The particular agricultural adaptation we have been considering is the ultimate determinant of the presence of malaria parasites in the intracellular environment of the human red blood cell. This change in the cellular environment is deleterious for normal individuals, but individuals with the sickle-cell gene are capable of changing their red-cell environment so that intense parasitism never develops. Normal individuals suffer higher mortality rates and lower fertility rates in a malarious environment than individuals with the sickle-cell trait do, so the latter contribute proportionately more people to succeeding generations.
The feasibility of using a computer database management system based on an 8·bit microcomputer for storing, retrieving and analysing patient data in a limited setting (oesophago·gastro-duodenoscopy records from a peripheral general surgical department over a 1 year period) is presented. A program developed by the author was used to enter the relevant records of 208 patients undergoing the above examination, and to retrieve and analyse any desired data. Compatible statistical and graphics software packages can be used to access and analyse the data and display or print out the results. The limitations and scope for further expansion of the system are discussed.
Our previous study showed vitamin E deficiency in newborns (69.7%) and mothers at term (85.9%) when the ratio between serum vitamin E in mg/dl and total lipids in g/dl was used as an indicator of vitamin E status. This study was conducted to determine the human milk content of vitamin E. During the first 12 days of lactation milk vitamin E levels remained almost constant (day 1, 0.68 mg/dl; day 12, 0.65 mg/dl), milk total lipid levels increased daily (day 1, 1.11 g/dl; day 12, 3.60 g/dl), and the ratio between milk vitamin E and total lipids dropped steadily (day 1, 1.3; day 12, 0.2). In spite of this drop in vitamin E status, it is unlikely that vitamin E availability will be affected in neonates, because normal neonates absorb milk fats well and this ability increases with age.
Three years ago the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia medical school changed its curriculum from the traditional discipline based curriculum to the integrated organ-system approach. Once change was effected a process of 'refreezing' had to be initiated whereby new responses had to be reintegrated into the ongoing personality or emotional relationships of important people so that the change process will endure and become stable. During this refreezing process the faculty encountered several problems which could thwart further development of the new curricula if left unresolved. The nature of the problems seemed to indicate that curricular change involves more than just efforts at bettering the what and ways of student learning and assessment. A lot of energy was also spent on keeping things going, keeping people motivated, making sure the work was done (at least as well as it has in the past), looking for better ways to do things, weighing new solutions and to be alert to new problems. In ensuring the continuance of change it was important to ensure, from the outset the institutionalization of policies, programmes, procedures and practices for continuing reward, routinization, structural integration into the system, continuing evaluation and providing for continuing maintenance.
The ability of hospitals to fulfil their roles--of information processing and dissemination, and of quality patient care provider--is influenced by the availability of supporting information systems. Using computers in wards, which is a change process, introduces new working practices accompanied by attitudinal and knowledge alterations in the users. This paper suggests that as a practical approach users need to be consulted and assessed prior to the introduction of computers in their work places. A questionnaire survey, the main purpose of which was to determine the potential users' responses and to measure their computer competencies, was sent to 183 nursing staff in several hospitals. Results show that the respondents have slightly positive attitudes towards computers even though 85% of them were computer illiterate. A training strategy is needed to increase competencies and to develop more favourable attitudes, which can be monitored using four training indicators.
The study of cohesive sediment in the laboratory gives rise to a number of instrumentation problems, especially in the location of mud bed, fluid mud and hindered settling layers and in the measurement of flow velocities. This paper describes the application of medical diagnostic ultrasound technique in the cohesive sediment study conducted at the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. This paper illustrates that the use of ultrasound technique creates a reasonably flexible environment for the study of fluid mud phenomenon in which bed formation and flow velocities can be measured easily, accurately and non-intrusively. This in turn will assist in development of computer models to predict the environmental impact, siltation rates and dredging requirements in both new and existing ports and harbour developments.
Kajian endapan berjeleket di dalam makmal mengalami pelbagai masalah peralatan, terutamanya bagi menentukan lokasi dasar lumpur, pengenapan terhalang dan pengukuran halaju aliran. Dalam makalah ini diterangkan penggunaan teknologi diagnosis perubatan ultrabunyi dalam kajian endapan berjeleket, yang dijalankan di University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. Ditunjukkan bahawa penggunaan teknologi ultrabunyi keadaan yang begitu boleh suai bagi kajian fenomenon lumpur yang pembentukan dasar dan halaju aliran dapat diukur dengan mudah, tepat dan tanpa gangguan. lni seterusnya dapat membantu di dalam pembangunan model komputer bagi menjangka kesan sekitaran, kadar enapan dan keperluan mengorek bagi pembangunan kawasan pelabuhan baru dan sedia ada.
