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Fulltext A Review on the Kenaf/Glass Hybrid Composites with Limitations on Mechanical and Low Velocity Impact Properties

Ahmad Nadzri SNZ, Hameed Sultan MT, Md Shah AU, Safri SNA, Basri AA

Polymers (Basel), 2020 Jun 04;12(6).
PMID: 32512701 DOI: 10.3390/polym12061285

Environmental awareness and trends to develop sustainable resources have directed much research attention towards kenaf fibre as an alternative reinforcement in composite manufacturing. Numerous studies have been conducted on kenaf and its hybrid composites. Most studies were conducted on kenaf/glass hybrid composites compared to other kenaf/synthetic hybrid composites. Similar with other materials, mechanical properties were the fundamental knowledge identified by the researcher. Limited studies conducted on other properties have restricted the use of kenaf composites to non-structural applications. To extend the potential of kenaf composites to automotive exterior or other critical applications, studies on impact properties can be a valuable contribution in the material field. This review discusses the mechanical and low velocity impact properties of kenaf/glass hybrid composites reported previously. Percentage loading of fibre, the angle of orientation in woven fibres and the chemical treatment applied to the fibre before compounding are the three major parameters that affect the mechanical and impact properties of the composites. This review provides insights into the mechanical and impact properties of kenaf/glass hybrid composites for future research.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
A Step-by-Step Process on Sample Size Determination for Medical Research

Bujang MA

Malays J Med Sci, 2021 Apr;28(2):15-27.
PMID: 33958957 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2021.28.2.2

Determination of a minimum sample size required for a study is a major consideration which all researchers are confronted with at the early stage of developing a research protocol. This is because the researcher will need to have a sound prerequisite knowledge of inferential statistics in order to enable him/her to acquire a thorough understanding of the overall concept of a minimum sample size requirement and its estimation. Besides type I error and power of the study, some estimates for effect sizes will also need to be determined in the process to calculate or estimate the sample size. The appropriateness in calculating or estimating the sample size will enable the researchers to better plan their study especially pertaining to recruitment of subjects. To facilitate a researcher in estimating the appropriate sample size for their study, this article provides some recommendations for researchers on how to determine the appropriate sample size for their studies. In addition, several issues related to sample size determination were also discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
Fulltext A Survey on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) Among patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM)

Hamzah AA, Rahman MN, Daud MA, Mahamood Z

Malays J Med Sci, 2007 Jul;14(2):67-71.
PMID: 22993495 MyJurnal

Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) commonly presents with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which can be of obstructive symptoms such as hesitancy, incomplete voiding, post void dribbling or of irritative symptoms such as urgency, frequency and nocturia. Various recent studies indicate that nocturia is a very important and bothersome lower urinary tract symptom especially among patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). The aims of the study was to determine the frequency of common urinary symptoms among patients with BPH in HUSM as well as to evaluate the extent of bothersomeness of each and every symptom to these patients. This study too was aimed at evaluating the success of TURP in resolving pre operative LUTS. This was a questionnaire-based survey using a validated ICSBPH model whereby patients with BPH were selected and quizzed personally by an investigator. A subset of patients who had undergone TURP were further questioned regarding their satisfaction with the procedure. When nocturia is defined as waking up at night once or more to pass urine, the prevalence of nocturia was about 90%, but only 1 in 6 patients considered this is a very serious symptom. Even if the definition was changed to waking up twice or more, the prevalence is still quite high at over 80%. Urgency were noted in half of the patients, but only a quarter of them consider it a serious problem. 1 in 5 patients experienced significant leak and almost all consider it serious. About one third of the studied population had to be catheterized due to urinary obstruction and interestingly only about half of them considered it as a very serious event. Overall, a great majority of these patients considered suffering from these urinary symptoms for the rest of their life as very devastating. This study conclude that although the prevalence of nocturia was high among BPH patients, but it was not considered serious by majority of them. In fact, LUTS in our BPH patients did not differ much from BPH patients elsewhere. On the whole, TURP resolved most of the LUTS effectively.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
A comparative study on management of intravenous lines among nurses in a neonatal intensive care unit

Faridah Ahmad Shiek, Alimatulsaadiah Abu Hassan, Zaiton Sudin, Zaitun Aris, Khoo A.S.B., Lim, N.L.

