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Fulltext A Novel Eddy Current Testing Error Compensation Technique Based on Mamdani-Type Fuzzy Coupled Differential and Absolute Probes

Abdalla AN, Ali K, Paw JKS, Rifai D, Faraj MA

Sensors (Basel), 2018 Jun 30;18(7).
PMID: 29966367 DOI: 10.3390/s18072108

Eddy current testing (ECT) is an accurate, widely used and well-understood inspection technique, particularly in the aircraft and nuclear industries. The coating thickness or lift-off will influence the measurement of defect depth on pipes or plates. It will be an uncertain decision condition whether the defects on a workpiece are cracks or scratches. This problem can lead to the occurrence of pipe leakages, besides causing the degradation of a company’s productivity and most importantly risking the safety of workers. In this paper, a novel eddy current testing error compensation technique based on Mamdani-type fuzzy coupled differential and absolute probes was proposed. The general descriptions of the proposed ECT technique include details of the system design, intelligent fuzzy logic design and Simulink block development design. The detailed description of the proposed probe selection, design and instrumentation of the error compensation of eddy current testing (ECECT) along with the absolute probe and differential probe relevant to the present research work are presented. The ECECT simulation and hardware design are proposed, using the fuzzy logic technique for the development of the new methodology. The depths of the defect coefficients of the probe’s lift-off caused by the coating thickness were measured by using a designed setup. In this result, the ECECT gives an optimum correction for the lift-off, in which the reduction of error is only within 0.1% of its all-out value. Finally, the ECECT is used to measure lift-off in a range of approximately 1 mm to 5 mm, and the performance of the proposed method in non-linear cracks is assessed.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk
Fulltext Muslim consumers’ perception and purchase intention toward GM food

Hassan, S.H., John Kua, S.B., Harun, H.

International Food Research Journal, 2016;23(2):806-815.
MyJurnal

The attention on genetically modified (GM) food industry is increasing due to the flourishing
of biotechnology. However, there are some debates on the associated benefits and risks of
employing modification technology in food industry. This study strives to examine the causes
that determine consumers’ benefit and risk perceptions on GM foods. Besides, the influence of
perceived benefit and risk of GM food on consumers’ attitude is investigated. The empirical
results of this study showed that GM food knowledge, and GM food characteristics have been
acting as important predictors of both benefits and risks perceptions. Further, it is also found
that perceived benefits showed significant positive influence on attitude, and attitude affects
purchase intention towards GM food. Research implications to policy makers, scientists, and
market practitioners are covered, in which suggestions and recommendations are provided
to these parties. Lastly, research implications and recommendations to future research are
discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk Assessment
Avoiding the rough: travel health risks facing golf tourists

Flaherty G, Udoeyop I, Whooley P, Jones M

J Travel Med, 2017 05 01;24(3).
PMID: 28355618 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taw100
Matched MeSH terms: Risk Factors
Fulltext Investigating the randomness and duration of PM10 pollution using functional data analysis

Shaadan, N., Deni, S.M., Jemain, A.A.

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2018;26(1):299-308.
MyJurnal

Information on situation of air pollution is critically needed as input in four disciplines of research including risk management, risk evaluation, environmental epidemiology, as well as for status and trend analysis. Two normal practices were identified to evaluate daily air pollution situation; first, pollution magnitude has been treated as the common indicator, and second, the analysis was often conducted based on hourly average data. However, the information on the magnitude level alone to represent the pollution condition based on a rigid point data such as the average was seen as insufficient. Thus, to fill the gap, this study was conducted based on continuously measured data in the form of curves, which is also known as functional data, whereby pollution duration is emphasised. A statistical method based on curve ranking was used in the investigation. The application of the method at Klang, Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam air quality monitoring stations located in the Klang Valley, Malaysia, has shown that pollution duration decreases as the magnitude increases. Shah Alam has the longest pollution duration at low and medium magnitude levels. Meanwhile, all the three stations experienced quite a similar length of average pollution duration for the high magnitude level, that is, about 2.5 days. It was also shown that the occurrence of PM10 pollution at the area is significantly not random.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk Management
Fulltext Two Stage Portfolio Selection and Optimization Model with the Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization

Kashif Zaheer, Mohd Ismail Abd Aziz, Kashif, Amber Nehan, Syed Muhammad Murshid Raza

