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Fulltext The feasibility of a public-private mix program on pulmonary tuberculosis screening in Penang: A pilot study

Tang WS, Chan MW, Kow FP, Ambigapathy R, Wong JHW, Thiruvengadam V, et al.

Malays Fam Physician, 2021 Mar 25;16(1):75-83.
PMID: 33948145 DOI: 10.51866/oa1096

Background: The low detection rate of tuberculosis (TB) cases in Malaysia remains a challenge in the effort to end TB by 2030. The collaboration between private and public health care facilities is essential in addressing this issue. As of now, no private-public health care collaborative program in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) screening exists in Malaysia.
Aim: To determine the feasibility of a collaborative program between private general practitioners (GPs) and the public primary health clinics in PTB screening and to assess the yield of smear-positive PTB from this program.
Methods: A prospective cohort study using convenient sampling was conducted involving GPs and public health clinics in the North-East District, Penang, from March 2018 to May 2019. In this study, GPs could direct all suspected PTB patients to perform a sputum acid fast bacilli (AFB) direct smear in any of the dedicated public primary health clinics. The satisfaction level of both the GPs and their patients were assessed using a self-administered client satisfaction questionnaire. IBM SPSS Statistical Software was used to analyze the data.
Results: Out of a total of 31 patients who underwent the sputum investigation for PTB, one (3.2%) was diagnosed to have smear-positive PTB. Most of the patients (>90%) and GPs (66.7%) agreed to continue with this program in the future. Furthermore, most of the patients (>90%) were satisfied with the program structure.
Conclusion: It is potentially feasible to involve GPs in combating TB. However, a more structured program addressing the identified issues is needed to make the collaborative program a success.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences in its 18th year: a look at the journal's growth

Abdul Latiff D, Irfan M, Jafri Malin A

Malays J Med Sci, 2012 Apr;19(2):1-4.
PMID: 22973132

As a small-although growing-journal based in Malaysia, the Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences (MJMS) has faced several challenges in the past, such as promoting our journal as well as making sure our article bank does not go empty. However, we strive to improve ourselves by taking all means necessary to increase the quantity and, most importantly, quality of our publications, as well as to increase our journal's visibility and citability. This editorial will focus on MJMS statistics throughout 2011-where MJMS turned 18-as well as future plans for our journal.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext The Influence of Person-Environment Fit on the Turnover Intention of Nurses in Jordan: The Moderating Effect of Psychological Empowerment

Amarneh S, Raza A, Matloob S, Alharbi RK, Abbasi MA

Nurs Res Pract, 2021;2021:6688603.
PMID: 33815841 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6688603

There is an acute shortage of nurses worldwide, including in Jordan. The nursing shortage is considered to be a crucial and complex challenge across healthcare systems and has stretched to a warning threshold. High turnover among nurses in Jordan is an enduring problem and is believed to be the foremost cause of the nurse shortage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the multidimensional impact of the person-environment (P-E) fit on the job satisfaction (JS) and turnover intention (TI) of registered nurses. The moderating effect of psychological empowerment (PE) on the relationship between JS and TI was also investigated. Based on a quantitative research design, data were collected purposively from 383 registered nurses working at private Jordanian hospitals through self-administered structured questionnaires. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 25 and Smart Partial Least Squares (PLS) 3.2.8 were used to analyze the statistical data. The results showed that there is a significant relationship between person-job fit (P-J fit), person-supervisor fit (P-S fit), and JS. However, this study found an insignificant relationship between person-organization fit (P-O fit) and JS. Moreover, PE was also significantly moderate between JS and TI of nurses. This study offers an important policy intervention that helps healthcare organizations to understand the enduring issue of nurse turnover. Additionally, policy recommendations to mitigate nurse turnover in Jordan are outlined.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext The Effect of 5-Min Mindful Breathing on Pain in Palliative Care Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study

