ORCID Profile
0000-0003-3773-9813
Current Organisation
Universiti Malaya
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.PHYSBEH.2014.02.021
Abstract: The time of day at which meals are consumed is known to impact on behaviour as well as physiological systems. In this study we investigated the behavioural and physiological effects of restricting access to food to the light or dark period in mice maintained on either long or short photoperiods. In both photoperiods, wheel running commenced upon the onset of darkness and was generally confined to the period of darkness. Provision of food during light provoked an anticipatory burst of activity several hours before feeding in both photoperiods. After 28 days on the feeding schedule, body weight was unaffected by either photoperiod or feeding time. Plasma insulin was increased and glucose and triglycerides tended to be lower in mice fed during the light period and s led 2 h after lights off compared to the dark fed mice. Mice fed during the light while on long day length had improved glucose tolerance and whole body insulin tolerance when tested 2 h after lights on. This was not evident in mice kept on the short photoperiod. Because these observations were confounded by the time since their last meal, we undertook a study of glucose tolerance across 24 h in mice on the long photoperiod after a 2 hour food withdrawal. A clear rhythm of glucose tolerance was observed in mice fed during the light period with maximal glucose tolerance just prior to the expected presentation of food and minimal tolerance 2 h before lights off. By contrast, no rhythm in glucose tolerance was observed in the dark fed mice, but maximal glucose tolerance occurred 2 h before lights off. To investigate the evolution of the physiological adaptations, mice on this feeding hotoperiod regime were studied after 7 or 35 days. After 7 days the corticosterone rhythm was not different between light and dark fed mice, but by 35 days peak corticosterone secretion occurred a few hours before food presentation in both groups representing an 8 hour shift. The rhythm of expression of liver Bmal1 mRNA was similar in light and dark fed mice after 7 and 35 days on the schedule while the Per1, Per2, Nr1d1 and Dbp mRNA rhythms were delayed on average by 3.5±1.1 h and 3.7±0.9 h in light fed mice after 7 and 35 days respectively compared to dark fed mice. Rhythms of metabolically important genes were shifted in light fed mice compared to dark fed, by 5 h or became arrhythmic. This study shows that not only circadian rhythms facilitate metabolic control, but also different environmental events, including season and feeding opportunities, alter aspects of circadian and metabolic physiology.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 22-07-2021
DOI: 10.3390/HEALTHCARE9080925
Abstract: Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling (SEM-Bayesian) was applied across different research areas to model the correlation between manifest and latent variables. The primary purpose of this study is to introduce a new framework of complexity to adolescent obesity modeling based on adolescent lifestyle through the application of SEM-Bayesian. The introduced model was designed based on the relationships among several factors: household socioeconomic status, healthy food intake, unhealthy food intake, lifestyle, body mass index (BMI) and body fat. One of the main contributions of this study is from considering both BMI and body fat as dependent variables. To demonstrate the reliability of the model, especially in terms of its fitting and accuracy, real-time data were extracted and analyzed across 881 adolescents from secondary schools in Tehran, Iran. The output of this study may be helpful for researchers who are interested in adolescent obesity modeling based on the lifestyle and household socioeconomic status of adolescents.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 16-05-2022
DOI: 10.3389/FEDUC.2022.860097
Abstract: Design-based learning (DBL) is a learning strategy that requires students to use their theoretical knowledge to develop an artifact or system to tackle a real-life problem. DBL has long been utilized in design-related curricula in higher education such as engineering, computer science, and architecture. However, little is known about how DBL in non-design-based courses enhances students’ learning experience, especially in recent years when the COVID-19 pandemic has compelled the worldwide education systems to adapt to online learning. Hence, this study aims to investigate the experience of science undergraduate students after one semester of participating in online DBL. The participants include 25 second-year science undergraduate students enrolling in the Managing New Technologies course. Using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, the findings of this study indicated that online DBL contributes to easy access to learning, enhances creativity, and allows students to think outside the box. Nevertheless, students highlighted online learning as an obstacle to their DBL experience. They claimed that online platforms as a means of communication are not practical due to insufficient interaction time and misunderstanding of information. In addition, some students stated that the online environment poses difficulties for collaborative learning.
Publisher: UCYP Press, University College of Yayasan Pahang
Date: 27-07-2023
Abstract: Mushroom cultivation can be considered one of the best presentations of sustainable and circular economy activities. The growth substrate used for mushroom cultivation consists of other agricultural waste and its post-harvested waste. The waste product, Spent Mushroom Substrate (SMS), could also be used for animal feeding, plant fertilizer, and feedstock for biogas. It is then essential to determine whether the SMS produced is being used for other purposes to ensure that mushroom agriculture activity is a sustainable and circular economy activity. Therefore, this study explores the mushroom industry's waste management practices in the Malaysian context. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 89 mushroom farmers. The results found that 60.7% of them manage SMS eco-friendly while only 16.9% handle plastic waste eco-friendly. This finding indicates that not all mushroom cultivation in Malaysia can be considered a sustainable and circular economic activity. Therefore, strategies should be formulated to increase the sustainable approach to managing SMS, such as workshops or providing comprehensive infrastructure and networks.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 24-06-2022
DOI: 10.3390/SU14137694
Abstract: The emergency transition from physical to online learning during COVID-19 has affected university students in various aspects, especially their academic performance. It can be caused by many factors, such as in idual, environmental and social factors. Therefore, this study aims to determine the impact of fear, stress, well-being, teacher and parents’ support (independent variables) on undergraduates’ academic performance (dependent variable) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A structured online questionnaire has been developed and administered to 400 undergraduates. A structural equation model that integrated all variables under investigation was built and statistically validated using AMOS. The results demonstrated that well-being, teacher emotional support and teacher academic support have the highest significant impact on the respondents’ academic performance. It can be concluded that teachers’ support is the most substantial influence in ensuring student learning sustainability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
No related grants have been discovered for Nurulaini Abu Shamsi.