.

A bio-composite material was developed that contains chitosan, food-grade algae, and zeolite for the removal of brilliant green (BG) dye. The synthesized bio-composite was dried via two different methods (air-drying; AD, and freeze-drying; FD). The physicochemical characterization of air-dried chitosan-algae-zeolite (Cs-Alg-Zl-AD) and freeze-dried chitosan-algae-zeolite (Cs-Alg-Zl-FD) were investigated by spectroscopy (FTIR, SEM-EDX, and XPS), diffraction (XRD), surface charge via pH, specific surface area (SSA) and elemental analyses.

Decoding the interplay of medical professionalism, mental well-being, and coping in undergraduate medical students across culture: using structural equation modeling.

Introduction: The rigorous nature of medical education, long and night shifts, and prevalent issues like stress, anxiety, and depression affect medical students' mental well-being and medical professionalism. This study aims to explore the intricate relationships between mental well-being, medical professionalism, and coping strategies, among undergraduate medical students, utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM) to unravel these dynamics.

Methods: Conducted at Universiti Sains Malaysia, this cross-sectional study involved 234 medical students from the 1st, 3rd, and 5th years of the MBBS program.

Repeated time-series cross-validation: A new method to improved COVID-19 forecast accuracy in Malaysia.

Forecasting COVID-19 cases is challenging, and inaccurate forecast values will lead to poor decision-making by the authorities. Conversely, accurate forecasts aid Malaysian government authorities and agencies (National Security Council, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of International Trade and Industry) and financial institutions in formulating action plans, regulations, and legal acts to control COVID-19 spread in the country. Therefore, this study proposes Repeated Time-Series Cross-Validation, a new data-splitting strategy to identify the best forecasting model that is capable of producing the lowest error measures value and a high percentage of forecast accuracy for COVID-19 prediction in Malaysia.

Edge Computing for AI-Based Brain MRI Applications: A Critical Evaluation of Real-Time Classification and Segmentation.

Medical imaging plays a pivotal role in diagnostic medicine with technologies like Magnetic Resonance Imagining (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and ultrasound scans being widely used to assist radiologists and medical experts in reaching concrete diagnosis. Given the recent massive uplift in the storage and processing capabilities of computers, and the publicly available big data, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has also started contributing to improving diagnostic radiology. Edge computing devices and handheld gadgets can serve as useful tools to process medical data in remote areas with limited network and computational resources.

The pattern of reporting and presenting validity evidence of extended matching questions (EMQs) in health professions education: a systematic review.

The Extended matching Questions (EMQs), or R-type questions, are format of selected-response. The validity evidence for this format is crucial, but there have been reports of misunderstandings about validity. It is unclear what kinds of evidence should be presented and how to present them to support their educational impact.

Eco-friendly encapsulation: Investigating plant-based protein-alginate shells for efficient delivery and digestion of hemp seed oil encapsulated via supercritical CO dispersion.

In this study, supercritical carbon dioxide solution-enhanced dispersion (SEDS) was used to encapsulate hemp seed oil (HSO) within matrices of hemp seed protein isolate (HPI), pea protein (PPI) and soy protein (SPI) (0.5 % w/v) in complex with alginate (AL) (0.01 % w/v).

Novel Insights into Cr(VI)-Induced Rhamnolipid Production and Gene Expression in RW9 for Potential Bioremediation.

Rhamnolipid (RL) is renowned for its efficacy in bioremediating several types of organic and metal contaminants. Nevertheless, there has been a scarcity of studies specifically examining the relationship between this substance and metals, especially in terms of their impact on RL formation and the underlying interaction processes. This study addresses this gap by investigating the RL mechanism in Cr (VI) remediation and evaluating its effect on RL production in RW9.

Activated biochar production from young coconut waste (Cocos nucifera) as bioadsorbent: a pathway through Artificial Neural Network (ANN) optimization.

This pioneering work explores the immense potential of young coconut waste, a continuously marginalized residue of the food and beverage industry, to serve as an indispensable feedstock in the production of biochar. Through an examination of the key carbonization factors that include time, temperature, and concentrations of the activating agent, KOH, the outcomes offer relevant insights that could be leveraged to maximize biochar production for tailored applications. This study stands out for its innovative use of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approaches for predictive modeling.

The need to identify anatomy-related competencies in medical education.

A profound grasp of anatomy is indispensable for shaping competent and safe medical practitioners. This knowledge acquisition is pivotal in the early stages of medical education and remains crucial throughout clinical training. However, the evolving landscape of medical education has ushered in changes to the anatomy curriculum, marked by a reduction in contact hours and a streamlined content structure to accommodate novel subjects and teaching methodologies.

