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Decoding of visual activity patterns from fMRI responses using multivariate pattern analyses and convolutional neural network

Zafar R, Kamel N, Naufal M, Malik AS, Dass SC, Ahmad RF, et al.

J Integr Neurosci, 2017;16(3):275-289.
PMID: 28891512 DOI: 10.3233/JIN-170016

Decoding of human brain activity has always been a primary goal in neuroscience especially with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. In recent years, Convolutional neural network (CNN) has become a popular method for the extraction of features due to its higher accuracy, however it needs a lot of computation and training data. In this study, an algorithm is developed using Multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) and modified CNN to decode the behavior of brain for different images with limited data set. Selection of significant features is an important part of fMRI data analysis, since it reduces the computational burden and improves the prediction performance; significant features are selected using t-test. MVPA uses machine learning algorithms to classify different brain states and helps in prediction during the task. General linear model (GLM) is used to find the unknown parameters of every individual voxel and the classification is done using multi-class support vector machine (SVM). MVPA-CNN based proposed algorithm is compared with region of interest (ROI) based method and MVPA based estimated values. The proposed method showed better overall accuracy (68.6%) compared to ROI (61.88%) and estimation values (64.17%).

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Microwave Imaging Sensor Using Compact Metamaterial UWB Antenna with a High Correlation Factor

Islam MM, Islam MT, Faruque MRI, Samsuzzaman M, Misran N, Arshad H

Materials (Basel), 2015 Jul 23;8(8):4631-4651.
PMID: 28793461 DOI: 10.3390/ma8084631

The design of a compact metamaterial ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna with a goal towards application in microwave imaging systems for detecting unwanted cells in human tissue, such as in cases of breast cancer, heart failure and brain stroke detection is proposed. This proposed UWB antenna is made of four metamaterial unit cells, where each cell is an integration of a modified split ring resonator (SRR), capacitive loaded strip (CLS) and wire, to attain a design layout that simultaneously exhibits both a negative magnetic permeability and a negative electrical permittivity. This design results in an astonishing negative refractive index that enables amplification of the radiated power of this reported antenna, and therefore, high antenna performance. A low-cost FR4 substrate material is used to design and print this reported antenna, and has the following characteristics: thickness of 1.6 mm, relative permeability of one, relative permittivity of 4.60 and loss tangent of 0.02. The overall antenna size is 19.36 mm × 27.72 mm × 1.6 mm where the electrical dimension is 0.20 λ × 0.28 λ × 0.016 λ at the 3.05 GHz lower frequency band. Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) measurements have illustrated that this antenna exhibits an impedance bandwidth from 3.05 GHz to more than 15 GHz for VSWR < 2 with an average gain of 4.38 dBi throughout the operating frequency band. The simulations (both HFSS and computer simulation technology (CST)) and the measurements are in high agreement. A high correlation factor and the capability of detecting tumour simulants confirm that this reported UWB antenna can be used as an imaging sensor.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Investigating the potential of Nigella Sativa and Thymoquinone in salvaging the Embryo from effects of Toxic Paternal Exposure to Cyclophosphamide

Suzanah Abdul Rahman, Nadia Hanis Abdul Samat, Nur Amalina Ahmad, ‘Afif Raihan Abdullah, Syazana Mohamad Zahri, Saheera Kamarzaman

International Medical Journal Malaysia, 2017;16(1):99-106.
MyJurnal

Exposure to cyclophosphamide (CPA) for cancer treatment results in over-production of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress thus affecting the DNA in male germ cell inducing sperm defects. Our goal is to assess the potential effects of Nigella sativa extract (NSE) and thymoquinone (TQ) on sperm and embryo quality following fertlization of sperm produced from germ cells which have been exposed to the damaging alkylating effects of CPA.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Religiosity and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours in Malaysian Muslims: The Mediating Role of Subjective Well-Being and Self-Regulation

Tey SE, Park MS, Golden KJ

J Relig Health, 2018 Dec;57(6):2050-2065.
PMID: 28647911 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-017-0420-2