Guan NC, Beng TS, Sue-Yin L, Kanagasundram S

Indian J Palliat Care, 2021 02 17;27(1):83-88.
PMID: 34035622 DOI: 10.4103/IJPC.IJPC_122_20

Context: While pain is a common complaint among palliative cancer patients, there is little research looking into nonpharmacological methods for the reduction of pain in the palliative setting.
Aim: This study aims to study the efficacy of 5-min mindful breathing for rapid reduction of pain in a palliative care setting.
Methods: This is a sub-analysis of the previous randomized controlled study on distress reduction. Sixty patients were recruited and randomly assigned to either the intervention (5-min mindful breathing) or the control (5-min normal listening) group. Participants reported their pain on a 10-item analog scale at baseline, immediately after intervention and 10 min postintervention. Changes in pain scores were further analyzed.
Results: Pain scores decreased for both the intervention and control groups. However, the reduction of pain did not reach statistical difference in both groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Five-minute mindful breathing is a quick and easy to administer therapy but does not have significant effects in terms of pain reduction in palliative settings. Future research and directions are nonetheless suggested and encouraged to look for short-term mindfulness-based therapies on pain reduction for this population.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
The Cambridge Anti-myopia Study: variables associated with myopia progression

Price H, Allen PM, Radhakrishnan H, Calver R, Rae S, Theagarayan B, et al.

Optom Vis Sci, 2013 Nov;90(11):1274-83.
PMID: 24100478 DOI: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000000067

To identify variables associated with myopia progression and to identify any interaction between accommodative function, myopia progression, age, and treatment effect in the Cambridge Anti-Myopia Study.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext The CHEK2 Variant C.349A>G Is Associated with Prostate Cancer Risk and Carriers Share a Common Ancestor

Brandão A, Paulo P, Maia S, Pinheiro M, Peixoto A, Cardoso M, et al.

Cancers (Basel), 2020 Nov 04;12(11).
PMID: 33158149 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113254

The identification of recurrent founder variants in cancer predisposing genes may have important implications for implementing cost-effective targeted genetic screening strategies. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence and relative risk of the CHEK2 recurrent variant c.349A>G in a series of 462 Portuguese patients with early-onset and/or familial/hereditary prostate cancer (PrCa), as well as in the large multicentre PRACTICAL case-control study comprising 55,162 prostate cancer cases and 36,147 controls. Additionally, we investigated the potential shared ancestry of the carriers by performing identity-by-descent, haplotype and age estimation analyses using high-density SNP data from 70 variant carriers belonging to 11 different populations included in the PRACTICAL consortium. The CHEK2 missense variant c.349A>G was found significantly associated with an increased risk for PrCa (OR 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1-3.2). A shared haplotype flanking the variant in all carriers was identified, strongly suggesting a common founder of European origin. Additionally, using two independent statistical algorithms, implemented by DMLE+2.3 and ESTIAGE, we were able to estimate the age of the variant between 2300 and 3125 years. By extending the haplotype analysis to 14 additional carrier families, a shared core haplotype was revealed among all carriers matching the conserved region previously identified in the high-density SNP analysis. These findings are consistent with CHEK2 c.349A>G being a founder variant associated with increased PrCa risk, suggesting its potential usefulness for cost-effective targeted genetic screening in PrCa families.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext The impact of using historical text document resources on the understanding of historical substantive concepts

M. Kaviza

Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2019;4(7):208-217.
MyJurnal

This study aims at investigating the effect of using historical text document resources on the historical substantive concepts understanding among Form Four students. A learning activities module was developed based on using historical text document resources as reference for intervention in this study. Pre-Experimental Design: One Group PreTest-PostTest was used in this study. The impact of using historical teks document resources on the historical substantive concepts understanding were measured in the pre-test, post-test and delayed post-test. A sample of respondents comprising 55 students from existing classes was recruited in this study using cluster sampling techniques. The historical substantive concept understanding test was used in this study. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inference statistics using Repeated-Measures One Way ANOVA test. The findings showed that the use of historical text document resources has an impact on the historical substantive concepts understandingand retaintion. The implication of this study is to provide the content and methods for implementation of history learning by using a set of collections of historical text document resources which relevant to a historical topic.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext Test for the presence of autocorrelation in the modified Gompertz model used in fitting of Burkholderia sp. strain Neni-11 growth on acrylamide

