Development of a validated instrument on socio-cultural and religious influences during menstruation in Malaysia.

INTRODUCTION: Although menstruation is a physiological process, it is shrouded with socio-cultural and religious beliefs. Healthcare providers should be aware that these influences may affect how women perceive their menstrual disorders. The primary objective of this study was to develop a validated questionnaire measuring the sociocultural and religious beliefs during menstruation. METHODS: In the first stage, a preliminary list of items measuring socio-cultural and religious beliefs during menstruation was generated. In the second stage, exploratory factor analysis was performed. Finally, confirmatory factor analysis using reflective measurement model and structural equation modelling was performed using partial least squares. The practices of these beliefs were included as mediating effect. Biological symptoms of menstruation were added in as another factor. RESULTS: A total of 400 female students from the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia were recruited. A preliminary list of 22 items was first generated. From the confirmatory factor analysis, two factors were iteratively removed due to poor factor loadings. Four factors were retained, i.e., i) "religious beliefs"; ii) "unpleasant (or dirty) nature of menstruation"; iii) "personal restrictions (dietary and behavior)"; and iv) "restrictions of interactions with male gender". In structural equation modelling, only 2 factors, i.e., the practices of "personal restrictions (dietary and behavioural)" and "restriction of interactions with males" had significant negative impact on quality of life. CONCLUSION: Menstruation should not be viewed purely from a biological lens as there are layers of sociocultural and religious beliefs surrounding it.

A glucose biosensor based on novel Lutetium bis-phthalocyanine incorporated silica-polyaniline conducting nanobeads.

The facile preparation of highly sensitive electrochemical bioprobe based on lutetium phthalocyanine incorporated silica nanoparticles (SiO2(LuPc2)) grafted with Poly(vinyl alcohol-vinyl acetate) itaconic acid (PANI(PVIA)) doped polyaniline conducting nanobeads (SiO2(LuPc2)PANI(PVIA)-CNB) is reported. The preparation of CNB involves two stages (i) pristine synthesis of LuPc2 incorporated SiO2 and PANI(PVIA); (ii) covalent grafting of PANI(PVIA) onto the surface of SiO2(LuPc2). The morphology and other physico-chemical characteristics of CNB were investigated. The scanning electron microscopy images show that the average particle size of SiO2(LuPc2)PANI(PVIA)-CNB was between 180-220nm. The amperometric measurements showed that the fabricated SiO2(LuPc2)PANI(PVIA)-CNB/GOx biosensor exhibited wide linear range (1-16mM) detection of glucose with a low detection limit of 0.1mM. SiO2(LuPc2)PANI(PVIA)-CNB/GOx biosensor exhibited high sensitivity (38.53µAmM-1cm-2) towards the detection of glucose under optimized conditions. Besides, the real (juice and serum) sample analysis based on a standard addition method and direct detection method showed high precision for measuring glucose at SiO2(LuPc2)PANI(PVIA)-CNB/GOx biosensor. The SiO2(LuPc2)PANI(PVIA)-CNB/GOx biosensor stored under refrigerated condition over a period of 45 days retains ~ 96.4% glucose response current.

Effective Surfactants Blend Concentration Determination for O/W Emulsion Stabilization by Two Nonionic Surfactants by Simple Linear Regression.

In this work, O/W emulsion sets were prepared by using different concentrations of two nonionic surfactants. The two surfactants, tween 80(HLB=15.0) and span 80(HLB=4.3) were used in a fixed proportions equal to 0.55:0.45 respectively. HLB value of the surfactants blends were fixed at 10.185. The surfactants blend concentration is starting from 3% up to 19%. For each O/W emulsion set the conductivity was measured at room temperature (25±2°), 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80°. Applying the simple linear regression least squares method statistical analysis to the temperature-conductivity obtained data determines the effective surfactants blend concentration required for preparing the most stable O/W emulsion. These results were confirmed by applying the physical stability centrifugation testing and the phase inversion temperature range measurements. The results indicated that, the relation which represents the most stable O/W emulsion has the strongest direct linear relationship between temperature and conductivity. This relationship is linear up to 80°. This work proves that, the most stable O/W emulsion is determined via the determination of the maximum R² value by applying of the simple linear regression least squares method to the temperature-conductivity obtained data up to 80°, in addition to, the true maximum slope is represented by the equation which has the maximum R² value. Because the conditions would be changed in a more complex formulation, the method of the determination of the effective surfactants blend concentration was verified by applying it for more complex formulations of 2% O/W miconazole nitrate cream and the results indicate its reproducibility.