MATEMATIKA, 2018;34(1):125-141.
MyJurnal

The selection criteria play an important role in the portfolio optimization
using any ratio model. In this paper, the authors have considered the mean return as
profit and variance of return as risk on the asset return as selection criteria, as the first
stage to optimize the selected portfolio. Furthermore, the sharp ratio (SR) has been
considered to be the optimization ratio model. In this regard, the historical data taken
from Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) has been considered. A metaheuristic technique
has been developed, with financial tool box available in MATLAB and the particle swarm
optimization (PSO) algorithm. Hence, called as the hybrid particle swarm optimization
(HPSO) or can also be called as financial tool box particle swarm optimization (FTBPSO).
In this model, the budgets as constraint, where as two different models i.e. with
and without short sale, have been considered. The obtained results have been compared
with the existing literature and the proposed technique is found to be optimum and better
in terms of profit.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk
Fulltext Inventory management improvement suggestion through time-series forecasting for financial service company

Adipriyana, Raditianto, Rosmahaida Jamaludin, Hayati Habibah Abdul Talib

Journal of Advanced Research Design, 2018;49(1):7-14.
MyJurnal

Management is consistently facing fast-flowing and lots of changes in business, including in the inventory management. Especially for fast-moving inventories, the correct stocking, controlling, checking and safety stock calculation is highly needed to have an exquisite inventory management and to reduce the possibility of running out of inventory which leads to unavailability to meet the demand. One of the ways to overcome this is by doing an excellent and appropriate forecasting. Therefore, the objective of this concept paper is to analyse and recommend tools to improve inventory management using the appropriate time-series forecasting method. The firm studied in this study is serving its employees as customers that demand the routine items including stationeries and other routine products to support their job as auditors and consultants for its client. However, there are occasions when there is out-of-stock situation for fast-moving items, especially in the peak season period. Furthermore, the firm is only applying replenishment based on the used inventories from the previous month. Therefore, this study suggests to eliminate out-of-stock items situation by applying precaution initiatives such as time-series forecasting. This study is planned to employ 10 time-series forecasting methods such as moving average, exponential smoothing, regression analysis, Holt-Winters analysis, Seasonal analysis and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) using Risk Simulator Software. By simulating those methods, the most appropriate method is selected based on the forecasting accuracy measurement.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk
Highlights of Biosafety and Biosecurity Month (BBM)at the AIMST University and Perspectives on Biorisk Management

Bhore SJ

Bioinformation, 2019;15(8):568-571.
PMID: 31719766 DOI: 10.6026/97320630015568

The innovations and developments in microbiology, biomedical sciences, and biotechnology come along with the challenges of biological risk (biorisk). Biorisk is defined as the "combination of the probability of occurrence of harm and the severity of that harm where the source of harm is a biological agent or toxin." Biorisk is a borderless challenge to the global community. Hence, all universities, colleges, centers of bio-excellence, and institutions of higher learning can and should do their bit to educate technical members, academicians, students and stakeholders (LASS) for the efficient and comprehensive biorisk management (BRM) for our and future generations safety and sustainability.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk
A comparative study of extreme rainfall in Peninsular Malaysia: with reference to partial duration and annual extreme series

Wan Zin Wan Zawiah, Abdul Aziz Jemain, Kamarulzaman Ibrahim, Jamaludin Suhaila, Mohd Deni Sayang

Sains Malaysiana, 2009;38.

Statistical distributions of annual extreme (AE) and partial duration (PD) for rainfall events are analysed using a database of 50 rain-gauge stations in Peninsular Malaysia, involving records of time series data which extend from 1975 to 2004. The generalised extreme value (GEV) and generalised Pareto (GP) distributions are considered to model the series of annual extreme and partial duration. In both cases, the three parameter models such as GEV and GP distributions are fitted by means of L-moments method, which is one of the commonly used methods for robust estimation. The goodness-of-fit of the theoretical distribution to the data is then evaluated by means of L-moment ratio diagram and several goodness-of-fit (GOF) tests for each of the 50 stations. It is found that for the majority of stations, the AE and PD series are well fitted by the GEV and GP models, respectively. Based on the models that have been identified, we can reasonably predict the risks associated with extreme rainfall for various return periods.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk
Asymmetry dynamic volatility forecast evaluations using interday and intraday data

Chin WC, Chin WC, Zaidi Isa, Abu Hassan Shaari Mohd Nor

Sains Malaysiana, 2012;41:1287-1299.