Past research on healthy lifestyle behaviours has been primarily conducted within Western or Judeo-Christian contexts, while non-Western or Muslim contexts remain under-represented. This study examined predictors of healthy lifestyle behaviours (religiosity, goal-setting, impulse control, and subjective well-being) in Malaysian Muslims and explored the mechanisms underlying the relationship between religiosity and healthy lifestyle behaviours. Self-report survey responses from 183 healthy adults (M age = 28.63 years, 18-50 years) were analysed using regression and multiple mediation analyses. The results indicated that subjective well-being emerged as the strongest predictor, followed by goal-setting. Furthermore, subjective well-being and goal-setting mediated the religiosity-healthy lifestyle behaviour relationship. The findings provide guidance for future health-promoting interventions.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
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: Goals
Fulltext A Hybridised Intelligent Technique for the diagnosis of medical diseases

Abdu Masanawa Sagir, Saratha Sathasivam

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2017;25(2):425-440.
MyJurnal

Medical diagnosis is the process of determining which disease or medical condition explains a person’s determinable signs and symptoms. Diagnosis of most diseases is very expensive as many tests are required for predictions. This paper aims to introduce an improved hybrid approach for training the adaptive network based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). It incorporates hybrid learning algorithms least square estimates with Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm using analytic derivation for computation of Jacobian matrix, as well as code optimisation technique, which indexes membership functions. The goal is to investigate how certain diseases are affected by patient’s characteristics and measurement such as abnormalities or a decision about the presence or absence of a disease. In order to achieve an accurate diagnosis at this complex stage of symptom analysis, the physician may need efficient diagnosis system to classify and predict patient condition by using an adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) pre-processed by grid partitioning. The proposed hybridised intelligent technique was tested with Statlog heart disease and Hepatitis disease datasets obtained from the University of California at Irvine’s (UCI) machine learning repository. The robustness of the performance measuring total accuracy, sensitivity and specificity was examined. In comparison, the proposed method was found to achieve superior
performance when compared to some other related existing methods.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Role of sustainable development goals in advancing the circular economy: A state-of-the-art review on past, present and future directions

Fauzi MA, Abidin NHZ, Omer MM, Kineber AF, Rahman ARA

Waste Manag Res, 2024 Jul;42(7):520-532.
PMID: 37681563 DOI: 10.1177/0734242X231196765

The purpose of this study is to review the relationship between the highly anticipated concept of circular economy (CE) and sustainable development goals (SDGs). These two sustainability principles have transformed organizations and countries in their quest to achieve sustainable development. Despite their importance to the business and corporate realm, the discussion of these two concepts has been developed in silos, arbitrarily connected. Through a bibliometric approach, this study reviewed 226 journal publications and 16,008 cited references from the Web of Science (WoS) to understand the past, present and future trends of the two concepts and their impact on the sustainability development. The bibliometric approach of citation, co-citation and co-word analysis uncovers the relevant and significant themes and research streams. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed within the broader business and governance perspective to develop a substantial triple bottom line in creating a sustainable future for civil society.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext A review of plastic waste circular actions in seven developing countries to achieve sustainable development goals

Ferronato N, Maalouf A, Mertenat A, Saini A, Khanal A, Copertaro B, et al.

Waste Manag Res, 2024 Jun;42(6):436-458.
PMID: 37519292 DOI: 10.1177/0734242X231188664

Plastic waste circularity is a priority at a global level. Sustainable development goals (SDGs) set the ways to go, and the circular economy principles underlined the 'green' strategies to be employed. However, in practice, there is still much to do, especially in developing countries, where open burning and open dumping still represent the common way of plastic waste disposal. This review aims to analyse current plastic waste circular approaches in low-middle income settings. Seven countries were selected based on the economic level and data availability from the authors, and analysed to collect and critically discuss the actions implemented at a city level. Examples of waste minimization and recycling strategies, selective collection systems and public campaigns are reported from Africa, Asia and Latin America. First, a background analysis related to physical and governance aspects of municipal solid waste management systems of the chosen settings was conducted. The assessment was focused on the treatment processes or minimization actions. Then, the applicability of the projects to achieve the SDGs was commented on. The outcomes of the research underline the need to: (1) scale up small-scale and pilot projects, (2) disseminate good practices in more low- to middle-income settings, (3) create synergies among international partners for further replications in cities. Urgent solutions to plastic waste pollution are needed. The review presented practical actions to be implemented now to boost plastic waste circularity in developing cities.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Recovery planning towards doubling wild tiger Panthera tigris numbers: Detailing 18 recovery sites from across the range

Harihar A, Chanchani P, Borah J, Crouthers RJ, Darman Y, Gray TNE, et al.