Healthy Ageing in Malaysia by 2030: Needs, Challenges and Future Directions.

This Editorial addresses the critical need for developing a healthy ageing society in Malaysia by 2030. With the country's elderly population projected to increase significantly, the article explores current challenges, including healthcare disparities, a shortage of geriatric specialists and malnutrition. It evaluates existing policies and highlights successful international and local initiatives, suggesting specific recommendations to improve healthcare infrastructure, healthy ageing support and technological integration.

Valorization of seafood waste: a review of life cycle assessment studies in biorefinery applications.

The escalating challenges posed by seafood waste generated by the fishing and aquaculture industries underscore the urgent need for innovative solutions that promote both environmental conservation and economic viability within the seafood sector. Seafood waste biorefinery emerges as a promising solution, offering the potential to transform waste materials into valuable products. However, it is essential to recognize that seafood waste biorefinery operations also entail environmental impacts that warrant careful consideration.

An eight-year analysis of robotic surgery in morbidly obese women with endometrial cancer in a tertiary center in Singapore.

Introduction: Surgical management of endometrial cancer is a total hysterectomy, bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection (THBSO-PLND), which is a challenging surgery in the morbidly obese. Data on morbidly obese women undergoing robotic surgery is limited in Asia. We share our experience in Singapore and aim to demonstrate that robotic surgery is safe and effective in morbidly obese women with endometrial cancer.

Prevalence of hypertension in pregnancy and its associated sociodemographic factors among mothers aged 15-49 years old in Malaysia.

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) pose a substantial public health concern, ranking among the primary contributors to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, impacting around 5-10% of pregnancies. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HDP and its associated factors among mothers aged 15-49 who recently gave birth within the last two years, throughout Malaysia, informing effective public health and primary care interventions.

Methods: This study was a part of the national survey on maternal and child health (MCH) also known as the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2022: MCH.

A Review of Predictive Analytics Models in the Oil and Gas Industries.

Enhancing the management and monitoring of oil and gas processes demands the development of precise predictive analytic techniques. Over the past two years, oil and its prediction have advanced significantly using conventional and modern machine learning techniques. Several review articles detail the developments in predictive maintenance and the technical and non-technical aspects of influencing the uptake of big data.

Advanced fabrication of complex biopolymer microcapsules via RSM-optimized supercritical carbon dioxide solution-enhanced dispersion: A comparative analysis of various microencapsulation techniques.

This work aimed to enhance hemp seed oil encapsulation within a hemp seed protein-alginate complex by optimizing parameters in the solution-enhanced dispersion process, employing supercritical carbon dioxide (SEDS) without reliance on organic solvents or elevated temperatures. By response surface methodology (RSM), the microencapsulation efficacy (MEE), particle size (PS) and peroxide value (PV) was determined with respect to three parameters; temperature (°C), pressure (bar) and feed flow rate (mL/min). The optimum conditions were predicted at temperature (40 °C), pressure (150 bar) and feed flow rate (2 mL/min) to offer an MEE of 89.

Translation and trans-cultural adaptation to the Malay version of the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy questionnaire among healthcare workers in Malaysia.

Introduction: Healthcare workers play a crucial role in supporting COVID-19 vaccination as they are the most trusted source of information to the public population. Assessing the healthcare workers' hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccination is pertinent, however, there are limited validated tools to measure their hesitancy on COVID-19 vaccines. This study aims to adapt and validate the first COVID-19 hesitancy scale among healthcare workers in Malaysia.

Personalised learning in higher education for health sciences: a scoping review protocol.

Background: Personalised learning, an educational approach that tailors teaching and learning to individual needs and preferences, has gained attention in recent years, particularly in higher education. Advances in educational technology have facilitated the implementation of personalised learning in various contexts. Despite its potential benefits, the literature on personalised learning in health sciences higher education remains scattered and heterogeneous.

Hypoplastic Posterior Leaflet of the Tricuspid Valve-a Unique Cause of Right Heart Failure.

• TR can be due to either primary or secondary causes. • Primary TR due to congenital hypoplasia of leaflets is rare. • Multimodality imaging is key in identifying the cause of TR.

Delayed Diagnosis of Unilateral Absence of Pulmonary Artery Presenting with Recurrent Bronchopneumonia.

• Unilateral absence of the pulmonary artery (UAPA) is a rare congenital condition. • Patients with UAPA may present initially following recurrent bouts of pneumonia. • Echocardiography remains a useful tool for diagnosis in resource-limited settings.