An overview of fruit allergy and the causative allergens.

Plant allergens, being one of the most widespread allergenic substances, are hard to avoid. Hence, their identification and characterization are of prime importance for the diagnosis and treatment of food allergy. The reported allergies to fruits mainly evoke oral allergy syndrome caused by the presence of cross-reactive IgE to certain pollens and thus, allergy to fruits has also been linked to particular pollens. Many fruit allergies are being studied for their causative allergens, and are being characterized. Some tropical or exotic fruits are responsible for region-specific allergies for which only limited information is available, and generally lack allergen characterization. From a survey of the literature on fruit allergy, it is clear that some common fruits (apple, peach, musk melon, kiwi fruit, cherry, grape, strawberry, banana, custard apple, mango and pomegranate) and their allergens appear to be at the center of current research on food allergy. The present review focuses on common fruits reported as allergenic and their identified allergens; a brief description of allergens from six rare/tropical fruits is also covered.

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among communities living in different habitats and its comparison with one hundred and one studies conducted over the past 42 years (1970 to 2013) in Malaysia.

Intestinal parasitic infections are among the most common diseases affecting mankind causing major public health problems to billions of people living in developing countries. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in various communities residing in different habitats in Malaysia and compare the findings with 101 studies conducted over the past 42 years (1970-2013). A cross-sectional study design was conducted with the aid of a questionnaire to collect relevant information about the study population. Faecal samples were examined using the direct smear and formal ether sedimentation techniques. A total of 342 children were examined amongst whom 24.6% were positive for intestinal parasitic infections. Results showed that 32.3% of rural children, 20.6% of urban squatters and 5.4% of children from flats were positive for one or more parasites. The most common parasite encountered was Trichuris trichiura (20.2%) followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (10.5%) and hookworm (6.7%). No case of hookworm was reported in urban children whereas 12.2% of rural children were positive. The most common protozoan parasite detected was Entamoeba coli (3.2%) followed by Giardia intestinalis (1.8%), Entamoeba histolytica (1.8%) and Blastocystis hominis (1.2%). Nearly one-fifth (18.4%) of the children had single infection followed by double (12.0%) and triple infections (1.2%). Orang Asli (indigenous) children (44.3%) had the highest infection rate followed by Indians (20.2%), Malays (14.0%) and Chinese (11.9%). Twenty-eight studies carried out on plantation communities with regards to intestinal parasitic infections in Malaysia from 1970 to 2013 showed a steady decline in the prevalence rate ranging from 95.0% in the seventies to 37.0 % in 2012. Intestinal parasitic infections were more common in Orang Asli communities with prevalence ranging from over 90% in the seventies and fluctuating below 70% in most studies between 2000 to 2013 except for two studies that showed a prevalence of 98.2% and 100%. The prevalence rate among urban squatters, urban residents and those living in flats showed dramatic decrease in prevalence rate.

Determining the prevalence of intestinal parasites in three Orang Asli (Aborigines) communities in Perak, Malaysia.

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among children and adult Orang Aslis (Aborigines) from different locations in Perak. Faecal samples were collected and analyzed using the direct smear and formal ether sedimentation technique. Some of the faecal samples were stained using the Modified Acid fast stain for Cryptosporidium. Nail clippings of the respondents and the soil around their habitat were also analyzed. Of the 77 stool samples examined, 39 (50.6%) were positive for at least one intestinal parasite. The most common parasite detected was Trichuris trichiura (39.0%) followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (26.9%), Entamoeba coli (5.2%), Giardia lamblia (5.2%), Blastocystis hominis (3.9%), hookworm (3.9%), Entamoeba histolytica (1.3%), Iodamoeba butschlii (1.3%) and Cryptosporidium sp. (1.3%) respectively. Some respondents had single parasites (24.7%), some with two parasites (18.2%). Some with three parasites (6.5%) and one had four parasites species (1.3%). The parasites were slightly more common in females (54.7%) than males ((41.7%). The parasites were more common in the 13-20 year age group (90.9%) followed by 1-12 years (69.6%), 21-40 year age group (34.8%) and least in the 41-60 year age group (27.8%). Nail examinations of the respondents did not show any evidence of parasites. One had a mite, three had pollen grains and one had yeast cells isolated from the finger nails. Soil samples taken around their houses showed only one sample with a nematode ova and one with oocyst which was of a non human origin.

