Despite publishing and securing research grants being obligatory in research universities, the literature on the factors influencing academic productivity is relatively scarce. Thus, in this study, we aimed to determine the personal and behavioural-related factors that influence the culture of publishing and securing research grants among academicians with lower research-related performance. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 49 academic staff members of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). A self-administered questionnaire consisting of personal, attitude and behavioural (barriers, perceived stress scale, work extrinsic and intrinsic motivation scale, psychological well-being scale, and basic needs satisfaction scale) questions were distributed during a workshop and online. Simple linear regression (SLR) analyses were performed for each variable, followed by multiple linear regression (MLR) to identify the associated factors of research output. After adjusting for covariates, having a doctoral degree (β=0.396, 95% CI=0.221-2.146, p<0.05) and integrated regulation (β=0.574, 95% CI=0.036-3.612, p<0.05) were found to be associated with research grant acquisition (R2=0.273). Moreover, increasing age (β=0.426, 95% CI=0.088-0.397, p<0.05), living alone (β=0.331, 95% CI=0.944-6.626, p<0.05), having a doctoral degree (β=0.248, 95% CI=0.174-6.747, p<0.05), environmental mastery (β=0.318, 95% CI=0.013-0.347, p<0.05), self-acceptance (β=0.284, 95% CI=0.010-0.242, p<0.05), satisfaction incompetence (β=0.273, 95% CI=0.001-0.200, p<0.05) and relatedness (β=0.280, 95% CI=0.001-0.116, p<0.05) were found to be the factors that influence the publications produced among participants (R2 =0.423). The findings of this study could be used by management to formulate effective strategies to increase the productivity of academics in their research-related performance.

In Malaysia, the government has made it mandatory to label sodium content on food packaging effectively from 1st January 2024. This study evaluated the physicochemical characteristics, sodium content, and sensory evaluation of selected commercial soy sauce without sodium labelling in Malaysia. 25 soy sauce samples were studied. Each soy sauce has a significant difference (p<0.05) in physicochemical properties except for the pH value. Results found that the sodium content in light soy sauce was the highest (5766.50±968.37mg) while sweet soy sauce was the lowest (3289.09± 589.14mg). For total soluble solids, sweet soy sauce was the highest (52.73°B). The range of pH values for soy sauce is between 4.90-5.19. Sweet soy sauce showed the highest viscosity (145.78cP) and brightness (L* = 2.48). Light soy sauce showed the highest values for redness and yellowness (a* = 1.34 and b* = 1.57). Soy sauce without caramel has a significantly higher (p<0.05) sodium content and is less viscous than the one with caramel. The sensory evaluation shows that sweet soy sauce has significantly (p<0.05) the highest score for overall acceptance. Sodium content information on all soy sauce available in the Malaysian market to help consumers make smarter choices.

Dialisis merupakan rawatan yang lazim bagi pesakit kegagalan buah pinggang. Dari tahun ke tahun, bilangan pesakit yang menjalani dialisis semakin meningkat dengan kadar yang membimbangkan. Tahap keupayaan fungsi pesakit dialisis adalah lebih rendah berbanding pesakit diabetes yang tidak menjalani dialisis. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti bagaimana dialisis mempengaruhi prestasi Aktiviti Kehidupan Seharian (ADL) dalam kalangan pesakit diabetes di Kuala Selangor serta faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi prestasi ADL mereka. Kajian berkaitan prestasi ADL dalam kalangan pesakit dialisis yang menghidap diabetes masih terhad. Oleh itu, kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kualitatif melalui sesi temu bual bersemuka secara separa berstruktur. Seramai sepuluh peserta telah direkrut berdasarkan kriteria kemasukan yang ditetapkan. Lima tema utama telah dikenal pasti daripada temu bual, iaitu: (i) meningkatkan kualiti kehidupan seharian: perspektif baharu terhadap aktiviti harian; (ii) kesan diabetes terhadap aktiviti kehidupan seharian; (iii) kesan dialisis terhadap aktiviti kehidupan seharian; (iv) prestasi fungsi dalam aktiviti asas kehidupan seharian; dan (v) aktiviti harian yang dianggap penting. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa pelbagai jenis aktiviti kehidupan seharian telah terjejas akibat kelemahan fizikal yang dialami oleh peserta. Kajian ini dapat memberi pemahaman yang lebih mendalam kepada ahli terapi cara kerja dan bidang pemulihan lain mengenai keupayaan fizikal pesakit diabetes yang menjalani hemodialisis

BACKGROUND

Burn injuries remain a significant global public health problem, causing substantial morbidity, mortality, and economic burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where nearly 90% of cases occur. Despite the importance of timely and appropriate first aid in reducing complications, community responses to burn injuries in many settings continue to rely on traditional or non-evidence-based practices.

OBJECTIVES

This qualitative phenomenological study explored community-based knowledge and responses related to the causes and first aid of burn injuries.