Mohd. Yunus Shukor

Bioremediation Science and Technology Research, 2016;4(2):25-27.
MyJurnal

The growth of microorganism on substrates, whether toxic or not usually exhibits sigmoidal
pattern. This sigmoidal growth pattern can be modelled using primary models such as Logistic,
modified Gompertz, Richards, Schnute, Baranyi-Roberts, Von Bertalanffy, Buchanan threephase
and Huang. Previously, the modified Gompertz model was chosen to model the growth of
Burkholderia sp. strain Neni-11 on acrylamide, which shows a sigmoidal curve. The modified
Gompertz model relies on the ordinary least squares method, which in turn relies heavily on
several important assumptions, which include that the data does not show autocorrelation. In this
work we perform statistical diagnosis test to test for the presence of autocorrelation using the
Durbin-Watson test and found that the model was adequate and robust as no autocorrelation of
the data was found.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext Teaching Epidemiology and Biostatistics: a peer-led teaching module for postgraduate psychiatry student

Pang,Nicholas Tze Ping, Koh,Eugene Boon Yau, Sandi James, Mohd Amiruddin Mohd Kassim

Borneo Epidemiology Journal, 2020;1(2):157-162.
MyJurnal

Background and Objective: Biostatistics and epidemiology have been integral subjects in any postgraduate courses, including medical specialties Master programs. Both are widely accepted as among the difficult and confusing subjects, which worsen by lack of adequate exposure and often, time constraints. Hence, peer-led learning approach was proposed as a viable option to the traditional lecturer-driven learning style
Method: The peer-led approach intends to promote targeted learning and conceptual understanding, instead of widely sweeping learning, which is rather directionless and could cause information overload
Discussion: Students were divided into two groups, namely humanities-inclined group and science inclined group. Different pedagogical methods to address the different groups were discussed.
Conclusion: This approach helps to make the learning more palatable, boosting knowledge retention and fostering camaraderie spirit among colleagues

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Taxonomic status of Petinomys morrisi (Carter) and its relationship to Petinomys setosus (Temminck and Schlegel)

Muul I, Thonglongya K

J Mammal, 1971 May;52(2):362-9.
PMID: 5581370
Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext Tahap keyakinan diri bekas penagih dadah dalam pengawasan di malaysia: ke arah kepulihan menyeluruh (self-esteem among former drug addicts under observation in Malaysia: towards a comprehensive recovery)

Salina N, Fauziah I, Ezarina Z, Mohd Norahim Mohamed S, Nor Jana S

Jurnal Psikologi Malaysia, 2017;31:29-39.

Recovering drug addict is affected by two main factors, namely internal factors (such as resilience and self-confidence) and external (support from families, employers, friends, and community). One of the internal factors that appear to influence the level of recovery of former drug addict is selfconfidence. Therefore this study aims to measure the level of self-confidence among former drug addicts, also known as Orang Kena Pengawasan (OKP) who underwent rehabilitation in 6-11 months and 12-24 months. The study was conducted using cross-sectional surveys. A total of 386 former drug addicts in Peninsular Malaysia were involved in this study with 198 respondents undergoing 6-11 months rehabilitation programme and 197 were respondents who were released within 12-24 months. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics. This analysis was used to measure the level of self-confidence between respondents who underwent the 6-11 months rehabilitation programme (Group 1) and 12-24 months (Group 2). The study found that the majority of both groups showed no signiticant difference in the level of recovery from the aspect of self-confidence. The study also found the majority of respondents of both groups showed a moderate level of confidence of 58.5 percent. However, Group 1 showed a higher percentage of self-confidence (63.5%) compared to Group 2 of (53.8%). The findings have implications for the development of strategies towards a strong self-confidence among the inmates to reduce recidivism rates in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON SELECTED SECTORS TOWARDS ECONOMIC GROWTH IN MALAYSIA