Modeling of vapor sorption in polymeric film studied by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy.

Sorption process by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was studied by exposing polymeric film made from anthracene labeled poly(methyl methacrylate) (An-PMMA) chains to various concentrations of saturated chloroform vapor. It was observed that the reflectivity changes were fast and reversible. The changes in reflectivity implied the swelling behavior of polymeric film during adsorbtion and can be explained by capturing of chloroform molecules. When clean air is introduced into gas cell similar behavior is observed but this time in the opposite direction as a result of desorption. Fick's law for diffusion was used to quantify real time SPR data for the swelling and desorption processes. It was observed that diffusion coefficients (D(s)) for swelling obeyed the t(1/2) law and found to be correlated with the amount of chloroform content in the cell. Diffusion coefficients (D(d)) during desorption were also measured and found to be increased as the saturated chloroform vapor content is increased in the cell.

Electrical properties of a novel 1,3-bis-(p-iminobenzoic acid) indane Langmuir-Blodgett films containing ZnS nanoparticles.

ZnS nanoparticles have been formed in a newly synthesized 1,3-bis-(p-iminobenzoic acid) indane (IBI) by exposing Zn2+ doped multilayered Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film to H2S gas after the growth. The formation of ZnS nanoparticles in the LB film structure was verified by measuring UV-Visible absorption spectra. DC electrical measurements were carried out for thin films of IBI prepared in a metal/LB films/metal sandwich structure with and without ZnS nanoparticles. It was observed that ZnS nanoparticles in the LB films cause a blue-shift in the absorption spectra as well as a decrease in both capacitance and conductivity values. By analysing I-V curves and assuming a Schottky conduction mechanism the barrier height was found to be about 1.13 eV and 1.21 eV for IBI LB films without and with ZnS nanoparticles, respectively. It is thought that the presence of ZnS nanoparticles influences the barrier height at the metal-organic film interface and causes a change in electrical conduction properties of LB films.

Dimensional accuracy of 3 silicone dental impression materials.

This study was carried out to measure the dimensional changes in silicone impression material, which can affect the fitness of the prosthesis. Using both single and double mix techniques, 20 impression samples for each of 3 different proprietary silicones, Xantopren-H, President and Fulldent, were made. Selected measurements were made on the stone casts made from each impression. In all 3 cases, the single mix gave more accurate casts than the double mix technique. The Xantopren-H impressions had the most accurate dimensions.

Dimensional accuracy of 3 silicone dental impression materials

This study was carried out to measure the dimensional changes in silicone impression material, which can affect the fitness of the prosthesis. Using both single and double mix techniques, 20 impression samples for each of 3 different proprietary silicones, Xantopren- H, President and Fulldent, were made. Selected measurements were made on the stone casts made from each impression. In all 3 cases, the single mix gave more accurate casts than the double mix technique. The Xantopren- H impressions had the most accurate dimensions

Electron paramagnetic resonance shift in II1-xMnxVI diluted magnetic semiconductors in the presence of strong exchange coupling.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) has been investigated in two II1-xMnxVI alloys--Cd1-xMnxSe and Cd1-xMnxS--for a series of high Mn concentrations and at low temperatures T, i.e., under conditions where the spin subsystems in these materials are strongly coupled. We have observed a very significant shift of the resonance field from the EPR position of Mn2+ ions that increases with increasing x and with decreasing T. Furthermore, the use of multiple frequencies has allowed us to attribute the observed shift to an internal field that originates from the spin sublattice within the II1-xMnxVI host.