Malaysian Journal of Child Health, 1998;10(1):34-39.
MyJurnal

This research describes a comparative study using convenience sampling on management of intravenous lines in Maternity Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (MNICU), HKL. Questionnaires were answered by nurses and the techniques of anchoring, splinting and maintaining of intravenous lines by nurses in MNICU were observed by the researchers. The study showed that nurses with less than two years experience working in MNICU had significantly less knowledge and skills in the management of intravenous lines and are likely to encounter more difficulties and complications, compared to nurses with more experience.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
Fulltext A goal programming model for portfolio optimisation problem in fuzzy environment

Mokhtar, M., Shuib, A., Mohamad, D.

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2017;25(2):593-606.
MyJurnal

Portfolio optimisation is one of the most crucial issues in investment decision-making and has received considerable attention from researchers and practitioners. Traditionally, the portfolio optimisation models are formulated based on the assumption that investors have complete information on the distribution of random returns. However, in real life case, this is not possible since decisions have to be made under uncertainty. This paper deals with a fuzzy portfolio optimisation problem in which returns and turnover rates of securities are represented by fuzzy variables. A goal programming model is proposed to optimise three objectives: maximisation of portfolio return, maximisation of liquidity and minimisation of the portfolio risk. The cardinality constraints, floor and ceiling constraints are also taken into consideration. Finally, a numerical experiment using real data is conducted to demonstrate the applicability of the model.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
Fulltext A new heuristic method to solve straight assembly line balancing problem

Mohd Khairol Anuar Mohd Ariffin, Masood fathi, Napsiah Ismail

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2012;20(2):355-369.
MyJurnal

Assembly line balancing is well-known in mass production system but this problem is non-deterministicpolynomial-time(NP)-hard, even for a simple straight line. Although several heuristic methods havebeen introduced and used by researchers, knowing and using an effective method in solving these typesof problems in less computational time have a considerable place in the area of line balancing problem.In this research, a new heuristic approach, known as critical node method (CNM), was introduced andtested by solving several test problems available in the literature so as to solve straight assembly lines.Finally, the obtained results are compared with 9 other heuristic rules in some performance measures.Thus, it is concluded that the proposed CNM is better than the rest in all the measures.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
Fulltext A numerical study of ground improvement technique using group of soil-column on peat

Muntohar, A.S., Rahman, M.E., Hashim, R., Islam, M.S.

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2013;21(2):625-634.
MyJurnal

The importance of numerical analysis in investigation of piled embankment over soft soil has been developed since 1990. Several investigators have extended the numerical analysis to model ground improvement using soil-column to support embankment or structures. This paper presents a numerical analysis of the Pulverized Fuel Ash (PFA) column-treated peat and compared with field static-loading test results. Back analysis was performed to determine the material parameters and soil stiffness surrounding soil & soil-column. Two geometrical models were used in this analysis: (a) block (Model A), and (b) column group (Model B). This situation was analyzed using commercially available finite element package PLAXIS 2D ver. 8.2. It is found that both models are reliable to simulate the field static-loading test for column-treated peat. Model B shows a higher stability to failure if compared to Model A.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
A proposal for a legally enforceable no-fault compensation framework for clinical trial-related injury in Malaysia

Chin WK, Thuraisingam AS, Kanagasabapathy S

Account Res, 2021 May 05.
PMID: 33857400 DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2021.1917397

Clinical trials play a critical role in the development of life-enhancing and life-sustaining biomedical advances. It is costly and, regardless of how well-designed and ethically conducted, there are always inherent uncertainties which subsequently expose human participants to the risk of injuries or even death. In Malaysia, compensation for clinical trial-related injury has not been incorporated into standard national regulations or policies. Therefore, when clinical trial-related injuries do occur, such participants cannot be compensated by researchers, and with the absence of specific statutory laws governing trial-related injury within the local legal framework, aggrieved parties need to seek legal redress and can only depend on the existing tort laws. To propose a viable compensation framework, the existing compensation regulations and policies implemented in India and South Africa are analyzed, and their best principles have been recommended. This study proposes the implementation of a no-fault compensation framework in Malaysia which should be disbursed efficiently at minimum administrative cost. This proposed approach should be mandated by the amendment of current laws governing biomedical research and, in the interim, should be adopted voluntarily by research sponsors, institutions and investigators conducting clinical trials in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
Fulltext A rapid and sensitive Loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for detection of pork DNA based on porcine tRNA lys and ATPase 8 genes

Abdullahi, U.F., Igwenagu, E., Aliyu, S., Mu’azu, A., Naim, R., Wan-Taib, W.R.

