Research Title: Navigating the case-based learning multimodal learning environment: a qualitative study across the first-year medical students

Author: Madhanagopal Jagannathan, Published Year: 2022

Education in Medicine journal, 14

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: Case-based learning (CBL) is a popular instructional method aiming to bridge theory and clinical practice. This study aims to explore how the CBL mixed modality curriculum influence students’ learning styles and support-learning strategies. We employed an explanatory sequential mixed method with an initial 44-itemed Felder-Silverman’s Index of Learning Style (ILS) questionnaire distributed to the first-year medical students (n = 142) using convenience sampling to describe preferred learning styles. The qualitative phase utilised three focus group discussions (FGDs) to explore the multimodal learning style exhibited by students in depth. Most students preferred a combination of learning styles reflective, sensing, visual and sequential (i.e., the RSVISeq style, 24.64%) from the ILS analysis. The frequency of learning preference from processing to understanding were well balanced: sequential-global domain (66.2%), sensing–intuitive (59.86%), active–reflective (57%) and visual verbal (51.41%). The qualitative data reported three major themes, namely, Theme 1: CBL mixed modalities navigates learner’s learning style, Theme 2: Learners active learning strategies from the CBL modalities supports learning and Theme 3: CBL modalities facilitating theory into clinical knowledge. Many quantitative and qualitative studies have reported the multimodal learning style of the first-year medical students. Medical students utilise multimodal learning styles to attain clinical knowledge when learning with CBL mixed modalities. Educators’ awareness of the multimodal learning style is crucial in delivering the CBL mixed modalities effectively, considering strategic pedagogical support for students to engage and learn CBL in bridging theoretical knowledge and clinical practice.

Keywords: Case-based learning, Learning style, Medical students, Multimodal learning style

Research Title: Impact of Aerobic and Strengthening Exercise on Quality of Life (QOL), Mental Health and Physical Performance of Elderly People Residing at Old Age Homes

Author: Madhanagopal Jagannathan, Published Year: 2022

Sustainability, 14

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: Background: The COVID-19 infection spread rapidly in Malaysia, and elderly people with underlying comorbidities were affected most. The study aimed to determine the effect of exercise on QOL and mental health among elderly people residing in old age homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Out of 178 older adults from old age homes in Kedah and Penang States, 39 respondents undertook aerobic and strengthening exercises. A single group pre-test and post-test study was conducted in one government home and nine private homes in the northern region of Malaysia. The DASS-21 scale was used to assess mental health, and the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used to evaluate QOL. Results: After 12 weeks of the exercise programme, scores for the physical domain increased from 53.1 to 61.8, for the psychological domain from 51.8 to 59.3, for the social domain from 53.2 to 60.5 and for the environmental domain from 67.2 to 72.1. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in the depression score from 6.2 to 4.4, the anxiety score from 3.5 to 2.2 and the stress score, from 4.6 to 2.8. Conclusion: Performing aerobic and strengthening exercises for a minimum of 12 weeks may have helped to improve mental health among the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it may also improve the quality of life for those who are residing in old age homes

Keywords: exercise; elderly; quality of life; mental health

Research Title: Reliability and preliminary reference values for the Total Faulty Breathing Scale (TFBS): A cross-sectional study

Author: Madhanagopal Jagannathan, Published Year: 2022

Health Science Reports, 5

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: Background and Aims The evaluation of breathing function is crucial in the clinical examination of the respiratory system. The Total Faulty Breathing Scale (TFBS) could be used in clinical settings to quantify the measurement of breathing dysfunction. Reliability data for the TFBS are available for males, but there is a requirement to determine reliability for females and to develop reference values. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine the reliability in females and to establish the preliminary reference values for the TFBS. Methods Twenty-three healthy female participants for reliability and 44 (7 male and 37 female) participants for preliminary reference values participated in this cross-sectional study. For both aspects of the study, participants were instructed to breathe at their own pace with no specific instruction. Then each participant was observed carrying out normal breathing for a period of 10 breaths and deep breathing for a period of 10 breaths while being assessed with the TFBS. Results Intrarater and interrater reliability of the TFBS showed a kappa value of 0.769 and 0.751, respectively, indicating substantial agreement for female participants. The preliminary reference categories for TFBS were reported to be normal for 20 (45.5%) participants and mild faulty breathing for the remaining 24 (54.4%) participants. Conclusions The findings of this study suggested that TFBS was reliable to measure breathing function among female participants, and the reference categories may be helpful in the identification of normal and faulty breathing.

Keywords: breathing function, interrater reliability, intrarater reliability, scale.