METHODS

The study involved ten (10) purposively selected informants residing in South Mangga Dua Urban Village, Central Jakarta, Indonesia. Data collection methods included semi-structured interviews, direct observations, and focus group discussions (FGDs). Thematic analysis was used.

RESULTS

Three (3) core domains were identified: (1) community perceptions of burn causes and classifications, (2) indigenous first aid practices used in domestic settings, and (3) sources of knowledge and information pathways related to burn first aid. Participants commonly attributed burns to incidents involving fire, hot liquids, and electrical faults. Their understanding of burn severity was limited to superficial assessments, with little awareness of clinical classifications. First aid responses were largely based on traditional practices such as the application of toothpaste, honey, or aloe vera, while evidencebased practices like using running water were rarely mentioned. Notably, most participants relied on familial teachings and informal community experiences as their primary sources of knowledge, with limited exposure to health professionals or verified media content.

CONCLUSION

Community knowledge is culturally rooted but misaligned with medical standards, potentially leading to unsafe practices. Culturally sensitive health education integrating traditional beliefs and accurate information is essential to improve outcomes in burn injury management.

Wounds And Injuries ; Residence Characteristics ; Public Health ; Mortality ; Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous ; Income ; Financial Stress ; Burns ; Health Education ; Attitude ; First Aid ; Medicine ; Health Communication ; Urban Population

Introduction: The prevalence of hypertension in Indonesia is increasing, but adherence to antihypertensive medication remains low. Previous studies have mostly examined medication adherence determinants separately at individual and environmental levels, with limited research integrating these factors comprehensively. This study investigates the factors influencing adherence to antihypertensive medication in Indonesia. Materials and methods: The study utilised data from the IFLS-5, involving 2,334 respondents aged ≥ 15 years diagnosed with hypertension. Multilevel logistic regression is used to identify predictor variables for medication adherence. The effect size is determined by odds ratio (OR) and significance at p-value < 0.05. Result: Contextual household factors influence up to 22.45% of the variation in adherence to antihypertensive medication. Variables that influence medication adherence are comorbid diabetes (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.04 – 2.23, p=0.029), had a heart attack (OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.79-4.52, p<0.0001), comorbid stroke (OR = 2.79, 95% CI: 1.59 – 4.90, p<0.0001), routine medical check-up (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.23-2.36, p=0.001), feel healthy (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.43-0.72, p<0.0001), aged ≥ 47 years (OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 2.10-3.84, p<0.0001), and households with social protection cards (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.40-0.93, p=0.022). Conclusion: Higher adherence occurs in hypertensive patients with diabetes, stroke, heart attack, routine check-ups, and aged ≥ 47 years. However, lower in feeling healthy and households with social protection cards. Programs to improve medication adherence should focus on hypertension without comorbidities, aged <47 years, feeling healthy, and low-income families.

Abstract Background: Important determinants of dialysis adequacy are blood flow rate (BFR) and dialysis time. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of BFR and duration of dialysis session on nutritional status and quality of life (QoL) in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: Real-world evidence studies (RWE) of 3 HD units that differ in BFR and/or dialysis time. Group I, HD 5 hours and BFR 200-250 mL/minute; group II, HD 4 hours and BFR 270-320 mL/minute, and group III, HD 4 hours and BFR 200-250 mL/minute. All HD units use the same dialysate flow and dialysis frequency. The 3-point Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) scale is used to assess nutritional status, while QOL is assessed using the SF-36. Results: There were 291 chronic HD patients with an average age of 51 (12.3) years, 50.5% were male. The proportion of SGA classes between groups did not differ significantly. Group I was associated with significantly higher PF and RP domain scores of PC and VT domain scores of MC compared to Group III. On the other hand, Group II was associated with significantly lower VT and MH domain scores of MC compared to Group I, while the other domains were not significantly different. In general, Group III had the lowest SF-36 scores compared to the other 2 groups. Conclusion: Duration of HD was not associated with nutritional status. Compared with 4-hour HD but with a faster BFR, 5-hour HD was associated with higher Mental Component QOL scores, but not Physical Component scores.
subjective global assessment ; SF-36 questionnaire ; blood flow rate ; dialysis time

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) remain a major cause of occupational disability and productivity loss worldwide. Traditional statistical methods have identified numerous associated factors; however, they often struggle to capture complex non-linear relationships and interactions across multiple domains of risk. Machine learning (ML) offers an alternative analytical approach for modelling such multidimensional relationships. Methods: Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD420250605234), literature searches were conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed for studies published between 2020 and 2025. Eligible studies applied ML methods to identify factors associated with WRMSDs using cross-sectional study designs. Included studies were appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria, representing workers from healthcare, transport, manufacturing, and service sectors across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Frequently applied ML algorithms included random forest, support vector machine, and artificial neural networks, demonstrating strong internal discriminative performance (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.80–0.99), although the absence of external validation in several studies suggests a potential risk of overfitting. Commonly identified factors included age, sex, awkward posture, vibration exposure, prolonged working hours, stress, and burnout. Psychosocial factors, including post-traumatic stress disorder, job stress, and depression, were ranked among the most influential predictors within ML models. Conclusions ML models demonstrate strong capability in discriminating WRMSDs risk and identifying multidimensional risk factors compared with traditional statistical approaches. These models highlight complex interrelationships between ergonomic and psychosocial exposures. Future research should incorporate external validation, objective exposure measurements, and standardized ML reporting frameworks to enhance methodological transparency and generalizability.