The accuracy of financial time series forecasts often rely on the model precision and the availability of actual observations for forecast evaluations. This study aimed to tackle these issues in order to obtain a suitable asymmetric time-varying volatility model that outperformed in the forecast evaluations based on interday and intraday data. The model precision was examined based on the most appropriate time-varying volatility representation under the autoregressive conditional heteroscedascity framework. For forecast precision, the evaluations were conducted under three loss functions using the volatility proxies and realized volatility. The empirical studies were implemented on two major financial markets and the estimated results are applied in quantifying their market risks. Empirical results indicated that Zakoian model provided the best in-sample forecasts whereas DGE on the other hand indicated better out-of-sample forecasts. For the type of volatility proxy selection, the implementation of intraday data in the latent volatility indicated significant improvement in all the time horizon forecasts.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk
Statistical analysis of vehicle theft crime in peninsular Malaysia using negative binomial regression model

Ahmad Mahir Razali, Nurulkamal Masseran, Noriszura Ismail, Malina Zulkifli

Sains Malaysiana, 2015;44:1363-1370.

The aim of this paper was to identify the determinants that influence vehicle theft by applying a negative binomial regression model. The identification of these determinants is very important to policy-makers, car-makers and car owners, as they can be used to establish practical steps for preventing or at least limiting vehicle thefts. In addition, this paper also proposed a crime mapping application that allows us to identify the most risky areas for vehicle theft. The results from this study can be utilized by local authorities as well as management of internal resource planning of insurance companies in planning effective strategies to reduce vehicle theft. Indirectly, this paper has built ingenuity by combining information obtained from the database of Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia and insurance companies to pioneer the development of location map of vehicle theft in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk
Tail dependence estimate in financial market risk management: clayton-gumbel copula approach

Shamiri A, Hamzah N, Pirmoradian A

Sains Malaysiana, 2011;40:1179-1186.

This paper focuses on measuring risk due to extreme events going beyond the multivariate normal distribution of joint returns. The concept of tail dependence has been found useful as a tool to describe dependence between extreme data in finance. Specifically, we adopted a multivariate Copula-EGARCH approach in order to investigate the presence of conditional dependence between international financial markets. In addition, we proposed a mixed Clayton-Gumbel copula with estimators for measuring both, the upper and lower tail dependence. The results showed significant dependence for Singapore and Malaysia as well as for Singapore and US, while the dependence for Malaysia and US was relatively weak

Matched MeSH terms: Risk
Once-daily aminoglycoside dosing

Riley PA

JUMMEC, 1996;1:17-19.

The conventional use of aminoglycoside antibiotics has several disadvantages including the need for regular pre- and post-dose assaying and the risks of toxicity. Achieving a therapeutic and non-toxic serum concentration may be difficult in many patients especially those with severe sepsis. Correct timing of doses and assays is essential, but this is often difficult to achieve. Many of these difficulties may be remedied by the use of once daily dosing. This dosing schedule appears to be equally effective as the conventional method and i s also less toxic. There are many other advantages including the need for less assays and venepuncture resulting in reduced costs. KEYWORDS: Aminoglycosides, antibiotic therapy, toxicity, therapeutic monitoring

Matched MeSH terms: Risk
Fulltext A systematic review on noncommunicable diseases among working women

Idris IB, Azit NA, Abdul Ghani SR, Syed Nor SF, Mohammed Nawi A

Ind Health, 2021 Aug 17;59(3):146-160.
PMID: 33551443 DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2020-0204

The increasing involvement of women in the paid-labor market has led to multifactorial exposure towards the development of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). This review aims to identify the prevalence of NCDs and the associated risk factors among working women. A systematic review was performed using PubMed and Scopus databases. Twelve articles published between 2015 and 2019 satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were selected for qualitative synthesis. Among working women, the prevalence of NCDs was as follows: coronary heart disease, 0.3%-5.9%; metabolic syndrome, 52.0%; diabetes mellitus, 8.9%-16.0%; hypertension, 16.6%-66.4%; non-skin cancer, 3.7%. The prevalence of NCD risk factors was as follows: overweight/obesity, 33.8%-77.0%; low physical activity, 51.0%; unhealthy diet, 44.9%-69.9%; dyslipidemia, 27.8%-44.0%. The factors associated with NCDs were long working hours, double work burden, and stress. NCD is an important burden of working women that will lead to reduced work quality and affect family well-being. Disease prevention approaches, such as the intervention of common workplace risk factors and specific work schedule design, are among the strategies for improving the situation.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk Factors
A review of lung cancer research in Malaysia