NURUL FARHANA SENAWI, NOR FATIMAH CHE SULAIMAN, NOR FATIMAH CHE SULAIMAN

UMT Journal of Undergraduate Research, 2020;2(3):83-92.
MyJurnal

Government expenditure plays an important role in the country’s economic growth. Budget allocations through the annual budget presented have their strategies to ensure that the allocated budget can improve the growth and development in Malaysia and also can be enjoyed by all Malaysian. The government’s expenditure has contributed to the expansion of this country’s development from various sectors. However, there are various problems involving government expenditure such as low level of health, homeless poor people, weak public transportation and illegal immigrants. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between government expenditure on health, education, housing, transportation and defence sectors towards economic growth. The data used is secondary data from 1980-2017 for 38 years from the Department of Statistics, Malaysia and World Bank Data. The method used in this study is Descriptive Analysis and Autoregressive Distributed Lagged Model (ARDL). The result showed that economic growth and government expenditure on health, education, transportation, and defence has a long-run relationship. Therefore, the government should increase more expenditure on crucial sectors such as education, transportation, defence and health that will strengthen economic growth in the long run.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Suspended sediment load prediction using artificial neural network and ant lion optimization algorithm

Banadkooki FB, Ehteram M, Ahmed AN, Teo FY, Ebrahimi M, Fai CM, et al.

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2020 Oct;27(30):38094-38116.
PMID: 32621196 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-09876-w

Suspended sediment load (SSL) estimation is a required exercise in water resource management. This article proposes the use of hybrid artificial neural network (ANN) models, for the prediction of SSL, based on previous SSL values. Different input scenarios of daily SSL were used to evaluate the capacity of the ANN-ant lion optimization (ALO), ANN-bat algorithm (BA) and ANN-particle swarm optimization (PSO). The Goorganrood basin in Iran was selected for this study. First, the lagged SSL data were used as the inputs to the models. Next, the rainfall and temperature data were used. Optimization algorithms were used to fine-tune the parameters of the ANN model. Three statistical indexes were used to evaluate the accuracy of the models: the root-mean-square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE). An uncertainty analysis of the predicting models was performed to evaluate the capability of the hybrid ANN models. A comparison of models indicated that the ANN-ALO improved the RMSE accuracy of the ANN-BA and ANN-PSO models by 18% and 26%, respectively. Based on the uncertainty analysis, it can be surmised that the ANN-ALO has an acceptable degree of uncertainty in predicting daily SSL. Generally, the results indicate that the ANN-ALO is applicable for a variety of water resource management operations.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext Strategic roles of industrial statistics in modern industry

Djauhari, M.A.

ASM Science Journal, 2011;5(1):53-63.
MyJurnal

Industrial statistics is an important part of the management system in any industry that strives to continuously improve quality and increase productivity and efficiency. That system covers supply chain management, production design and prototyping, production process and marketing. Industrial statisticians, industrial engineers and industrial leaders should work together hand in hand, in the same language, to ensure that the process and products are as expected. The system itself is never complete. Thus, the usefulness, manageability and reliability of all statistical models used in the system are to be considered as first priority, but those skills are not sufficient. Industrial statisticians should also, of course, be able to come and go between the two poles: statistics and industry. This requirement needs a good understanding about the culture of these poles and how to conduct a mutual symbiosis. One of the principal bridges between these cultures is statistical process control (SPC). This paper is to show that modern industry cannot escape from SPC, especially in a multivariate setting. This setting, which characterizes modern industry, consists of two philosophical problems: how to order data and how to measure process variability. Our recent research results sponsored by the Government of Malaysia will be presented to illustrate the challenging statistical problems in modern industry.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext Stochastic electromagnetic field propagation- measurement and modelling

Gradoni G, Russer J, Baharuddin MH, Haider M, Russer P, Smartt C, et al.

Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci, 2018 Oct 29;376(2134).
PMID: 30373944 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2017.0455

This paper reviews recent progress in the measurement and modelling of stochastic electromagnetic fields, focusing on propagation approaches based on Wigner functions and the method of moments technique. The respective propagation methods are exemplified by application to measurements of electromagnetic emissions from a stirred, cavity-backed aperture. We discuss early elements of statistical electromagnetics in Heaviside's papers, driven mainly by an analogy of electromagnetic wave propagation with heat transfer. These ideas include concepts of momentum and directionality in the realm of propagation through confined media with irregular boundaries. We then review and extend concepts using Wigner functions to propagate the statistical properties of electromagnetic fields. We discuss in particular how to include polarization in this formalism leading to a Wigner tensor formulation and a relation to an averaged Poynting vector.This article is part of the theme issue 'Celebrating 125 years of Oliver Heaviside's 'Electromagnetic Theory''.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Statistical validation for the profiling of heroin by associating simulated postcut samples with the corresponding precut sample

Chan KW, Tan GH, Wong RC

J Forensic Sci, 2013 Jan;58 Suppl 1:S199-207.
PMID: 23013257 DOI: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02285.x

Statistical validation is crucial for the clustering of unknown samples. This study aims to demonstrate how statistical techniques can be optimized using simulated heroin samples containing a range of analyte concentrations that are similar to those of the case samples. Eight simulated heroin distribution links consisting of 64 postcut samples were prepared by mixing one of two mixtures of paracetamol-caffeine-dextromethorphan at different proportions with eight precut samples. Analyte contents and compositional variation of the prepared samples were investigated. A number of data pretreatments were evaluated by associating the postcut samples with the corresponding precut samples using principal component analysis and discriminant analysis. Subsequently, combinations of seven linkage methods and five distance measures were explored using hierarchical cluster analysis. In this study, Ward-Manhattan showed better distinctions between unrelated links and was able to cluster all related samples in very close distance under the known links on a dendogram. A similar discriminative outcome was also achieved by 90 unknown case samples when clustered via Ward-Manhattan.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext Staff reflection on the effectiveness of whatsapp usage for organizational communication: a study in a private Malaysian medical school

Sohayla M. Attalla, Jalal Ebrahim, Hassan Ads, Najibah Abdul Razak, Nabishah Mohamad

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(107):57-62.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Recently mobile communication technology had tremendous advances and became the priority for most of the users with some opponent opinions that highlight the accountability and the privacy issues in using these messaging applications. WhatsApp is scored to be the first top used messaging application worldwide that is used in 180 countries by about 1.5 billion population. This research aims to determine the staff reflections regarding the WhatsApp usage for organizational communication. Methods: This study is implied among the staff at the medical and health life science cluster, Management and Science University (MSU), Malaysia. A questionnaire was distributed to all the staff through an online google form. Responses were analysed by the ‘Statistical Package for Social Sciences’ (SPSS) Version 24.0. Results: Results showed that all the staff responded (100%) are using WhatsApp for organizational communication with variable degrees of satisfaction; 8.1% are extremely satisfied, 61.3 % are satisfied, 12.9% are not satisfied and 16.1 % are extremely not satisfied. Their level of satisfaction is significantly affected by the respondent’s age, benefit of usage, and the time of messaging. Conclusion: To ensure effectiveness of communication through WhatsApp, it should be through official groups and the organization should put specific announced rules for the time of usage and the content of messages to be posted to all members.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Spatio-temporal simulation and prediction of land-use change using conventional and machine learning models: a review

Aburas MM, Ahamad MSS, Omar NQ

Environ Monit Assess, 2019 Mar 05;191(4):205.
PMID: 30834982 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7330-6