Pyroelectric and conduction properties of Z-type calix[4] acid Langmuir-Blodgett films.

Non-centrosymmetric Z-type Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films were prepared by transferring a calix[4] acid monolayer from a subphase of Millipore water (18 Momegacm(-1)) onto aluminised glass substrates. Electrical measurements were performed at room temperature on LB films with a sandwich structure comprising a 50 nm thick thermally evaporated aluminium film. A pyroelectric figure of merit of 2.23 microC m(-2)K(-1) is reported for this LB system. The low voltage value of conductivity is 1.82 x 10(-12) Sm(-1). The electrode-limited Schottky effect is responsible for the conduction mechanism at a relatively high field due to the dc bias and the barrier potential height is determined to be 1.72 eV. The ac conductance for both samples shows a typical power law dependence with a value of approximately 0.86 for the exponent.

Collective character of spin excitations in a system of Mn2+ spins coupled to a two-dimensional electron gas.

We have studied the low energy spin excitations in n-type CdMnTe based dilute magnetic semiconductor quantum wells. For magnetic fields for which the energies for the excitation of free carriers and Mn spins are almost identical, an anomalously large Knight shift is observed. Our findings suggest the existence of a magnetic-field-induced ferromagnetic order in these structures, which is in agreement with recent theoretical predictions [Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 077202 (2003)]].

Single-ion versus dipolar origin of the magnetic anisotropy in iron(III)-oxo clusters: a case study.

A multitechnique approach has allowed the first experimental determination of single-ion anisotropies in a large iron(III)-oxo cluster, namely [NaFe6(OCH3)12(pmdbm)6ClO4 (1) in which Hpmdbm = 1,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-propanedione. High-frequency EPR (HF-EPR). bulk susceptibility measurements, and high-field cantilever torque magnetometry (HF-CTM) have been applied to iron-doped samples of an isomorphous hexagallium(III) cluster [NaGa6(OCH3)12-(pmdbm)6]ClO4, whose synthesis and X-ray structure are also presented. HF-EPR at 240 GHz and susceptibility data have shown that the iron(III) ions have a hard-axis type anisotropy with DFe = 0.43(1) cm(-1) and EFe = 0.066(3) cm(-1) in the zero-field splitting (ZFS) Hamiltonian H = DFe[S2(z) - S(S + 1)/3] + Fe[S2(x) - S2(y)]. HF-CTM at 0.4 K has then been used to establish the orientation of the ZFS tensors with respect to the unique molecular axis of the cluster, Z. The hard magnetic axes of the iron(III) ions are found to be almost perpendicular to Z, so that the anisotropic components projected onto Z are negative, DFe(ZZ)= -0.164(4) cm(-1). Due to the dominant antiferromagnetic coupling, a negative DFe(ZZ) value determines a hard-axis molecular anisotropy in 1, as experimentally observed. By adding point-dipolar interactions between iron(III) spins, the calculated ZFS parameter of the triplet state, D1 = 4.70(9) cm(-1), is in excellent agreement with that determined by inelastic neutron scattering experiments at 2 K, D1 = 4.57(2) cm(-1). Iron-doped samples of a structurally related compound, the dimer [Ga2(OCH3)2(dbm)4] (Hdbm = dibenzoylmethane), have also been investigated by HF-EPR at 525 GHz. The single-ion anisotropy is of the hard-axis type as well, but the DFe parameter is significantly larger [DFe = 0.770(3) cm(-1). EFe = 0.090(3) cm(-1)]. We conclude that, although the ZFS tensors depend very unpredictably on the coordination environment of the metal ions, single-ion terms can contribute significantly to the magnetic anisotropy of iron(III)-oxo clusters, which are currently investigated as single-molecule magnets.

Immobilization of biocomponents for immune optical sensors.

Immobilisation of both human immunoglobulin(IgG) and antiimmunoglobulin (anti-IgG) was performed by means of polyelectrolyte self-assembly. This technique was compared with direct immobilisation of the immune components on bare gold and their covalent binding via glutaraldehyde as a bifunctional reagent. Additionally, the immune components were properly oriented during their immobilisation by using a predeposited layer of the protein A. Methods of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and planar interferometry were employed for monitoring the immobilisation as well as specific immune reaction. It was shown that in case of the use of polyelectrolyte self-assembly it is possible to achieve the sensitivity of the analysis up to 30 ng/ml for SPR and up to 1 ng/ml for planar interferometer based immune sensors.

