MyMedR

Displaying all 6 publications

Abstract:

Sort:

Fulltext Inadequate water treatment quality as assessed by protozoa removal in Sarawak, Malaysia

Ting Lo N, Abul Bashar Sarker M, Ai Lian Lim Y, Harun-Or-Rashid M, Sakamoto J

Nagoya J Med Sci, 2018 May;80(2):165-174.
PMID: 29915434 DOI: 10.18999/nagjms.80.2.165

Providing safe drinking-water to human civilization is indispensable; it is one of the most cost-effective means of reducing the disease burden of diarrhea. Unfortunately, water supply quality monitoring from public water treatment plants (WTPs) is often neglected or taken for granted. To determine the produced water quality, WTPs in Sarawak, Malaysia were assessed for their protozoa removal ability. A self-administered questionnaire based on the regulations in the Drinking-water Standards for New Zealand (DWSNZ) was developed. Optional 10-liter raw water samples were collected from willing WTPs for the detection of protozoan cysts. Routine physical and microbial testing of WTP parameters were also requested for raw water quality overview. Two of the nine assessed WTPs achieved three log credits in the treatment component, one of which belonged to Peninsular Malaysia. No log credits were obtained in the other tested components for any samples. Most of the WTPs employed "Coagulation, Sedimentation, and Filtration" using rapid gravity filters without enhancement (P < 0.05). Giardia cysts were detected in raw water sources used for treatment, and the geographical location was identified as an influencing factor for raw water quality. There is an urgent requirement for active collaboration and holistic approaches to review existing water management policies and interventions. WTPs in Sarawak did not achieve the log credits required to safeguard the microbial quality of the water supplied; however, only Giardia cysts were detected in 10-liter raw water samples despite routine microbial parameter monitoring showing disturbing contamination levels.
Fulltext Mechanical property and quality aspects of rice dried in industrial dryers

Sarker MSH, Hasan SMK, Ibrahim MN, Aziz NA, Punan MS

J Food Sci Technol, 2017 Nov;54(12):4129-4134.
PMID: 29085156 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-017-2856-5

The influence of drying methods on selected mechanical properties and qualities of MR219 rice variety has been investigated. The results showed significant effects of drying methods on bending strength and head rice yields while the average bending strength of paddy were 28.6-31.8 MPa. The effect of drying methods on apparent modulus of elasticity of rice was not significant (204.5-222.4 MPa). The fracture energy of rice varied significantly under control drying but not with industrial drying methods. Higher temperature in drying by IBD contributed in making the grains tougher, where the effect of FBD temperature was positive toward the development of fracture energy inside rice kernel. IBD at temperature above 40 °C resulted in lower bending strength in rice kernels which affected head rice yield. Two stage paddy drying practices with FBD using temperature of 115-125 °C as first stage is still acceptable, and inclined bed dryer either as single stage or as second stage after FBD should be operated at temperature of <40 °C to maintain head rice yield. The whiteness and milling recovery of rice achieved from different drying methods were comparable.
Fulltext Amino Anthraquinone: Synthesis, Characterization, and Its Application as an Active Material in Environmental Sensors

Ali S, Tahir M, Mehboob N, Wahab F, J Langford S, Mohd Said S, et al.

Materials (Basel), 2020 Feb 21;13(4).
PMID: 32098037 DOI: 10.3390/ma13040960

This work reports synthesis, thin film characterizations, and study of an organic semiconductor 2-aminoanthraquinone (AAq) for humidity and temperature sensing applications. The morphological and phase studies of AAq thin films are carried out by scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. To study the sensing properties of AAq, a surface type Au/AAq/Au sensor is fabricated by thermally depositing a 60 nm layer of AAq at a pressure of ~10-5 mbar on a pre-patterned gold (Au) electrodes with inter-electrode gap of 45 µm. To measure sensing capability of the Au/AAq/Au device, the variations in its capacitance and resistance are studied as a function of humidity and temperature. The Au/AAq/Au device measures and exhibits a linear change in capacitance and resistance when relative humidity (%RH) and temperature are varied. The AAq is a hydrophobic material which makes it one of the best candidates to be used as an active material in humidity sensors; on the other hand, its high melting point (575 K) is another appealing property that enables it for its potential applications in temperature sensors.
Data Resource Profile: The Global School-based Student Health Survey-behavioural risk and protective factors among adolescents

Bischops AC, Radev ST, Köthe U, Chen S, Geldsetzer P, Sarker M, et al.