PLoS One, 2018;13(11):e0207114.
PMID: 30408090 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207114

With less than 3200 wild tigers in 2010, the heads of 13 tiger-range countries committed to doubling the global population of wild tigers by 2022. This goal represents the highest level of ambition and commitment required to turn the tide for tigers in the wild. Yet, ensuring efficient and targeted implementation of conservation actions alongside systematic monitoring of progress towards this goal requires that we set site-specific recovery targets and timelines that are ecologically realistic. In this study, we assess the recovery potential of 18 sites identified under WWF's Tigers Alive Initiative. We delineated recovery systems comprising a source, recovery site, and support region, which need to be managed synergistically to meet these targets. By using the best available data on tiger and prey numbers, and adapting existing species recovery frameworks, we show that these sites, which currently support 165 (118-277) tigers, have the potential to harbour 585 (454-739) individuals. This would constitute a 15% increase in the global population and represent over a three-fold increase within these specific sites, on an average. However, it may not be realistic to achieve this target by 2022, since tiger recovery in 15 of these 18 sites is contingent on the initial recovery of prey populations, which is a slow process. We conclude that while sustained conservation efforts can yield significant recoveries, it is critical that we commit our resources to achieving the biologically realistic targets for these sites even if the timelines are extended.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Biologic and synthetic skin substitutes: An overview

Halim AS, Khoo TL, Mohd Yussof SJ

Indian J Plast Surg, 2010 Sep;43(Suppl):S23-8.
PMID: 21321652 DOI: 10.4103/0970-0358.70712

The current trend of burn wound care has shifted to more holistic approach of improvement in the long-term form and function of the healed burn wounds and quality of life. This has demanded the emergence of various skin substitutes in the management of acute burn injury as well as post burn reconstructions. Skin substitutes have important roles in the treatment of deep dermal and full thickness wounds of various aetiologies. At present, there is no ideal substitute in the market. Skin substitutes can be divided into two main classes, namely, biological and synthetic substitutes. The biological skin substitutes have a more intact extracellular matrix structure, while the synthetic skin substitutes can be synthesised on demand and can be modulated for specific purposes. Each class has its advantages and disadvantages. The biological skin substitutes may allow the construction of a more natural new dermis and allow excellent re-epithelialisation characteristics due to the presence of a basement membrane. Synthetic skin substitutes demonstrate the advantages of increase control over scaffold composition. The ultimate goal is to achieve an ideal skin substitute that provides an effective and scar-free wound healing.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Comprehensive SDG goal and targets for non-communicable diseases and mental health

Minas H, Tsutsumi A, Izutsu T, Goetzke K, Thornicroft G

Int J Ment Health Syst, 2015;9:12.
PMID: 25774216 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-015-0003-0

The negotiations on the SDG goals and targets, leading to the sustainable development Declaration in September 2015, are now in the final stages. Ensuring that people with mental disorders are not left behind in the global development program from 2015 to 2030 will require specific and explicit commitments and targets against which progress in mental health can be measured and reported. The arguments for inclusion of explicit mental health targets in the SDGs are compelling. The final negotiations on the SDG goals and targets will now determine whether people with mental illness and psychosocial disabilities will continue to be neglected or will benefit equitably from inclusion in the post-2015 development program.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext An overview of indices used to measure treatment effectiveness in patients with cleft lip and palate