Kan CS, Chan KM

Med J Malaysia, 2016 06;71(Suppl 1):70-78.
PMID: 27801389 MyJurnal

Lung cancer is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in Malaysia and worldwide. This paper reviews all research and publications on lung cancer in Malaysia published between 2000-2015. 89 papers were identified, of which 64 papers were selected and reviewed on the basis of their relevance to the review. The epidemiology, risk factors, cell types, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, prevention, and the social impact of lung cancer in the country are reviewed and summarized. The clinical relevance of the studies done in the country are discussed along with recommendations for future research.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk Factors
Fulltext Environment as the risk factor for tuberculosis in Malaysia: a systematic review of the literature

Mohidem NA, Hashim Z, Osman M, Muharam FM, Elias SM, Shaharudin R

Rev Environ Health, 2021 Dec 20;36(4):493-499.
PMID: 34821116 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2020-0096

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and incidence of TB by focusing on its environmental risk factor in Malaysia.
CONTENT: Databases search of Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Plus, MyJournal, Biblioteca Regional de Medicina (BIREME), BioMed Central (BMC) Public Health, Medline, Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux (CAB), EMBASE (Excerpta Medica dataBASE) OVID, and Web of Science (WoS) was performed, which include the article from 1st January 2008 until 31st August 2018 using medical subject heading (MeSH). Articles initially identified were screened for relevance.
SUMMARY: Out of 744 papers screened, nine eligible studies did meet our inclusion criteria. Prison and housing environments were evaluated for TB transmission in living environment, while the other factor was urbanization. However, not all association for these factors were statistically significant, thus assumed to be conflicting or weak to end up with a strong conclusion.
OUTLOOK: Unsustainable indoor environment in high congregate setting and overcrowding remained as a challenge for TB infection in Malaysia. Risk factors for transmission of TB, specifically in high risk areas, should focus on the implementation of specialized program. Further research on health care environment, weather variability, and air pollution are urgently needed to improve the management of TB transmission.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk Factors
Seasonal variation and mobility of trace metals in the beach sediments of NW Borneo

Anandkumar A, Nagarajan R, Sellappa Gounder E, Prabakaran K

Chemosphere, 2022 Jan;287(Pt 1):132069.
PMID: 34523457 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132069

Miri city has a dynamic coastal environment, mainly influenced by intensive sedimentation from the Baram River and excessive trace metal loading by the Miri River, which are significant environmental concerns. As the mobility, bioavailability, and toxicity of the trace metals in the sediments are largely controlled by their particulate speciation, the modified BCR sequential extraction protocol was applied to determine the particulate speciation of trace metals in the coastal sediments of Miri, to unravel the seasonal geochemical processes responsible for known observations, and to identify possible sources of these trace metals. The granulometric analysis results showed that littoral currents aided by the monsoonal winds have influenced the grain size distribution of the sediments, enabling us to divide the study area into north-east and south-west segments where the geochemical composition are distinct. The Cu (>84%) and Zn (82%) concentrations are predominantly associated with the exchangeable fraction, which is readily bioavailable. Pb and Cd are dominant in non-residual fractions and other metals viz., Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, and Cr are dominant in the residual fraction. Using Pearson's correlation and factor analysis, the major mechanisms controlling the chemistry of the sediments are identified as association of Cu and Zn with fine fraction sediments, sulphide oxidation in the SW segment of the study area, atmospheric fallout of Pb and Cd in the river basins, precipitation of dissolved Fe and Mn supplied from the rivers and remobilization of Mn from the coastal sediments. Based on various pollution indices, it is inferred that the coastal sediments of NW Borneo are contaminated with Cu and Zn, and are largely bioavailable, which can be a threat to the local aquatic organisms, coral reefs, and coastal mangroves.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk Assessment
REVIEW-Novel corona virus disease (COVID-19): An updated review on epidemiology, pathogenicity, clinical course, treatments, migrant health concerns and risk factors predictions

Anis S, Masood Khan M, Ali Z, Khan A, Arsalan HM, Naeem S, et al.

