Screening of Medical Students’ Intention to Practice Mobile – Learning in Malaysia

@#Introduction: The twenty-first-century learning is adopting the student-centered learning techniques and the teachers are mainly facilitators to direct the process of learning and so social media and mobile applications became an important learning platform. Mobile learning (M-learning) is the practice of learning activities through a portable device such as cellular phone or a personal digital assistant. The aim of this research is to screen the medical students’ intention toward the adoption of M-learning and to determine factors affecting the intentions of the medical students to practice M-learning. Methods: A cross-sectional study among medical students was performed through a questionnaire based on the Theory of Reasoned Action and the Technology Acceptance Model. The study included 129 students in different stages of the medical study. Results: Results showed that the factors affecting the students’ inten¬tion to practice M-learning include the students’ attitude, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and availability of resources. In the current sample 82.7% of students are already using M-Learning; 41.7% are using it for assessment, 22.8% are using it for learning and 35.5% are using it for both. Conclusion: It was concluded that most medical students have higher intention to adopt M-learning and they are mostly using it for assessment purposes rather than in learning.

Effect of biofertilization and organic manuring on soil dehydrogenase activity, macronutrients and essential oil content of marjoram

Two field experiments were carried out at an organic farm [Minoufia Governorate] during 2005- 2006 and 2006-2007 seasons to study the interaction effect of biofertilization and organic manuring on dehydrogenase, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activity, macronutrients uptake, oil yield and oil composition of marjoram. Greater activities of dehydrogenase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase were obtained in soil and marjoram treated with combination of biofertilizers and organic manure than soil treated with biofertilizers or organic manure. The greatest activities of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase were obtained with the treatment of biofertilization combined with full dose of organic manure. Similar results trend was observed with N, P and K uptake because N, P and K uptake by marjoram were greater with dual application of biofertilization and organic manure than other treatments. There is no significant difference between oil yield obtained with chemical fertilization treatment and biofertilizers combined with full dose of organic manure treatment. Fourteen compounds, accounting for more than 97% of the total volatiles components in most marjoram samples were detected and identified. Dual application of organic manure and biofertilization to soil and marjoram produced maximum percent of terpincn-4-ol [the major compound in marjoram oil] compound in marjoram

Optimal environmental conditions for production of plant growth regulators by rizobacteria

This study was carried out to isolate and identify some plant growth promoting rhizobacteria [PGPR]. The optimum incubation condition, i.e. temperature and fermentation period, for plant growth regulators [PGRs] production were limited. Obtained data revealed that rhizosphere of cereal crops showed higher PGPR isolates compared to rhizosphere of other crops. Among the examined isolates, fifteen were highly efficient for auxins production. The most potent isolates for indoles production were chosen and these isolates were identified as Azotobacter chroococcum [R19] and Bacillus megaterium var, phosphaticum [R44]. The optimum incubation temperature for highest production of auxins, gibberellic acid [GA[3]] and cytokinins were 32 and 30°C for A. chroococcum and B. megaterium var. phosphaticum, respectively. In addition, the highest production of these phytohormones were obtained by the two strains after four and two days fermentation period, respectively

Effect of carbon source and precursors on the production of plant growth regulators by azotobacter chroococcum [R19] and bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum [R44]

An experiment was carried out to examine the effect of carbon source, tryptophan and adenine concentrations on the production of growth regulators by A. chroococcum [R19] and B. megaterium var. phosphaticum [R44]. Mannitol and glucose were the best carbon sources for the production of plant growth regulators [PGRs] by A. chroococcum and B. megaterium var. phosphaticum, respectively. A. chroococcum produced higher amounts of zeatin and kinetin compared to those produced by B. megaterium var. phosphaticum while B. megaterium var. phosphaticum produced higher amounts of [9R] benzyl adenine and [9G] bcnzyl adenine compared with those produced by A. chroococcum. Production of auxins, gibberellic acid [GA[3]] and cytokinins was increased with increasing tryptophan concentration. The highest amounts of PGRs produced by the two strains were obtained with tryptophan at 1000 micro M. Highest amounts of PGRs produced by A. chroococcum and B. megaterium var. phosphaticum at 10 and 100 micro M of adenine, respectively. Also, the produced amounts of gibberellic acid and cytokinin than that produced by B. megaterium var. phosphaticum. Generally, obtained data showed that the application of the optimal conditions together gave highest amounts of PGRs as compared with the other individual factors. This result is logic and was anticipated

Interaction between growth regulators-producing bacteria and root-rot fungi on tomato growth

The current study was carried out to study the interaction effect between plant growth promoting rhizobacteria [PGPR] and soil-borne pathogenic fungi on growth performance of tomato. PGPRs Azotobacter chroococcum [R19] and Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum [R44] strains used in the current study were isolated and identified in previous research by the same authors. Results obtained showed that A. chroococcum and B. megaterium var. phosphaticum gave high suppression against tomato root pathogenic fungi, i.e Fusarium oxysporum f.sp lycopersici and Fusarium solani. In vitro tests, clear zones around PGPR colonies can be attributed to the production of antibiotics-like substances, siderophores and cyanogens by suppressive PGPR strains. A lower percentage of tomato plants inoculated with a mixture of A. chroococcum and B. megaterium var. phosphaticum were infected than those inoculated with individual PGPRs . Growth characteristics, macro-nutrient content, endogenous phytohormones and photosynthetic pigments of tomato were significantly increased in the dual inoculated treatments compared to plants inoculated with either A. chroococcum or B. megaterium var. phosphaticum singly

