MyMedR

Feature extraction and classification for EEG signals using wavelet transform and machine learning techniques

Amin HU, Malik AS, Ahmad RF, Badruddin N, Kamel N, Hussain M, et al.

Australas Phys Eng Sci Med, 2015 Mar;38(1):139-49.

PMID: 25649845 DOI: 10.1007/s13246-015-0333-x

This paper describes a discrete wavelet transform-based feature extraction scheme for the classification of EEG signals. In this scheme, the discrete wavelet transform is applied on EEG signals and the relative wavelet energy is calculated in terms of detailed coefficients and the approximation coefficients of the last decomposition level. The extracted relative wavelet energy features are passed to classifiers for the classification purpose. The EEG dataset employed for the validation of the proposed method consisted of two classes: (1) the EEG signals recorded during the complex cognitive task--Raven's advance progressive metric test and (2) the EEG signals recorded in rest condition--eyes open. The performance of four different classifiers was evaluated with four performance measures, i.e., accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and precision values. The accuracy was achieved above 98 % by the support vector machine, multi-layer perceptron and the K-nearest neighbor classifiers with approximation (A4) and detailed coefficients (D4), which represent the frequency range of 0.53-3.06 and 3.06-6.12 Hz, respectively. The findings of this study demonstrated that the proposed feature extraction approach has the potential to classify the EEG signals recorded during a complex cognitive task by achieving a high accuracy rate.

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Influencing preferences for different types of causal explanation of complex events

Klein G, Rasmussen L, Lin MH, Hoffman RR, Case J

Hum Factors, 2014 Dec;56(8):1380-400.

PMID: 25509820

We examined preferences for different forms of causal explanations for indeterminate situations. Background: Klein and Hoffman distinguished several forms of causal explanations for indeterminate, complex situations: single-cause explanations, lists of causes, and explanations that interrelate several causes. What governs our preferences for single-cause (simple) versus multiple- cause (complex) explanations?

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Fulltext Influence of refractive condition on retinal vasculature complexity in younger subjects

Azemin MZ, Daud NM, Ab Hamid F, Zahari I, Sapuan AH

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:783525.

PMID: 25371914 DOI: 10.1155/2014/783525

The aim of this study was to compare the retinal vasculature complexity between emmetropia, and myopia in younger subjects.

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Relationship between performance barriers and pharmacist competency towards the implementation of an expanded public health pharmacy role

Mathialagan A, Nagalinggam P, Mathialagan S, Kirby BP

Int J Pharm Pract, 2015 Oct;23(5):320-6.

PMID: 25582973 DOI: 10.1111/ijpp.12170

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between performance barriers and competency, and implementation of an expanded public health role for community pharmacists.

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Suicide among the youth in Malaysia: What do we know?

Bahar N, Ismail WS, Hussain N, Haniff J, Bujang MA, Hamid AM, et al.

Asia Pac Psychiatry, 2015 Jun;7(2):223-9.

PMID: 25367507 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12162

This article aims to study the pattern of youth suicide cases in Malaysia, following which preventive actions can then be planned and practiced to reduce these suicide cases.

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Fulltext Completed suicides and self-harm in Malaysia: a systematic review

Armitage CJ, Panagioti M, Abdul Rahim W, Rowe R, O'Connor RC

Gen Hosp Psychiatry, 2015 Mar-Apr;37(2):153-65.

PMID: 25636361 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2014.12.002

Most of the research into suicide and self-harm has been conducted in the United States and Europe, yet the volume of research does not reflect the distribution of suicide globally, with Asia accounting for up to 60% of all suicides. The present study systematically reviews the literature to assess the prevalence and correlates of suicidal acts in Malaysia in Southeast Asia.

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Fulltext Multivariate analysis of factors affecting presence and/or agenesis of third molar tooth

Alam MK, Hamza MA, Khafiz MA, Rahman SA, Shaari R, Hassan A

PLoS One, 2014;9(6):e101157.