International Food Research Journal, 2017;24(4):1357-1361.
MyJurnal

This study describes the development of a rapid and sensitive Loop-mediated isothermal
amplification assay for detection of swine DNA in adulterated meat and meat products. The
need to protect consumer’s right to eat foods of their choices, has made it imperative for
researchers to develop efficient means of screening and certification of food products. Six sets
of LAMP primers designed based on porcine tRNA lysine gene and ATPase subunit 8 genes
were used for the assay. Amplification was carried out under constant temperature (630C), using
a simple laboratory water bath. Average time spent in amplification and detection of results was
25 min. All results were visually detected and confirmed by electrophoresis. Detection limit of
the assay was 0.03 femtogram (fg) much high than the PCR assay, and detection probability of
the assay was 100%. Detection of 0.5% of pork spiked with 99.5% of cattle beef is indicative
of the sensitivity and robustness of the assay. This could serve as a prototype for development
of a sensitive and inexpensive Swine DNA LAMP detection kit.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
Fulltext A review of HIV/AIDS research in Malaysia

Koh KC

Med J Malaysia, 2014 Aug;69 Suppl A:68-81.
PMID: 25417954 MyJurnal

Two hundred fifty seven articles related to HIV/AIDS were found in a search through a database dedicated to indexing all original data relevant to medicine published in Malaysia between the years 2000-2013. One hundred seventy one articles were selected and reviewed on the basis of clinical relevance and future research implications. This review of literature has been divided into six sections, namely, epidemiology, risk behaviour, clinical features and opportunistic infections, management, diagnosis and discussion. Wherever possible, the reviewed articles have been presented in a chronological order to provide a historical perspective to the reader as many of the results of earlier publications, which are common knowledge now, were relatively unknown then. Since the early days of the HIV epidemic in Malaysia, there have been rapid advances in the understanding and the management of the epidemic in Malaysia based on the insights derived from the results of these research. These insights are invaluable tools for policy makers, advocators, healthcare providers, researchers and everyone and anyone who are involved in the care of individuals with HIV/AIDS. Attempts have been made to identify gaps in certain research areas with the hope of providing directions for future research in HIV/AIDS in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
Fulltext A review of Malaysian experience in tissue engineering research and development: an online database study using scopus

Muhammad Aa’zamuddin Ahmad Radzi, Nur Syamimi Mohd. Azharuddin, Abdulrezak Abdulahi Hashi, Azran Azhim, Munirah Sha’ban

International Journal of Allied Health Sciences, 2018;2(3):507-516.
MyJurnal

Tissue engineering (TE) research serves to overcome the major obstacles in organ transplantation. This paper summarizes the progress of TE in Malaysia. The online database of Elsevier’s SCOPUS was accessed. Publications related to TE from 1960 till 2017 were scrutinized. The results show an increasing trend in tissue engineering research and development in Malaysia. The search result identified and examined 264 original article publications. It is hoped that the outcomes of this study could serve as a point of reference for researchers on the status of TE research and development in Malaysia. The findings of this study could assist TE researchers in Malaysia to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and obstacles towards further enhancement in their activities. Consolidating, realigning and re-strategizing those initiatives should also be seen within the context of nurturing potential and budding researchers in TE.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
Fulltext A review of potentialities and challenges of integrating remote sensing and GIS with socioeconomic data