Haque S, Alam MK, Arshad AI

Malays J Med Sci, 2015 Jan-Feb;22(1):4-11.
PMID: 25892945 MyJurnal

In the contemporary era, the demand for orthodontic treatment is ever rising. Orthodontic treatment duration can range from a year to a few years. Our aim is to assess the available techniques of categorising treatment effectiveness in patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) and to study their effect on improvement of treatment outcomes. The electronic databases including Medline-PUBMED, Science Direct, and ISI Web of Knowledge were searched from 1987 to 2013, and 40 311 relevant articles were found. Of these, we identified 22 articles including original articles as well as literature reviews. The different parameters and indices that are applied to speed-up orthodontic treatment outcomes in patients with CLP were identified as the GOSLON Yardstick, 5-year-old index, EUROCRAN index, Huddart Bodenham system, modified Huddart Bodenham system, GOAL Yardstick and, Bauru-Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Yardstick. This overview can create better awareness regarding the uses, advantages, and disadvantages of the different indices. It can enable better assessment and provide the impetus needed for a sustained upgrade in the standards of care for CLP in daily orthodontics.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Angioarchitecture of brain arteriovenous malformations and the risk of bleeding: an analysis of patients in northeastern malaysia

Kandai S, Abdullah MS, Naing NN

Malays J Med Sci, 2010 Jan;17(1):44-8.
PMID: 22135525

Central nervous system arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a vascular malformation of the brain and involves entanglement of veins and arteries without an intervening capillary bed. Affecting predominantly young male patients, AVM presents with different clinical manifestations namely headache, seizures, neurological deficit and intracranial haemorrhage. The patients who present acutely with intracranial bleeding have a significant morbidity and mortality. The aim is to study the angioarchitecture of brain AVM (BAVM) and determine the risk factors for intracranial bleeding. Ultimately, the goal of the study is to look for the association between volume of haematoma and architecture of BAVM.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
ASEAN

United States. Department of State. Bureau of Public Affairs

Backgr Notes Ser, 1989 Mar.
PMID: 12177994
Matched MeSH terms: Goals*
Dynamic disequilibrium: demographic policies and trends in Asia

Hull TH, Larson A

Asia Pac Econ Lit, 1987 May;1(1):25-59.
PMID: 12314890
Matched MeSH terms: Goals*
Malaysian population and family development

Nor Laily Aziz Binti Abu Bakar

Search Medford N J, 1981 Apr.
PMID: 12222508
Matched MeSH terms: Goals*
Fulltext The Effects of a 7000-Step Goal and Weekly Group Walking Program for Overweight and Obese Elderly People in Sarawak, Malaysia: A Quasi-experimental Study

Saad MF, Cheah WL, Hazmi H

J Prev Med Public Health, 2021 May;54(3):199-207.
PMID: 34092066 DOI: 10.3961/jpmph.20.584

OBJECTIVES: Physical inactivity is the fourth leading global risk factor for mortality, followed by obesity. The combination of these risk factors is associated with non-communicable diseases, impaired physical function, and declining mental function. The World Health Organization recommends physical activity to reduce the mortality rate. Thus, this study examined the effects on anthropometric measurements of a 12-week walking program for elderly people in Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia with a 7000-step goal and weekly group walking activities.
METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted involving 109 elderly people with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25.0 kg/m2. BMI, body composition, and average daily steps were measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, and repeated-measures analysis of variance with the paired t-test for post-hoc analysis was conducted.
RESULTS: In total, 48 participants in the intervention group and 61 participants in the control group completed the study. A significant interaction was found between time and group. The post-hoc analysis showed a significant difference between pre-intervention and post-intervention (within the intervention group). The post-intervention analysis revealed an increase in the mean number of daily steps by 3571.59, with decreases in body weight (-2.20 kg), BMI (-0.94 kg/m2), body fat percentage (-3.52%), visceral fat percentage (-1.29%) and waist circumference (-2.91 cm). Skeletal muscle percentage also showed a significant increase (1.67%).
CONCLUSIONS: A 12-week walking program combining a 7000-step goals with weekly group walking activities had a significant effect on the anthropometric measurements of previously inactive and overweight/obese elderly people.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals*
Fulltext Ultra Long Construct Minimally Invasive Spinal Stabilization Using Percutaneous Pedicle Screws in the Treatment of Symptomatic Multicentric Spinal Metastasis