PMID: 24967595 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101157

To investigate the presence and/or agenesis of third molar (M3) tooth germs in orthodontics patients in Malaysian Malay and Chinese population and evaluate the relationship between presence and/or agenesis of M3 with different skeletal malocclusion patterns and sagittal maxillomandibular jaw dimensions. Pretreatment records of 300 orthodontic patients (140 males and 160 females, 219 Malaysian Malay and 81 Chinese, average age was 16.27±4.59) were used. Third-molar agenesis was calculated with respect to race, genders, number of missing teeth, jaws, skeletal malocclusion patterns and sagittal maxillomandibular jaw dimensions. The Pearson chi-square test and ANOVA was performed to determine potential differences. Associations between various factors and M3 presence/agenesis groups were assessed using logistic regression analysis. The percentages of subjects with 1 or more M3 agenesis were 30%, 33% and 31% in the Malaysian Malay, Chinese and total population, respectively. Overall prevalence of M3 agenesis in male and female was equal (P>0.05). The frequency of the agenesis of M3s is greater in maxilla as well in the right side (P>0.05). The prevalence of M3 agenesis in those with a Class III and Class II malocclusion was relatively higher in Malaysian Malay and Malaysian Chinese population respectively. Using stepwise regression analyses, significant associations were found between Mx (P<0.05) and ANB (P<0.05) and M3 agenesis. This multivariate analysis suggested that Mx and ANB were significantly correlated with the M3 presence/agenesis.

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Fulltext Does an educational intervention improve parents' knowledge about immunization? Experience from Malaysia

Awadh AI, Hassali MA, Al-Lela OQ, Bux SH, Elkalmi RM, Hadi H

BMC Pediatr, 2014;14:254.

PMID: 25284603 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-14-254

Parents' knowledge about immunization is an important predictor factor for their children's immunization status. The aims of this study were to assess parents' knowledge and to evaluate the effect of a short educational intervention on improving parents' knowledge of childhood immunization.

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

General Theory versus ENA Theory: Comparing Their Predictive Accuracy and Scope

Ellis L, Hoskin A, Hartley R, Walsh A, Widmayer A, Ratnasingam M

Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol, 2015 Dec;59(13):1429-58.

PMID: 25063685 DOI: 10.1177/0306624X14543263

General theory attributes criminal behavior primarily to low self-control, whereas evolutionary neuroandrogenic (ENA) theory envisions criminality as being a crude form of status-striving promoted by high brain exposure to androgens. General theory predicts that self-control will be negatively correlated with risk-taking, while ENA theory implies that these two variables should actually be positively correlated. According to ENA theory, traits such as pain tolerance and muscularity will be positively associated with risk-taking and criminality while general theory makes no predictions concerning these relationships. Data from Malaysia and the United States are used to test 10 hypotheses derived from one or both of these theories. As predicted by both theories, risk-taking was positively correlated with criminality in both countries. However, contrary to general theory and consistent with ENA theory, the correlation between self-control and risk-taking was positive in both countries. General theory's prediction of an inverse correlation between low self-control and criminality was largely supported by the U.S. data but only weakly supported by the Malaysian data. ENA theory's predictions of positive correlations between pain tolerance, muscularity, and offending were largely confirmed. For the 10 hypotheses tested, ENA theory surpassed general theory in predictive scope and accuracy.

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Fulltext Family context and Khat chewing among adult Yemeni women: a cross-sectional study

Al-Abed AA, Sutan R, Al-Dubai SA, Aljunid SM

Biomed Res Int, 2014;2014:505474.