Research Title: Classification of SARS-CoV-2 and non-SARS-CoV-2 using machine learning algorithms

Author: Madhanagopal Jagannathan, Published Year: 2021

Computers in Biology and Medicine, 136

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: Abstract Due to the continued evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, researchers worldwide are working to mitigate, suppress its spread, and better understand it by deploying digital signal processing (DSP) and machine learning approaches. This study presents an alignment-free approach to classify the SARS-CoV-2 using complementary DNA, which is DNA synthesized from the single-stranded RNA virus. Herein, a total of 1582 samples, with different lengths of genome sequences from different regions, were collected from various data sources and divided into a SARS-CoV-2 and a non-SARS-CoV-2 group. We extracted eight biomarkers based on three-base periodicity, using DSP techniques, and ranked those based on a filter-based feature selection. The ranked biomarkers were fed into k-nearest neighbor, support vector machines, decision trees, and random forest classifiers for the classification of SARS-CoV-2 from other coronaviruses. The training dataset was used to test the performance of the classifiers based on accuracy and F-measure via 10-fold cross-validation. Kappa-scores were estimated to check the influence of unbalanced data. Further, 10 × 10 cross-validation paired t-test was utilized to test the best model with unseen data. Random forest was elected as the best model, differentiating the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus from other coronaviruses and a control a group with an accuracy of 97.4 %, sensitivity of 96.2 %, and specificity of 98.2 %, when tested with unseen samples. Moreover, the proposed algorithm was computationally efficient, taking only 0.31 s to compute the genome biomarkers, outperforming previous studies.

Keywords: COVID-19, Signal processing, Biomarker, Machine learning

Research Title: New real-time force monitoring device with enhanced accuracy for evaluation of applied force during the joint mobilization technique

Author: Madhanagopal Jagannathan, Published Year: 2021

Technology and Health Care, 29

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: Abstract: BACKGROUND: Force Monitoring Devices (FMDs) reported in the literature to monitor applied force during Joint Mobilization Technique (JMT) possess complex design/bulky which alters the execution of treatment, has poor accuracy and is unable to feel the resistance provided by soft tissues limits its usage in the clinical settings. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to develop a highly accurate, portable FMD and to demonstrate real-time monitoring of force applied by health professionals during JMT without altering its execution. METHODS: The FMD was constructed using the FlexiForce sensor, potential divider, ATmega 328 microcontroller, custom-written software, and liquid crystal display. The calibration, accuracy, and cyclic repeatability of the FMD were tested from 0 to 90 N applied load with a gold standard universal testing machine. For practical demonstration, the FMD was tested for monitoring applied force by a physiotherapist while performing Maitland’s grade I to IV over the 6th cervical vertebra among 30 healthy subjects. RESULTS: The obtained Bland-Altman plot limits agreement for accuracy, and cyclic repeatability was -1.57 N to 1.22 N, and -1.26 N to 1.26 N, respectively with standard deviation and standard error of the mean values of 3.77% and 0.73% and 2.15% and 0.23%, respectively. The test-retest reliability of the FMD tested by the same researcher at an interval of one week showed an excellent intra-class correlation coefficient of r= 1.00. The obtained force readings for grade I to IV among 30 subjects ranged from 10.33 N to 45.24 N. CONCLUSIONS: Appreciable performance of the developed FMD suggested that it may be useful to monitor force applied by clinicians during JMT among neck pain subjects and is a useful educational tool for academicians to teach mobilization skills.

Keywords: Force monitoring device, joint mobilization, neck pain, accuracy, reliability

Research Title: Prevalence of Obesity and Perceptions of Body Weight among University Students: Evidence from Jordan

Author: Hani Jameel Mohammad Hamad, Published Year: 2017

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of measure the prevalence of obesity among university population in Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) University, Northern Jordan. A crosssectional survey of (370) university male students were recruited from different majors and academic years. They were asked to answer questions concerning ; perception of their body weight and weight changes after leaving home; Participants’ desire to reduce their body weight; the reasons that drive this desire and means used for weight reduction. Weights, heights and body mass index (BMI) were measured. The prevalence of the BMI categories in the sample were: 50% of the study sample is overweight making up the majority, participants with a normal BMI are 28%, 11.1% are underweight and 11% of participants suffer from obesity. Regarding to the participants’ perception of their body weight and weight changes, the study results showed that 74.8% of the students in the study sample are in the normal or overweight categories, 22% are underweight and 3% are obese. The extent of weight change due to living away from home was also reported, where 50% confirmed a slight loss in their weight, 5% had a significant increase and 12% experienced no changes in their body weight. 67% of the total participants had a desire to lose weight where the rest of the 33% had no desire to lose weight. In conclusion, overweight and obesity do exist in the university students and this maybe a reflection of the lifestyle; dietary habits and pattern of living in university. Further research is needed to investigate the dietary habits and lifestyle behaviors of the university students.