Noor Shaila Sarmin, Mohd Hasmadi Ismail

The Pertanika Journal of Scholarly Research Reviews, 2016;2(1):129-141.
MyJurnal

The aim of this paper is to review the potentialities and major methodological challenges
of integrating remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) with socioeconomic data
from published articles or book chapters. RS and GIS combined with social science (SS)(termed as
geoinformation technology) serve many applications for sustainable management and monitoring of
the environment. This combined approach gives more accurate results than the single one. It makes
information available about the trend and pattern of land use and land cover change (LUCC) with
socioeconomic variables like population, demographic or income. This combined study which links
RS and GIS with socioeconomic data can also be used successfully for monitoring transmission rate
of disease and mapping or preparing vulnerability index. For impact assessment and modelling, this
combined technology provides better results than the single one. There are some methodological
problems for the researchers to link completely two different disciplines as the object of study and
observational unit is completely different. However, this interdisciplinary study is gaining popularity
day by day to researchers from different disciplines as well as decision makers.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
Fulltext AVERT2 (a very early rehabilitation trial, a very effective reproductive trigger): retrospective observational analysis of the number of babies born to trial staff

Bernhardt J, Lindley RI, Lalor E, Ellery F, Chamberlain J, Van Holsteyn J, et al.

BMJ, 2015 Dec 11;351:h6432.
PMID: 26658193 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.h6432

OBJECTIVE: To report the number of participants needed to recruit per baby born to trial staff during AVERT, a large international trial on acute stroke, and to describe trial management consequences.
DESIGN: Retrospective observational analysis.
SETTING: 56 acute stroke hospitals in eight countries.
PARTICIPANTS: 1074 trial physiotherapists, nurses, and other clinicians.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of babies born during trial recruitment per trial participant recruited.
RESULTS: With 198 site recruitment years and 2104 patients recruited during AVERT, 120 babies were born to trial staff. Births led to an estimated 10% loss in time to achieve recruitment. Parental leave was linked to six trial site closures. The number of participants needed to recruit per baby born was 17.5 (95% confidence interval 14.7 to 21.0); additional trial costs associated with each birth were estimated at 5736 Australian dollars on average.
CONCLUSION: The staff absences registered in AVERT owing to parental leave led to delayed trial recruitment and increased costs, and should be considered by trial investigators when planning research and estimating budgets. However, the celebration of new life became a highlight of the annual AVERT collaborators' meetings and helped maintain a cohesive collaborative group.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry no 12606000185561.
DISCLAIMER: Participation in a rehabilitation trial does not guarantee successful reproductive activity.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel/statistics & numerical data*
Fulltext Academic dishonesty among academics in Malaysia: a comparison between healthcare and non-healthcare academics

Tiong JJL, Kho HL, Mai CW, Lau HL, Hasan SS

BMC Med Educ, 2018 Jul 17;18(1):168.
PMID: 30016945 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-018-1274-3

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to gauge the prevalence of academic dishonesty among academics in Malaysian universities. A direct comparison was made between academics of healthcare and non-healthcare courses to note the difference in the level of academic integrity between the two groups. In addition, the predisposing factors and implications of academic dishonesty, as well as the different measures perceived to be effective at curbing this problem were also investigated.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study design with mixed qualitative and quantitative approaches was employed and data collection was carried out primarily using self-administered questionnaire.
RESULTS: Approximately half (52.5%, n = 74) of all respondents (n = 141) reported having personally encountered at least one case of academic dishonesty involving their peers. The results also revealed the significantly higher prevalence of various forms of academic misconduct among healthcare academics compared to their non-healthcare counterparts. Although respondents were generally conscious of the negative implications associated with academic dishonesty, more than half of all cases of misconduct were not reported due to the indifferent attitude among academics. Low levels of self-discipline and integrity were found to be the major factors leading to academic misdeeds and respondents opined that university managements should be more proactive in addressing this issue.
CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of this study should serve as a clarion call for all relevant stakeholders to start making immediate amends in order to improve the current state of affairs in academia.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel/psychology; Research Personnel/statistics & numerical data*
Fulltext Accessing Employees’ Readiness to Adopt Industry Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0)

Nur Farahanna Hud, Sabrinah Adam, Beni Widarman Yus Kelana

International Journal of Innovation and Industrial Revolution, 2020;2(3):15-28.
MyJurnal

This research to identify the level of employees’ readiness with the adoption of Industry 4.0 in the expressway organization and to recommend a solution that can equip the employee with the relevant knowledge and skill with the adoption of Industry 4.0. For this research, the data collection used qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative using interview approach. The interview will be involved with 3 - 4 participants. The quantitative will be conducted to focus group which consists of 80 respondents. Both participants and respondents from toll tellers and supervisors. The data collection will be pre and post-test. The cross-sectional time horizon being used due to the limited time to conduct the data collection and data analysis. The data analysis will be using a manual transcript and SPSS respectively. The implementation of the intervention will contribute to enhancing the employees’ readiness. Besides, to equip and prepared the employees with the relevant knowledge and skills to adopt Industry 4.0. This research also can be one of the references for future researchers to explore more profoundly on the same topic.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
Fulltext Adipose-derived stem cells in tissue engineering: laboratory to bedside