A case study to illustrate the cost effectiveness of ergonomic redesign of electronic motherboard was presented. The factory was running at a loss due to the high costs of rejects and poor quality and productivity. Subjective assessments and direct observations were made on the factory. Investigation revealed that due to motherboard design errors, the machine had difficulty in placing integrated circuits onto the pads, the operators had much difficulty in manual soldering certain components and much unproductive manual cleaning (MC) was required. Consequently, there were high rejects and occupational health and safety (OHS) problems, such as, boredom and work discomfort. Also, much labour and machine costs were spent on repairs. The motherboard was redesigned to correct the design errors, to allow more components to be machine soldered and to reduce MC. This eliminated rejects, reduced repairs, saved US dollars 581495/year and improved operators' OHS. The customer also saved US dollars 142105/year on loss of business.
In our centre the non-availability computerized exercise machines limits the objective monitoring of strength rehabilitation. We undertook this research programme to objectively measure triceps muscle strength by interfacing NORSK-Gym machine with accelerometer and positional transducers to a computer. This data was tabulated and processed using Microsoft Excel. The positional transducer was first calibrated and it showed an excellent Pearson Correlation Coefficients against a standard metric reading (r = 0.9999). Peak Force was used as a test parameter for isotonic triceps muscle strength measurements. The criterion-referenced validity was established as the peak forces measured using the accelerometer and positional transducer demonstrated identical Peak Forces (r = 0.94). Analysis of our mean Peak Force measurements using non-biological force as well as the intra-individual reproducibility demonstrated excellent Pearson Correlation Coefficients (r) = 0.982-0.998 and 0.929-0.972 respectively. This computerized adaptation of the NORSK-Gym machine produced an objective, valid and reproducible triceps muscle strength measurement.
Although microwave irradiation has been used in the histopathology laboratory for several years, there has been minimal published experimental data on its effects on the technical and staining quality of histological sections. Furthermore, it has not been clear whether the advantages gained in reduction of fixation and staining duration has been at the expense of increasing architectural distortion to the tissues. We report here our experience with computerised morphometric analysis to investigate glomerular artifacts caused by microwave-stimulated fixation of renal tissues. 39 rat and 33 human autopsy kidney samples were subjected to (1) fixation in neutral buffered formaldehyde (control), (2) microwave-stimulated fixation followed by neutral buffered formaldehyde, and (3) neutral buffered formaldehyde followed by microwave irradiation. In addition, the effect of post-fixation in 70% ethanol was also investigated. Microwave irradiation was delivered through a dedicated laboratory microwave oven at 80% power and at 55 degrees C for 3 minutes. The different fixation methods were compared with regards to shrinkage (distortion) to glomerular structures (glomeruli and Bowman's spaces) on H and E sections, as determined by morphometric image analysis using a temporary assembled-system consisting of a trinocular microscope, a digital video camera and personal computer. A FlashPoint VGA 3.3 film-grabber card was used to capture images for morphometric analysis by using a Scion Image program. Morphometric analysis of glomerular structures showed that microwaves caused more shrinkage to the area bounded by the Bowman's capsule than the glomerulus proper, but post-fixation with ethanol reduced this shrinkage. These findings have implications on the logistics of tissue preparation of renal biopsies in clinical practice.
Thirty extracted mandibular premolars were randomly divided into 3 groups. Canals were cleaned, obturated and the teeth incubated. Guttapercha removal was performed using: Hedström files with xylene (Group 1); ProFile® alone (Group 2) and combination of both (Group 3). Time required to remove the gutta-percha was recorded. Postoperative radiographs were taken. Specimens were split longitudinally and photographed. Amount of gutta-percha left at coronal, middle and apical thirds was calculated by computer (QWIN software) and the photographs were also evaluated visually by two endodontists. Results showed that the combined technique was fastest in removing gutta-percha. Radiographically, more residual was left in Group 2. Although computer analysis also showed more residual was left in Group 2, they were in a small percentage and there were no significant differences (P>0.05, SPSS paired-samples T test) among groups. Although there were significant differences between the two evaluators in their scoring, both generally agreed (Kappa’s analysis= 0.64) there was more guttapercha residual in Group 2 compared to Group 3 in the apical thirds. Although the differences in efficacy of guttapercha removal among these techniques were not significant, the use of ProFile® increased the speed of the procedure. The combined technique showed the most superior efficacy in gutta-percha removal.