Keywords: Obesity, Overweight, Perceptions of body weight, University students, JUST University, Jordan

Research Title: Characterization of staphylococci sampled from diabetic foot ulcer of Jordanian patients

Author: Ghadeer Abdel Razzaq Othman, Published Year: 2021

Journal of Applied Microbiology, 131

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: Aims The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize staphylococcal isolates from diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) in Jordanian patients. Methods and Results Selected aerobic pathogens recovered from DFU specimens and patients' nares with a focus on staphylococci were investigated. Antimicrobial susceptibilities and the prevalence of methicillin‐resistant staphylococci (MRS) were determined. SCCmec types and toxigenic characteristics were analysed and spa typing was performed for methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates. The relationship between toxigenic characteristics of MRSA and the Wagner ulcer grading system was statistically analysed. A total number of 87 DFU patients were recruited for the study. The DFU cultures were polymicrobial. Members of the genus Staphylococcus were the most common among DFU‐associated isolates found in 48·3% (n = 42) of all patients …

Keywords: staphylococcus, MRSA, diabetic foot, Jordan

Research Title: Nutritional, functional and microbiological characteristics of Jordanian fermented green Nabali Baladi olives

Author: Ghadeer Abdel Razzaq Othman, Published Year: 2021

Grasas y Aceites, 72

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: The quality characteristics of green olives produced by the traditional spontaneous fermentation method in Jordan have never been studied. We investigated the nutritional, functional, and microbiological characteristics of Jordanian fermented green Nabali Baladi olives (GNBFO). Proximate composition, fatty acids, and total polyphenols were determined by standard protocols. Cultivable microflora was monitored over 3 months of fermentation. Isolated microorganisms were identified by molecular sequencing and in vitro probiotic traits were tested. GNBFO contained fiber (3g⁄ 100g), total polyphenols (306mg⁄ 100g), oil (19.3 g⁄ 100g), and oleic acid (70%). Yeast strains (Candida diddensiae and Candida naeodendra) were predominant and showed acid (pH= 2.5) and bile salt (0.1% and 0.3%) resistant and high adhesion ability (ca∼ 107CFU/ml) to intestinal cell lines; they were positive to catalase and negative to lipase and none possessed antimicrobial activity against selected pathogens. Lactic acid bacteria were not detected. In conclusion, the GNBFO have promising functional characteristics as they contain valuable nutrients, antioxidants, and yeast strains with potential probiotic traits.

Keywords: olive, fermented olive, Jordan, functional food

Research Title: Meeting Dietary Food Groups Serving’s Requirements of Food Guide Pyramid among Jordanian University Students

Author: Hani Jameel Mohammad Hamad, Published Year: 2017

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: The current study was conducted in the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), Northern of Jordan. The aim of this study is to determine the consumption from food groups compared with the food guide pyramid among University students living away from their homes and to examine how the economic status of the study sample and the influence it has on spent on food. The study targeted male students known to live away from their parents, where a convenient sample of 370 male students chosen randomly from different majors and academic years and with different socio-economic backgrounds. Participants were interviewed by trained nutritionists where the actual intakes number of servings from each food groups was recorded. The results of the study showed that 75.7% of the study subjects who lived away from home; they reside in Jordan, while 24.3% of the students’ parents were living outside Jordan. In addition, most of outside students fit in the highest financial income per month category comprising three-quarters those in the “more than 201 dinar” category. Regarding the number of servings consumed from each group, 44% of the study sample consume less than the minimum recommended servings for the dairy group; most participants don’t meet the recommendations for meat and meat substitutes group by a percentage of 38.9%; only 11.1% meet daily recommendations from vegetables group; 46% of students do not meet the minimum recommended number of servings of fruits group and most of the study sample (43.8%) meet recommended number of servings from grain group. It is recommended to meet daily recommendations of servings from the food groups (dairy, meat, grains, fruits and vegetables); specifically to increase fruits intake; for it’s rich content of nutrients not available from any other sources. Further studies are suggested to evaluate the food intake with different dietary evaluation tools.

Keywords: Food Groups, Serving, Food Guide Pyramid, Residency, University Students, Jordan.

Research Title: Household Food Insecurity (HFIS): Definitions, Measurements, Socio-Demographic and Economic Aspects

Author: Hani Jameel Mohammad Hamad, Published Year: 2016

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: Poverty, food security and malnutrition are major concerns among international health, development and economic organizations. Increasingly, in the last decade, attention has been focused on means of eliminating food insecurity and hunger world-wide (Kennedy, 2002a). For example, the International Congress of Nutrition held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2009 devoted much emphasis on “Nutrition Security For All” (Proceedings:19th International Congress of Nutrition, 2009). Issues on malnutrition in women and children, school-feeding, the World Food Program, and combating hunger worldwide were addressed.

Keywords: Household Food Insecurity (HFIS), children, Socio-Demographic and Economic