Therapeutic potential of green tea extract and low doses of gamma-irradiation on diabetic nephropathy of rats

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most frequent and serious complications of diabetes mellitus. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of green tea [GT] extract and low doses of 0.5 G gamma-radiation [R] on diabetic nephropathy [DN] of rats. Male Swiss albino rats were used in this study. DN was induced in rats using streptozotocin [45 mg/kg.body weight]. The rats were divided into five groups DN, DN+R, DN+GT, DN+GT+R and a sham treatment control group. Throughout the experimental period [3and 6 weeks] animals body weight, glucose and insulin levels were evaluated. Kidney functions assay [serum urea and creatinin] were recorded. Histopathological observations in kidney tissue, DNA and glycogen intensity were also detected. Diabetic rats exhibited many symptoms including loss of body weight, increase in blood glucose level and decrease in serum insulin levels. Increase in serum urea and creatinin levels. Diabetic kidney showed a moderate renal damage, multifocal clarifications and vacuolations. Carbohydrates intensity showed a significant increase and DNA intensity showed many alterations. Improvements in glomerular and tubulointerstitial lesions were demonstrated in the diabetic rat group exposed to low doses of gamma-radiation or supplemented by green tea either alone or combined in addition to amelioration in glucose, insulin urea and creatinin levels. The present study demonstrates the efficacy of low doses of gamma- radiation and in reducing diabetes-induced functional and histological alterations in the kidneys. The longterm control of blood glucose levels using low doses of gamma-radiation or green tea either alone or combined could prevent the progression of diabetes mellitus, and therefore, nephropathy could be prevented

Testicular torsion: a perspective from the Middle East

Objective: To report our experience in the management of testicular torsion with emphasis on seasonal variation, salvage rate and the status of the torted testis 3-6 months after orchidopexy

Subjects and Methods: Seventy-five patients with a presumptive diagnosis of testicular torsion, who presented to our hospital between January 1999 and December 2002, were included in the study. Following scrotal exploration, 63 patients were found to have testicular torsion. Of these, 11 with nonviable testes had orchiectomy while 52 with viable testes had orchidopexy. Both groups of patients had simultaneous contralateral orchidopexy. Patients who had orchidopexy were followed up 3-monthly by testicular ultrasound to assess the volume of the affected testis

Results: Sixty-three patients were confirmed to have testicular torsion. The average number of new cases in the winter was 6.7 compared to 4 in the summer. Fifty-two patients underwent orchidopexy to give an operative salvage rate of 82.5%. Of 51 patients in whom the duration of torsion was less than 24 h, 1 [2.0%] had a nonviable testis, whereas of 12 patients in whom the duration of torsion was more than 24 h, 10 [83.3%] had a nonviable testis. After a minimum follow-up of 3 months for patients who had orchidopexy, 7 [13.5%] developed testicular atrophy. The incidence rate was estimated to be 7.9 cases per 100,000 population

Conclusion: The highest incidence was during the cold season. The outcome of surgical management of testicular torsion was dependent on the duration of torsion

Hepatoprotective effect of vitamin C and E on experimentally induced hepatotoxicity by carbon tetrachloride in rats

The cytoprotective effects of currently used antioxidants; vitamin E and vitamin C against various types of hepatotoxicity have been reported in previous studies. A model of carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity was used in current study, to investigate the possible synergistic hepatoprotective role of vitamin E and or vitamin C. The result of the present study showed that administration of either vitamin E [50 mg/kg/day] or vitamin C [2 gram/kg/day] resulted in markedly protective effect against carbon tetrachloride hepatoxicity as indicated by reduced ALT, AST, MDA level as well as improved histological picture. It is concluded that combined administration of vitamin E and C has potentials synergistic hepatoprotective effect against CCL[4] induced hepatotoxicity as vitamin C has a spare action for vitamin E

Effect of calcium antagonists on rat's testis; serum prolactin and testosterone

The effect of chronic administration of phenylakylamine derivatives [Verapamil] on the gonadal structure and function of adult male rats were investigated and compared with dihydropyridine dervatifves [nifedipine and isradipine] 64 male albino rats were included in this study, they were divided into four equal groups the first group received water and served as control Verapamil 20 mg/kg/day, nifedipine 1 mg/kg/day and israpidine 0.3 mg/kg/day were given orally through a stomach tube without anaesthesia for 6 weeks to group II, III and IV respectively. Serum testosterone and prolactin were estimated by radioimmunoassay method. Furthermore, histopathological study of testis was performed Verapamil included marked alteration in histopathology of testis, which was followed by some recovery after drug withdrwal serum prolactin was significantly increased while serum testosterone was significantly decreased. The histopathologic changes in testis following nifedipine were less marked but irreversible, however, no significant decrease in serum testosterone level were observed. Israpidine, neither, induced histopathologicl changes in testis, nor changes in serum prolactin and testosterone thus, this study shows that the effects of calcium antagonists are variable on fertility, though israpidine is more safe for long term therapy