Previously, direct-proportional length-based DNA computing (DPLB-DNAC) for solving weighted graph problems has been reported. The proposed DPLB-DNAC has been successfully applied to solve the shortest path problem, which is an instance of weighted graph problems. The design and development of DPLB-DNAC is important in order to extend the capability of DNA computing for solving numerical optimization problem. According to DPLB-DNAC, after the initial pool generation, the initial solution is subjected to amplification by polymerase chain reaction and, finally, the output of the computation is visualized by gel electrophoresis. In this paper, however, we give more attention to the initial pool generation of DPLB-DNAC. For this purpose, two kinds of initial pool generation methods, which are generally used for solving weighted graph problems, are evaluated. Those methods are hybridization-ligation and parallel overlap assembly (POA). It is found that for DPLB-DNAC, POA is better than that of the hybridization-ligation method, in terms of population size, generation time, material usage, and efficiency, as supported by the results of actual experiments.
The sample size calculation for a prevalence only needs a simple formula. However, there are a number of practical issues in selecting values for the parameters required in the formula. Several practical issues are addressed and appropriate recommendations are given. The paper also suggests the application of a software calculator that checks the normal approximation assumption and incorporates finite population correction in the sample size calculation.
The aim of the study was to acquire background information on computer literacy among schizophrenia patients in Kota Bharu, Malaysia, prior to the introduction of a computerised cognitive remediation programme in the local setting.
Method: Fifty consenting consecutive patients with schizophrenia attending the Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital psychiatric clinic were surveyed using the Computer Literacy Scale (CLS), a scale designed to specifically look at their level of computer knowledge, confidence and attitude towards computers.
Results: The majority of the patients studied have had schizophrenia for 5 years or less. While the majority of them have used computers befoie, about half had a poor level of knowledge, although they showed reasonable confidence and a positive attitude towards computers. Few played computer games.
Conclusions: Implementation of a computerised cognitive remediation programme in the Malaysian setting has a promising potential based on the results of this study but the programme needs to be adapted in light of the negative attitudes towards the use of games.
Study site: Psychiatric clinc, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan, Malaysia
The existing literatures highlights that the security is the primary factor which determines the adoption of Internet banking technology. The secondary information on Internet banking development in Malaysia shows a very slow growth rate. Hence, this study aims to study the banking customers perception towards security concern and Internet banking adoption through the information collected from 150 sample respondents. The data analysis reveals that the customers have much concern about security and privacy issue in adoption of Internet banking, whether the customers are adopted Internet banking or not. Hence, it infers that to popularize Internet banking system there is a need for improvement in security and privacy issue among the banking customers.
It is known that restoration of erased engraved identification marks on the engine and the chassis of a car or on a firearm has low success rate. Unlike stamping, engraving on a metal surface leaves no pronounced, permanent subsurface deformation in the crystalline structure, also called dislocation that can be revealed by suitable methods. Hence, the current research work investigated whether metallographic reagents used in the restoration of stamp (compression) marks could be applied to recover engraved marks on steel surfaces and also to establish the sensitivity and effectiveness of some of these reagents for the restoration of the marks. Experiments were conducted by mechanically engraving alphanumeric characters on several steel plates using a computer controlled engraving machine called Gravograph. The markings were later erased from the above steel plates by removing the metal in stages of 0.01 mm through 0.04 mm below the bottom of the engraving. Several plates were thus prepared wherein each one had been abraded to a specific depth. Then eight metallographic reagents were tested on each one of the above erased plates using a swabbing technique. The results had shown that while most of the reagents were able to restore marks up to certain levels of erasure, the reagent 5 g copper sulphate, 60 ml water, 30 ml concentrated ammonium hydroxide and 60 ml concentrated hydrochloric acid restored marks erased to a depth of 0.04 mm below the engraving depth, thus presenting itself the most sensitive reagent. Quite significantly, the above reagent was also able to decipher successfully the original engraved marks that had been erased and engraved with a new number, or obliterated by centre punching. The results of this research work should benefit the forensic practitioners engaged in the serial number recovery on vehicles, firearms and other objects.
Digital watermarking medical images provides security to the images. The purpose of this study was to see whether digitally watermarked images changed clinical diagnoses when assessed by radiologists. We embedded 256 bits watermark to various medical images in the region of non-interest (RONI) and 480K bits in both region of interest (ROI) and RONI. Our results showed that watermarking medical images did not alter clinical diagnoses. In addition, there was no difference in image quality when visually assessed by the medical radiologists. We therefore concluded that digital watermarking medical images were safe in terms of preserving image quality for clinical purposes.