Lee CK, Chan CY, Kwan MK

Asian Spine J, 2015 Dec;9(6):962-5.
PMID: 26713131 DOI: 10.4184/asj.2015.9.6.962

Managing multiple level spinal metastases is challenging. We report the case of a 58-year-old female with advanced lung cancer who presented with multiple pathological fractures of the thoracic spine (T5, T6, T7, and T8 vertebrae). She was treated with palliative radiotherapy. Her resting pain improved, but the instability pain persisted. One month later, she had a trivial fall leading to a pathological fracture of the L2 vertebra with cauda equine syndrome. The patient was treated surgically with minimally invasive decompression of the L2 and with percutaneous instrumented stabilization using an ultra-long construct from T3 to L5 (15 spinal levels), spanning the previously radiated zone and the decompression site. Postoperatively, she had significant improvements in pain and neurology. There were no surgical complications. Ultra long construct minimally invasive spinal stabilization is the ideal approach for symptomatic multicentric spinal metastasis with poor prognostic scores. Using this technique, the goals of spinal stabilization and direct neural decompression can be achieved with minimal morbidity.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Properties and Applications of Polyvinyl Alcohol, Halloysite Nanotubes and Their Nanocomposites

Gaaz TS, Sulong AB, Akhtar MN, Kadhum AA, Mohamad AB, Al-Amiery AA

Molecules, 2015;20(12):22833-47.
PMID: 26703542 DOI: 10.3390/molecules201219884

The aim of this review was to analyze/investigate the synthesis, properties, and applications of polyvinyl alcohol-halloysite nanotubes (PVA-HNT), and their nanocomposites. Different polymers with versatile properties are attractive because of their introduction and potential uses in many fields. Synthetic polymers, such as PVA, natural polymers like alginate, starch, chitosan, or any material with these components have prominent status as important and degradable materials with biocompatibility properties. These materials have been developed in the 1980s and are remarkable because of their recyclability and consideration of the natural continuation of their physical and chemical properties. The fabrication of PVA-HNT nanocomposites can be a potential way to address some of PVA's limitations. Such nanocomposites have excellent mechanical properties and thermal stability. PVA-HNT nanocomposites have been reported earlier, but without proper HNT individualization and PVA modifications. The properties of PVA-HNT for medicinal and biomedical use are attracting an increasing amount of attention for medical applications, such as wound dressings, drug delivery, targeted-tissue transportation systems, and soft biomaterial implants. The demand for alternative polymeric medical devices has also increased substantially around the world. This paper reviews individualized HNT addition along with crosslinking of PVA for various biomedical applications that have been previously reported in literature, thereby showing the attainability, modification of characteristics, and goals underlying the blending process with PVA.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals
Fulltext Effect of honey in diabetes mellitus: matters arising

Erejuwa OO

J Diabetes Metab Disord, 2014 Jan 29;13(1):23.
PMID: 24476150 DOI: 10.1186/2251-6581-13-23

Diabetes mellitus remains an incurable disorder in spite of intense research. As result of limitations and unmet goals associated with the use of anti-diabetic drugs, an increased number of diabetic populations globally now resort to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) such as herbs and other natural products. There has been a renewed interest in the use of honey in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, partly due to an increase in the availability of evidence-based data demonstrating its benefits in diabetic rodents and patients. This commentary aims to underscore some of the research implications, issues and questions raised from these studies which show the beneficial effects of honey in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Some of the issues highlighted in this article include: considering honey is sweet and rich in sugars, how could it be beneficial in the management of diabetes mellitus? Are the observed effects of honey or combined with anti-diabetic drugs exclusive to certain honey such as tualang honey? Could these beneficial effects be reproduced with other honey samples? Anti-diabetic drugs in combination with honey improve glycemic control, enhance antioxidant defenses and reduce oxidative damage. These effects are believed to be mediated partly via antioxidant mechanism of honey. This raises another question. Could similar data be obtained if anti-diabetic drugs are co-administered with other potent antioxidants such as vitamin C or E? As the evidence has revealed, the prospect of managing diabetes mellitus with honey or antioxidants (such as vitamin C or E) as an adjunct to conventional diabetes therapy is vast. However, more well-designed, rigorously conducted randomized controlled studies are necessary to further validate these findings.

Matched MeSH terms: Goals

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