Halim, A.S., Mohaini, M., L, Chin Keong

JUMMEC, 2013;16(2):1-10.
MyJurnal

Human adipose tissue has been recognized as an alternative source of adult stem cells. The abundance and ease of harvest of adipose tissue has made it suitable for use in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Adipose-derived stem cells isolated from human adipose tissue are able to differentiate into several mesenchymal lineages and secrete growth factors that exhibit therapeutic potential. Protein profiles have been established using various isolation methods, which has expanded researchers’ understanding of adipose-derived stem cells in clinical applications. This review highlights the properties, isolation methods, immunophenotype and clinical applications of adipose-derived stem cells.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
Fulltext Adolescent’s strategies and reverse influence in family food decision making

Othman, M., Boo, H.C., Wan Rusni, W.I.

International Food Research Journal, 2013;20(1):131-139.
MyJurnal

The role of adolescents in family decision making related to food consumption in Malaysia has received comparatively little or no attention by researchers although there were evidences of differences in influences found in other countries. This study addressed the research gap by testing adolescents’ bilateral strategies in influencing their family decision using family power theory. A survey of 500 adolescents from urban area was conducted to investigate their influence based on their involvement in family consumer tasks. Key findings include strong relationship between perception of influence and rewards thus indicate the existence of strategies in adolescents influence attempt.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
Fulltext Advances on bank erosion studies: a review

Abdul-Kadir, M.A., Ariffin, J.

ASM Science Journal, 2012;6(2):128-137.
MyJurnal

This paper reviews the advances made on studies related to bank erosion. Bank erosion has been an area of interest by researchers in geological, geotechnical, hydraulic, hydrology and river engineering disciplines. With anticipated global challenges from climate change impacts, bank erosion studies could support challenges faced in ensuring sustainable environmental management. The evolution in the theoretical and laboratory findings have led to the advances in bank erosion and contributed to new knowledge in the said field. This review summarises the findings of previous investigators including measurements approach and prediction of rates of bank erosion through the use of physical models and numerical approach.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
Fulltext Aerobiology Over Antarctica - A New Initiative for Atmospheric Ecology

Pearce DA, Alekhina IA, Terauds A, Wilmotte A, Quesada A, Edwards A, et al.

Front Microbiol, 2016;7:16.
PMID: 26909068 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00016

The role of aerial dispersal in shaping patterns of biodiversity remains poorly understood, mainly due to a lack of coordinated efforts in gathering data at appropriate temporal and spatial scales. It has been long known that the rate of dispersal to an ecosystem can significantly influence ecosystem dynamics, and that aerial transport has been identified as an important source of biological input to remote locations. With the considerable effort devoted in recent decades to understanding atmospheric circulation in the south-polar region, a unique opportunity has emerged to investigate the atmospheric ecology of Antarctica, from regional to continental scales. This concept note identifies key questions in Antarctic microbial biogeography and the need for standardized sampling and analysis protocols to address such questions. A consortium of polar aerobiologists is established to bring together researchers with a common interest in the airborne dispersion of microbes and other propagules in the Antarctic, with opportunities for comparative studies in the Arctic.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel
Fulltext Altmetrics: A new paradigm for scholarly communication

Shekhawat KS, Chauhan A

Indian J Dent Res, 2019 3 23;30(1):125-126.
PMID: 30900670 DOI: 10.4103/ijdr.IJDR_27_17

Counting citations have been the usual norm to determine the impact of any research and/or scholar. However, with majority of the scholarly activities happening on the World Wide Web, traditional counting of citations is now being termed "slower." The recent explosion of online data storage for many articles may serve as a pool which uses social media sites to navigate. Altmetrics has been proposed as the new entity which aims to change the focus of the scholarly reward system to value and encourage web-native scholarship. This paper makes an attempt to understand altmetrics.

Matched MeSH terms: Research Personnel

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