PMID: 24982886 DOI: 10.1155/2014/505474

Khat chewing is associated with unfavourable health outcomes and family dysfunction. Few studies have addressed the factors associated with khat chewing among Yemeni women. However, the family and husband effects on chewing khat by women have not been addressed. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of khat chewing among Yemeni women and its associated factors, particularly husbands and family factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 692 adult Yemeni women in the city of Sana'a in Yemen using structured "face to face" interviews. Mean (±SD) age of women was 27.3 years (±6.10). The prevalence of chewing khat by women was 29.6%. Factors associated with chewing khat among women were chewing khat by husbands (OR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.26, 2.53), being married (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.20, 3.37), frequent family social gatherings (OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.10), high family income (OR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.12, 2.21), larger house (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.31), and age of women (OR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.92). It is concluded that khat chewing by women in this study was significantly associated with family factors and with khat chewing by their husbands. Urgent action is needed to control khat chewing particularly among women.

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Fulltext Effect of Muslim prayer (Salat) on α electroencephalography and its relationship with autonomic nervous system activity

Doufesh H, Ibrahim F, Ismail NA, Wan Ahmad WA

J Altern Complement Med, 2014 Jul;20(7):558-62.

PMID: 24827587 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2013.0426

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the effect of Muslim prayer (salat) on the α relative power (RPα) of electroencephalography (EEG) and autonomic nervous activity and the relationship between them by using spectral analysis of EEG and heart rate variability (HRV).

METHODS: Thirty healthy Muslim men participated in the study. Their electrocardiograms and EEGs were continuously recorded before, during, and after salat practice with a computer-based data acquisition system (MP150, BIOPAC Systems Inc., Camino Goleta, California). Power spectral analysis was conducted to extract the RPα and HRV components.

RESULTS: During salat, a significant increase (p

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Returning to "inhibition of return" by dissociating long-term oculomotor IOR from short-term sensory adaptation and other nonoculomotor "inhibitory" cueing effects

Hilchey MD, Klein RM, Satel J

J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform, 2014 Aug;40(4):1603-16.

PMID: 24820438 DOI: 10.1037/a0036859

We explored the nature and time course of effects generated by spatially uninformative peripheral cues by measuring these effects with localization responses to peripheral onsets or central arrow targets. In Experiment 1, participants made saccadic eye movements to equiprobable peripheral and central targets. At short cue-target onset asynchronies (CTOAs), responses to cued peripheral stimuli suffered from slowed responding attributable to sensory adaptation while responses to central targets were transiently facilitated, presumably due to cue-elicited oculomotor activation. At the longest CTOA, saccadic responses to central and peripheral targets were indistinguishably delayed, suggesting a common, output/decision effect (inhibition of return; IOR). In Experiment 2, we tested the hypothesis that the generation of this output effect is dependent on the activation state of the oculomotor system by forbidding eye movements and requiring keypress responses to frequent peripheral targets, while probing oculomotor behavior with saccades to infrequent central arrow targets. As predicted, saccades to central arrow targets showed neither the early facilitation nor later inhibitory effects that were robust in Experiment 1. At the long CTOA, manual responses to cued peripheral targets showed the typical delayed responses usually attributed to IOR. We recommend that this late "inhibitory" cueing effect (ICE) be distinguished from IOR because it lacks the cause (oculomotor activation) and effect (response bias) attributed to IOR when it was named by Posner, Rafal, Choate, and Vaughan (1985).

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Fulltext Psychological traits underlying different killing methods among Malaysian male murderers

Kamaluddin M, Shariff NS, Nurfarliza S, Othman A, Ismail KH, Mat Saat GA

Malays J Pathol, 2014 Apr;36(1):41-50.