Spatio-temporal land-use change modeling, simulation, and prediction have become one of the critical issues in the last three decades due to uncertainty, structure, flexibility, accuracy, the ability for improvement, and the capability for integration of available models. Therefore, many types of models such as dynamic, statistical, and machine learning (ML) models have been used in the geographic information system (GIS) environment to fulfill the high-performance requirements of land-use modeling. This paper provides a literature review on models for modeling, simulating, and predicting land-use change to determine the best approach that can realistically simulate land-use changes. Therefore, the general characteristics of conventional and ML models for land-use change are described, and the different techniques used in the design of these models are classified. The strengths and weaknesses of the various dynamic, statistical, and ML models are determined according to the analysis and discussion of the characteristics of these models. The results of the review confirm that ML models are the most powerful models for simulating land-use change because they can include all driving forces of land-use change in the simulation process and simulate linear and non-linear phenomena, which dynamic models and statistical models are unable to do. However, ML models also have limitations. For instance, some ML models are complex, the simulation rules cannot be changed, and it is difficult to understand how ML models work in a system. However, this can be solved via the use of programming languages such as Python, which in turn improve the simulation capabilities of the ML models.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Some statistical characteristic of malaysian wind direction recorded at maximum wind speed: 1999-2008

S.Z. Satari, Y.Z. Zubairi, S.F. Hassan, A.G. Hussin

Sains Malaysiana, 2015;44:1521-1530.

The statistical characteristics of wind direction that was recorded at maximum wind speed in Peninsular Malaysia for two monsoons from 1999 to 2008 for seven stations were analyzed in this study. Modeled by von Mises distribution, the change in parameters values namely mean direction and concentration parameter was measured. Statistical summary, graphical representations, Watson-William Test and linear-circular correlation are used in the analysis. It is found that there is a significant change in the mean direction of wind over the period of ten years for most stations in Peninsular Malaysia. However, there is a weak relationship between wind direction and wind speed. This study suggested the presence of prominent direction of wind that blows in Peninsular Malaysia by monsoon. This finding may provide useful information on giving a better understanding of the behavior of the wind in Peninsular Malaysia and the potential use of wind as an alternative source of energy.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry
Fulltext Sleep belief factors among Diploma students in UiTM Sabah

Nowyannie Willie D. Tamsin, Norah Tuah, Mazalan Sarahintu, Herniza Roxanne Marcus

Borneo Akademika, 2019;3(1):20-29.
MyJurnal

University students are known to have different sleeping schedules. Students’ sleep difficulties will affect their health and their performances in studies. Sleep hygiene is a collection of healthy sleep habits that can improve one’s ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. It is considered to be imperative to treat sleep disturbance especially among university students. The aim of this study is to examine the sleep beliefs among the students of UiTM Sabah based on gender and academic performance. This study was conducted on Diploma students between March and July 2018. The respondents were randomly selected from Diploma students of all faculties in UiTM Sabah: Accounting, Business Management, Public Administration, Science, Planting Industry Management, Hotel Management, and Tourism Management. This paper is based on the Sleep Belief Scale questionnaire to assess the sleep hygiene awareness. Questionnaires were distributed using online survey. Findings of this study were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. The result of findings showed that the Sleep Incompatible Behaviours (drinking coffee, taking sleep medication, smoking before sleep) is the highest contributor of the students’ sleep hygiene and therefore it affects the sleep quality. While the Sleep Wake Cycle Behaviours (going to bed & waking up always at the same hour, going to bed two hours earlier than the habitual hour) and Thoughts and Attitude to Sleep (over thinking before sleep, trying to fall asleep without having a sleep sensation)also contributed to the sleep hygiene of the students but not as high as the Sleep Incompatible Behaviours. Based on the results of the findings, the counseling department of UiTM Sabah may organise an education program to create awareness among students about the intervention and prevention strategies as well as the incorrect beliefs about sleep.

Matched MeSH terms: Biometry

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