Ultrawide band multifrequency high-field EMR technique: A methodology for increasing spectroscopic information.

We report methodology that combines an ultrawide band multifrequency microwave system with technology of high magnetic fields for solving challenging problems in electron magnetic resonance (EMR) spectroscopy. This strategy has been made possible due to a novel EMR facility operating in an exceptionally wide range of microwave frequencies of 24 GHz to 3 THz, at magnetic fields up to 17 T, and in the temperature range of 1.6 to 330 K. The basic configuration of the multifrequency system works in a transmission mode and employs oversized cylindrical waveguides for routing the microwave power. A wide-band, low-noise, liquid helium cooled (4.2 K) InSb bolometer is used for signal detection. This approach results in an extremely wide-band performance, thus making it possible to employ a variety of solid-state millimeter and submillimeter microwave sources in combination with a far infrared laser microwave source for performing multifrequency EMR experiments. A complexity of resonant structures and related technical problems such as microphonics at high magnetic fields is virtually eliminated. The system is simple, yet sensitive, and has been revealed to be extremely advantageous while solving such problems as observation of AFMR transitions in spin-ordered systems, g-factor resolution enhancement in complex organic radicals, and resonance signal detection in EMR-silent spin systems having integer spin and large zero field splitting. A technical description of the multifrequency high-field EMR facility is presented and results of its performance tests are given. The potential utility of using the multifrequency high-field methodology in EMR studies is illustrated with selected examples of its recent applications.

Direct determination of the single-ion anisotropy in a one-dimensional magnetic system by high-field EPR spectroscopy; synthesis, EPR, and X-ray structure of NixZn1-x(C2O4)(dmiz)2.

The synthesis, X-ray structure, and EPR measurements of the integer-spin linear-chain antiferromagnet [Ni(ox)(dmiz)2] (where ox = C2O4(2-) and dmiz = 1,2-dimethylimidazole) are presented. The sign and size of the single-ion zero field splitting (Zfs) of the divalent Ni have been determined by high field/high-frequency EPR spectroscopy. The spectra of powder samples of the derivatives [NixZn1-x(C2O4)(dmiz)2] for x = 0.09 and 0.07, at frequencies ranging from 110 to 440 GHz allowed the accurate determination of the zfs parameters D and E, with D = 1.875(4) cm(-1) and E = 0.38 cm(-1). The X-ray structure has been determined from measurements on a single crystal with x = 0.07. Structural parameters are as follows: a = 14.5252(7) A, b = 12.1916(8) A, c = 8.6850(8) A,beta = 97.460(6)degrees in space group C2/c. The zigzag chain contains octahedrally coordinated metal ions with two cis-oriented N-coordinated dmiz ligands and two cis-oriented, tetradentate bridging oxalato(2-) ligands, together resulting in a MN2O4 donor set. The structure was refined to a conventional R value of 0.073 for 1,051 observed reflections. Zn-O distances are 2.167(5) A and Zn-N = 2.098 A. Coordination angles vary for cis angles from 78.4 to 100.7 degrees, with trans angles varying from 163.9 degrees to 165.5 degrees.

Reasons for tooth extraction among patients in Sebha, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya: a pilot study.

We investigated the causes of tooth extraction among patients in Sebha in southern Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. A total of 600 patients who had undergone tooth extraction were surveyed. We found more males (68%) than females had had teeth extracted and also patients with no education (53%). Caries and periodontal disease were the main causes of tooth extraction. For those patients who opted for tooth extraction over other treatment, they mostly did so for financial reasons. There was generally poor oral hygiene and oral knowledge, which should be tackled.

Root caries among Benghazi patients.

A total of 420 Benghazi patients were clinically examined for root caries. Root caries was not limited to older patients and the proportion of root caries among young adults was similar to that of the older age groups. Most of the lesions were located proximally and underneath restorations rather than labially or lingually. Our results may serve as baseline data for further studies on root caries in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.