PMID: 24763234 MyJurnal

Murder is the most notorious crime that violates religious, social and cultural norms. Examining the types and number of different killing methods that used are pivotal in a murder case. However, the psychological traits underlying specific and multiple killing methods are still understudied. The present study attempts to fill this gap in knowledge by identifying the underlying psychological traits of different killing methods among Malaysian murderers. The study adapted an observational cross-sectional methodology using a guided self-administered questionnaire for data collection. The sampling frame consisted of 71 Malaysian male murderers from 11 Malaysian prisons who were selected using purposive sampling method. The participants were also asked to provide the types and number of different killing methods used to kill their respective victims. An independent sample t-test was performed to establish the mean score difference of psychological traits between the murderers who used single and multiple types of killing methods. Kruskal-Wallis tests were carried out to ascertain the psychological trait differences between specific types of killing methods. The results suggest that specific psychological traits underlie the type and number of different killing methods used during murder. The majority (88.7%) of murderers used a single method of killing. Multiple methods of killing was evident in 'premeditated' murder compared to 'passion' murder, and revenge was a common motive. Examples of multiple methods are combinations of stabbing and strangulation or slashing and physical force. An exception was premeditated murder committed with shooting, when it was usually a single method, attributed to the high lethality of firearms. Shooting was also notable when the motive was financial gain or related to drug dealing. Murderers who used multiple killing methods were more aggressive and sadistic than those who used a single killing method. Those who used multiple methods or slashing also displayed a higher level of minimisation traits. Despite its limitations, this study has provided some light on the underlying psychological traits of different killing methods which is useful in the field of criminology.

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Fulltext Nature and pattern of cricket injuries: the Asian Cricket Council Under-19, Elite Cup, 2013

Das NS, Usman J, Choudhury D, Abu Osman NA

PLoS One, 2014;9(6):e100028.

PMID: 24927127 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100028

Cricket has over the years gained much popularity in Asia, thus the number of cricket players has also grown in tandem. However, cricket players are not as fortunate as other athletes as they do not always have a standard cricket infrastructure to practice; therefore, the injury prevalence is expected to be high. Unfortunately, very few studies have been conducted to investigate the nature and pattern of cricket injuries prevalent to cricketers in this region. Therefore, a prospective cohort injury surveillance study was conducted during the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Under-19 Elite Cup held in June 2013 in order to gather more data on the type of injuries sustained by cricket players. Overall, 31 injuries occurred to 28 players throughout the tournament, of which 7 injuries happened during practice sessions. The overall injury incidence rate (IIR) was 292.0 per 10,000 player hours (95% CI 176.9-407.1) and 10.4 per 10,000 balls faced and 2.6 per 1000 overs bowled delivered during batting and bowling, respectively. Injuries to the lower limb (IIR: 146; 95% CI 1.8-98.2) were the most frequent, followed by injuries to the upper limb (97.3;95% CI 30.2-164.5) and to the trunk and back (IIR: 36.5;95% CI 0.0-77.7). Sprain/strains (IIR 109.5;95% CI 38.4-180.7) to muscle/tendon and joint/ligament were the most commonly reported nature of injury. This is the first study investigating injury incidence among the players of the ACC. It provides an overview of injuries sustained by elite players' under-19 years of age from 10 Asian countries. The overall IIR is similar to earlier studies conducted in well-established cricket playing nations.

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

The relationship between the social management of emotional intelligence and academic performance among medical students

Chew BH, Md Zain A, Hassan F

Psychol Health Med, 2015;20(2):198-204.

PMID: 24773524 DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2014.913797

Positive social interaction with peers was said to facilitate cognitive and intellectual development leading to good academic performance. There was paucity of published data on the effect of social management (SM) emotional intelligence (EI) on academic performance. We conducted this study to examine their relationship in the undergraduate medical students in a public medical school in Malaysia. This was a cross-sectional study using the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) to measure the SM. The first and final year medical students were invited to participate. Students answered a paper-based demography questionnaire and completed the online MSCEIT in privacy. Independent predictors were identified using multivariate analyses. A total of 163 (84 first year and 79 final year) medical students completed the study (at a response rate of 66.0%). SM score (B = -.10 95% CI -.175 to -.015, p = .021) was significantly related to the continuous assessment (CA) marks (adjusted R(2) = .45, F13,137 = 10.26, p

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Fulltext The effects of prosthetic foot type and visual alteration on postural steadiness in below-knee amputees

Arifin N, Abu Osman NA, Ali S, Wan Abas WA

Biomed Eng Online, 2014;13(1):23.