Int J Epidemiol, 2023 Apr 19;52(2):e102-e109.
PMID: 36350584 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyac208
Fulltext Clinical evaluation of dengue and identification of risk factors for severe disease: protocol for a multicentre study in 8 countries

Jaenisch T, Tam DT, Kieu NT, Van Ngoc T, Nam NT, Van Kinh N, et al.

BMC Infect Dis, 2016 Mar 11;16:120.
PMID: 26968374 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-016-1440-3

The burden of dengue continues to increase globally, with an estimated 100 million clinically apparent infections occurring each year. Although most dengue infections are asymptomatic, patients can present with a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms ranging from mild febrile illness through to severe manifestations of bleeding, organ impairment, and hypovolaemic shock due to a systemic vascular leak syndrome. Clinical diagnosis of dengue and identification of which patients are likely to develop severe disease remain challenging. This study aims to improve diagnosis and clinical management through approaches designed a) to differentiate between dengue and other common febrile illness within 72 h of fever onset, and b) among patients with dengue to identify markers that are predictive of the likelihood of evolving to a more severe disease course.
Fulltext Early diagnostic indicators of dengue versus other febrile illnesses in Asia and Latin America (IDAMS study): a multicentre, prospective, observational study

Rosenberger KD, Phung Khanh L, Tobian F, Chanpheaktra N, Kumar V, Lum LCS, et al.

Lancet Glob Health, 2023 Mar;11(3):e361-e372.
PMID: 36796983 DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00514-9

BACKGROUND: Improvements in the early diagnosis of dengue are urgently needed, especially in resource-limited settings where the distinction between dengue and other febrile illnesses is crucial for patient management.
METHODS: In this prospective, observational study (IDAMS), we included patients aged 5 years and older with undifferentiated fever at presentation from 26 outpatient facilities in eight countries (Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, El Salvador, Indonesia, Malaysia, Venezuela, and Viet Nam). We used multivariable logistic regression to investigate the association between clinical symptoms and laboratory tests with dengue versus other febrile illnesses between day 2 and day 5 after onset of fever (ie, illness days). We built a set of candidate regression models including clinical and laboratory variables to reflect the need of a comprehensive versus parsimonious approach. We assessed performance of these models via standard measures of diagnostic values.
FINDINGS: Between Oct 18, 2011, and Aug 4, 2016, we recruited 7428 patients, of whom 2694 (36%) were diagnosed with laboratory-confirmed dengue and 2495 (34%) with (non-dengue) other febrile illnesses and met inclusion criteria, and were included in the analysis. 2703 (52%) of 5189 included patients were younger than 15 years, 2486 (48%) were aged 15 years or older, 2179 (42%) were female and 3010 (58%) were male. Platelet count, white blood cell count, and the change in these variables from the previous day of illness had a strong association with dengue. Cough and rhinitis had strong associations with other febrile illnesses, whereas bleeding, anorexia, and skin flush were generally associated with dengue. Model performance increased between day 2 and 5 of illness. The comprehensive model (18 clinical and laboratory predictors) had sensitivities of 0·80 to 0·87 and specificities of 0·80 to 0·91, whereas the parsimonious model (eight clinical and laboratory predictors) had sensitivities of 0·80 to 0·88 and specificities of 0·81 to 0·89. A model that includes laboratory markers that are easy to measure (eg, platelet count or white blood cell count) outperformed the models based on clinical variables only.
INTERPRETATION: Our results confirm the important role of platelet and white blood cell counts in diagnosing dengue, and the importance of serial measurements over subsequent days. We successfully quantified the performance of clinical and laboratory markers covering the early period of dengue. Resulting algorithms performed better than published schemes for distinction of dengue from other febrile illnesses, and take into account the dynamic changes over time. Our results provide crucial information needed for the update of guidelines, including the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness handbook.
FUNDING: EU's Seventh Framework Programme.
TRANSLATIONS: For the Bangla, Bahasa Indonesia, Portuguese, Khmer, Spanish and Vietnamese translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.