Pak J Pharm Sci, 2021 Sep;34(5):1821-1836.
PMID: 34803021

The COVID-19 epidemic is considered the most important health disaster of the century and the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II. In December 2019, a new respiratory disease/disorder was discovered in Wuhan, Hubei province, China and World Health Organization named it COVID-19 (coronavirus 2019). It has been diagnosed with a new class of corona virus, called SARS-CoV-2 (a serious respiratory disease). According to the history of human civilization it is affected by the incidence of disease outbreaks caused by the number of viruses. Covid-19 is rapidly spreading across the globe, due to which mankind faces major health, economic, environmental and social challenges. The outbreak of coronavirus is seriously affecting the global economy. Almost all nations have problems limiting the spread of the disease by screening and treating patients, setting up suspects by keeping in touch, blocking large gatherings, maintaining full or partial closure etc. This paper describes the impact of COVID-19 on society and the global environment, and the ways in which the disease is likely to be controlled have been discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk Factors
Malay version of the modified Conflict Tactics Scale of elder abuse and neglect (MMCTS-EAN): Validation and methodological challenges

Wazid SW, Yunus RM, Mohd Hairi NN, Choo WY

J Elder Abuse Negl, 2021 10 20;33(5):368-384.
PMID: 34670476 DOI: 10.1080/08946566.2021.1990815

Among the challenges in systematic inquiry into elder abuse and neglect (EAN) is the lack of standardized tool of measurement. Existing literature demonstrates diverse tools being used, with the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) and its versions being the most common. The Malaysian Elder Mistreatment Project (MAESTRO) utilized the Modified CTS developed and used by the National Study of Elder Abuse and Neglect in Ireland (NSEA-I). This article aimed to validate this Malay version of the modified CTS for use in the Malaysian context and by Malay-speaking populations across Southeast Asia while highlighting the various practical and methodological challenges encountered along the process. Data were collected from 1927 older respondents who lived in Kuala Pilah district. Preliminary data screening led to the dropping of 10 items due to 0 variance. Further four items were deleted during CFA due to low loading. The indicators of neglect factor were made into a composite factor due to high collinearity. The final scale had acceptable reliability and validity. This tool is likely to assist in assessing and detecting EAN more quickly and conveniently. It will also assist future researches of EAN in taking into account the issues that arise in the measurement of EAN.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk Factors
Fulltext Behavioral risk factors and periodontal disease in Malang, Indonesia

Gayatri RW, Tama TD, Alma LR, Yun LW, Savira L, Kuroidah A

Gac Sanit, 2021 12 22;35 Suppl 2:S438-S440.
PMID: 34929871 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2021.10.071

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the relationship of behavioral risk factors for periodontal disease among 19-64 age group in Malang City.
METHOD: A non-experimental quantitative analytic with a cross sectional study approach was used in this study. The respondents were 331 patients who visited the dental clinics of the Health Centers in Malang City. A cluster random sampling technique was used in this study. The instrument used was questionnaire. The data analysis was done through multivariate analyses use logistic-regression.
RESULTS: The Wald test results on logistic-regression models showed there is no significant effect of smoking habits and consumption patterns on periodontal disease. There is a significant effect of systemic disease on periodontal disease with a significance value of 0.000 (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant relationship and effect between systemic disease and periodontal disease in this study.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk Factors
Are dentists more prone to metabolic syndrome and occupational stress?

Alshiddi IF, Habib SR, Sattar K, Alshahrani A, Almufleh RS, Basuhail S, et al.

Work, 2021;70(4):1187-1194.
PMID: 34842205 DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205134

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among dentists in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study also explored the causes of occupational stress among the participating dentists.
MATERIALS & METHODS: The participants included a conveniently selected sample of dentists (N = 126; Males = 65; Females = 61). The participants' anthropometric measurements/blood sample analysis were carried out and they completed a self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis included demographics, gender/age wise comparison using SPSS (p 0.05) were observed for cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL. However, significant difference (p = 0.00) was found for the fasting glucose level (Males = 5.69±1.49; Females = 4.94±0.42). Overall mean scoring (3.00±1.11) for the stress showed that the participants fall into the average/moderate level of stress category (Males = 3.16±1.02; Females = 2.83±1.08). Almost two third (68.26%) of the participant's responded that they were under some kind of stress.
CONCLUSIONS: MS was found to be less frequent among the dentists working in the city of Riyadh. Overall, the dentists were under moderate level of occupational stress, with male dentists being more prone to work related stress.

Matched MeSH terms: Risk Factors

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