PMID: 24597518 DOI: 10.1186/1475-925X-13-23

Achieving independent upright posture has known to be one of the main goals in rehabilitation following lower limb amputation. The purpose of this study was to compare postural steadiness of below knee amputees with visual alterations while wearing three different prosthetic feet.

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Hardiness as a mediator between perceived stress and happiness in nurses

Abdollahi A, Abu Talib M, Yaacob SN, Ismail Z

J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs, 2014;21(9):789-96.

PMID: 24661763 DOI: 10.1111/jpm.12142

The relevance of the study of happiness and stress in nurses has been emphasized. In this sense, the intelligent use of hardiness is enable nurses to cope better with stress and contribute to being happier. This study aimed to examine the relationship among hardiness, perceived stress, and happiness in nurses. Moreover, we examined the mediator role of hardiness on the relationship between perceived stress and happiness in nurses. Our study revealed that hardi-attitude nurses evaluate situations as less stressful which results in a higher happiness. This study showed hardiness as being a protective factor against perceived stress and a facilitating factor for happiness in nurses. The findings could be important in training future nurses so that hardiness can be imparted, thereby giving them the ability to control their stress. Nursing is a stressful occupation with high levels of stress within the health professions. Given that hardiness is an important construct to enable nurses to cope better with stress and contribute to being happier; therefore, it is necessary we advance our knowledge about the aetiology of happiness, especially the role of hardiness in decreasing stress levels and increasing happiness. The present study sought to investigate the role of hardiness as a mediator between perceived stress and happiness. The participants, comprising 252 nurses from six private hospitals in Tehran, completed the Personal Views Survey, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Oxford Happiness Inventory. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the data and answer the research hypotheses. As expected, hardiness partially mediated between perceived stress and happiness among nurses, and nurses with low levels of perceived stress were more likely to report greater hardiness and happiness. In addition, nurses with high levels of hardiness were more likely to report happiness. This study showed hardiness as being a protective factor against perceived stress and a facilitating factor for happiness in nurses. The findings could be important in training future nurses so that hardiness can be imparted, thereby giving them the ability to control their stress.

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Fulltext Incidence and characteristics of injuries during the 2010 FELDA/FAM National Futsal League in Malaysia

Hamid MS, Jaafar Z, Mohd Ali AS

PLoS One, 2014;9(4):e95158.

PMID: 24733140 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095158

In Malaysia, futsal is a popular sport played by individuals across all ages and genders. Despite its popularity, information on futsal related injury in Malaysia is not available. The purpose of this study is to examine the injury incidence and injury patterns among amateur men and women futsal players in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Fulltext Fish in throat: An unusual foreign body

Tang ML, Ching LS, Brito-Mutunayagam S, Revadi G

Med J Malaysia, 2013 Dec;68(6):469-70.

PMID: 24632915 MyJurnal

A 19 year-old man was presented to us in a state of respiratory distress with history of alleged accidentally swallowed the live fish. Flexible nasopharyngolaryngoscope showed a big live fish impacted in the laryngopharynx. Attempts to remove the fish orally were futile as the fish was impacted. We resorted to tracheostomy under local anaesthesia, followed by direct laryngoscopy and removal of the fish under general anaesthesia. The literature review of such rare incidence and approach to such case are discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

Fulltext A rare case of massive systemic embolisation secondary to atrial myxoma- case report

Muhammad Amin AU

Med J Malaysia, 2013 Dec;68(6):471-2.

PMID: 24632916

We report a case of a 21 year old girl who presented with sudden onset of abdominal, back and bilateral leg pain, paralysis with unexpected collapse at home. Physical examination was suggestive of acute aortic occlusion. CTangiogram revealed multi-system thrombo-embolic shower. She proceeded to urgent aortic thrombectomy and fasciotomy of the bilateral lower limb. Further investigation revealed atrial myxoma and we report the patient's postoperative progress and eventual transfer to rehabilitation facility.

Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult

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