Stunting remains a major public health concern in Southeast Asia, and is shaped by a complex interplay of genetic, inflammatory, and nutritional factors. This scoping review sought to map genetic polymorphisms associated with stunting in Southeast Asian children and to identify candidate biomarkers for early diagnosis and biologically targeted interventions. Following the Arksey and O'Malley framework and the PCC (Population, Concept, Context) model, a systematic search was conducted across 7 databases. Eligible studies were peer-reviewed, published in English from 2015–2024, involved children under 18 years of age, and investigated gene variants in relation to stunting. A total of 902 records were screened independently by 3 reviewers using predefined criteria, with consensus procedures to resolve any discrepancies. Eleven studies met the final inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis and protein-protein interaction mapping revealed that 5 key polymorphisms—IGF1R, GHSR, MTRR, CASP1, and CARD17—were significant contributors to growth impairment. IGF1R polymorphisms were associated with a 2.46-fold increase in stunting risk (odds ratio [OR], 2.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60–3.78), while MTRR< variants yielded an OR of 1.93 (95% CI, 1.22–3.05). Similarly, GHSR and CASP1 polymorphisms were linked to increased odds of stunting (OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.38–3.34 and OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.10–2.54, respectively). These polymorphisms were consistently associated with disrupted growth hormone signaling, chronic inflammation, and nutrient-sensitive pathways. The biological network underlying stunting in this population points to a converging mechanism of impaired endocrine function and inflammatory dysregulation. However, this review’s scope is limited by underrepresentation of some Southeast Asian nations and exclusion of non-English literature. Early genetic screening for high-risk biomarkers and precision-driven nutritional interventions may offer more effective strategies to reduce the burden of stunting in Southeast Asian children.

Purpose: To investigate the factors contributing to child maltreatment in Indonesia during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, highlighting the overlooked impact of parenting practices on various maltreatment forms during this unprecedented period. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, the research used the ICAST-C (Indonesian version of Child Abuse Screening Tools for Children) tool to assess instances of child maltreatment. The study consisted of 219 high school students from Bekasi and Bandung City in West Java, Indonesia, selected through a stratified proportionate random sampling approach, followed by recruitment and consent procedures. An online questionnaire facilitated data collection, which was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: Children experiencing parental rejection were significantly more likely to face violence (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.99; p<.001). Rejection-based parenting was identified as a significant causal factor contributing to psychological maltreatment (AOR, 3.59; p<.001), whereas higher parental education levels directly contributed to increased psychological maltreatment (AOR, 1.99; p=.024). Additionally, rejection significantly influenced physical maltreatment (AOR, 5.17; p<.001) and neglect (AOR, 3.29; p<.001). Interestingly, emotional warmth is also linked to heightened neglect (AOR, 2.29; p=.017). These findings highlight rejection as a critical factor influencing overall child maltreatment (AOR, 6.99; p<.001). Conclusion This study establishes a significant causal relationship between parental rejection and various forms of child maltreatment, excluding sexual violence. It emphasizes the need for targeted interventions, such as parenting education and community support, to address parental rejection and promote healthier parenting practices. Longitudinal studies are essential for further exploring these dynamics.

Introduction: Food security, defined as consistent access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food, remains a significant challenge in Malaysia, especially among lowincome households. This study examined associations between food expenditure, food consumption, food adequacy, and food security among lower-ranking prison officers in the B40 income group. Methods: Multistage sampling was used to select study locations and prisons in Malaysia. Purposive sampling was used to select 420 officers, who completed a self-administered, validated questionnaire. Data were analysed descriptively and through multiple linear regression to identify key predictors of food security. Results: All respondents (100%) had acceptable Food Consumption Scores (FCS), with 97.1% showing high food adequacy. However, the vast majority (89.5%) were classified as at risk of food insecurity. Food spending was predominantly directed towards staple cereals and animal proteins, such as chicken and meat, while expenditure on fruits, vegetables, and dairy products was much lower. Food expenditure was strongly linked to food insecurity (β =-0.588, p<0.001). Similarly, food consumption score (β =-0.087, p=0.038) and food adequacy (β =-0.127, p=0.003) were both negatively associated with food insecurity. Conclusion: Although Malaysian prison officers generally had adequate diets, a substantial proportion of households remained food insecure, particularly in terms of dietary diversity and micronutrient intake. Household food expenditure, consumption scores, and food adequacy were all linked to lower food insecurity.