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Fulltext Neurological rehabilitation of stroke patients by means of a robotically assisted brain controlled interface

Abdullah MZ

Malays J Med Sci, 2009 Apr;16(2):1-3.
PMID: 22589650
Integrating amperometric detection with electrophoresis microchip devices for biochemical assays: recent developments

Ghanim MH, Abdullah MZ

Talanta, 2011 Jul 15;85(1):28-34.
PMID: 21645665 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2011.04.069

Recent advances in microfluidic systems, particularly in the Micro Total Analysis System (μTAS) or Lab On a Chip (LOC), drive the current analysis tools and equipment towards miniaturization, rapid at-line testing and mobility. The state-of-the-art microfluidic technology targets a wider range but smaller volumes of analytes, making the analytical procedure relatively easier and faster. This trend together with faster electronics and modern instrumentation systems will make real-time and in situ analysis a definite possibility. This review focuses on microchip capillary electrophoresis with amperometric detection (MCE-AD) for the detection of DNA and other electroactive analytes. The problems associated with the microchip design, in particular the choice of materials and the configuration of electrodes are discussed thoroughly and solutions are proposed. Significant developments in the related areas are also covered and reviewed critically.
Fulltext Robotic neurosurgery: a preliminary study using an active vision-guided robotic arm for bone drilling and endoscopic manoeuvres

Awang MS, Abdullah MZ

Malays J Med Sci, 2011 Apr;18(2):53-7.
PMID: 22135587 MyJurnal

Surgical robots have been appearing in operating rooms over the past decade, and neurosurgery has been one of the pioneers in this area. In neurosurgery, the clinical use of robots has been limited to stereotactic procedures and endoscopic manoeuvres, although the brain is a unique organ and well-suited for robotic application. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of our vision-guided robotic system to perform basic neurosurgical procedures.
Fulltext Hybrid mesh for nasal airflow studies

Zubair M, Abdullah MZ, Ahmad KA

Comput Math Methods Med, 2013;2013:727362.
PMID: 23983811 DOI: 10.1155/2013/727362

The accuracy of the numerical result is closely related to mesh density as well as its distribution. Mesh plays a very significant role in the outcome of numerical simulation. Many nasal airflow studies have employed unstructured mesh and more recently hybrid mesh scheme has been utilized considering the complexity of anatomical architecture. The objective of this study is to compare the results of hybrid mesh with unstructured mesh and study its effect on the flow parameters inside the nasal cavity. A three-dimensional nasal cavity model is reconstructed based on computed tomographic images of a healthy Malaysian adult nose. Navier-Stokes equation for steady airflow is solved numerically to examine inspiratory nasal flow. The pressure drop obtained using the unstructured computational grid is about 22.6 Pa for a flow rate of 20 L/min, whereas the hybrid mesh resulted in 17.8 Pa for the same flow rate. The maximum velocity obtained at the nasal valve using unstructured grid is 4.18 m/s and that with hybrid mesh is around 4.76 m/s. Hybrid mesh reported lower grid convergence index (GCI) than the unstructured mesh. Significant differences between unstructured mesh and hybrid mesh are determined highlighting the usefulness of hybrid mesh for nasal airflow studies.
The mediating role of work-related musculoskeletal disorders on the link between psychosocial factors and absenteeism among administrative workers

Abdullah MZ, Othman AK, Ahmad MF, Justine M

Soc Work Public Health, 2015;30(1):64-74.
PMID: 25375935 DOI: 10.1080/19371918.2014.938393

This study aimed to investigate the association between psychosocial factors (i.e., job demand, decision latitude, social support, physical environment, and personal risk factors), work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs), and productivity as measured by workers' perceived absenteeism. Data were collected from the selected administrative workers (administrative assistant) and analyzed using cross tabulation. The results indicate that all psychological factors are not significantly associated with WRMDs, except for the association between personal risk factors and hip/thigh disorders. Subsequently, WRMDs do not significantly contribute to explaining absenteeism. The managerial and research implications of this study are deliberately discussed.
Fulltext Effects of solder temperature on pin through-hole during wave soldering: thermal-fluid structure interaction analysis

Aziz MS, Abdullah MZ, Khor CY

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:482363.
PMID: 25225638 DOI: 10.1155/2014/482363

An efficient simulation technique was proposed to examine the thermal-fluid structure interaction in the effects of solder temperature on pin through-hole during wave soldering. This study investigated the capillary flow behavior as well as the displacement, temperature distribution, and von Mises stress of a pin passed through a solder material. A single pin through-hole connector mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) was simulated using a 3D model solved by FLUENT. The ABAQUS solver was employed to analyze the pin structure at solder temperatures of 456.15 K (183(°)C) < T < 643.15 K (370(°)C). Both solvers were coupled by the real time coupling software and mesh-based parallel code coupling interface during analysis. In addition, an experiment was conducted to measure the temperature difference (ΔT) between the top and the bottom of the pin. Analysis results showed that an increase in temperature increased the structural displacement and the von Mises stress. Filling time exhibited a quadratic relationship to the increment of temperature. The deformation of pin showed a linear correlation to the temperature. The ΔT obtained from the simulation and the experimental method were validated. This study elucidates and clearly illustrates wave soldering for engineers in the PCB assembly industry.
Fulltext Standardization of Malaysian adult female nasal cavity

Lee CF, Abdullah MZ, Ahmad KA, Lutfi Shuaib I

Comput Math Methods Med, 2013;2013:519071.
PMID: 23840279 DOI: 10.1155/2013/519071

This research focuses on creating a standardized nasal cavity model of adult Malaysian females. The methodology implemented in this research is a new approach compared to other methods used by previous researchers. This study involves 26 females who represent the test subjects for this preliminary study. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis was carried out to better understand the characteristics of the standardized model and to compare it to the available standardized Caucasian model. This comparison includes cross-sectional areas for both half-models as well as velocity contours along the nasal cavities. The Malaysian female standardized model is larger in cross-sectional area compared to the standardized Caucasian model thus leading to lower average velocity magnitudes. The standardized model was further evaluated with four more Malaysian female test subjects based on its cross-sectional areas and average velocity magnitudes along the nasal cavities. This evaluation shows that the generated model represents an averaged and standardized model of adult Malaysian females.
A preliminary study of using active vision guided robotic arm for bone drilling in a developing country

Abdullah MZ, Awang MS, Tan YC, Abdullah JM

J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg, 2014 Mar;75(2):155-7.
PMID: 23636911 DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1330954

The study assesses the capability and accuracy of a robotic arm to perform burr holes.
Assessment of the impact of petroleum and petrochemical industries to the surrounding areas in Malaysia using mosses as bioindicator supported by multivariate analysis

Abdullah MZ, Saat AB, Hamzah ZB

Environ Monit Assess, 2012 Jun;184(6):3959-69.
PMID: 21822578 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-011-2236-y

Biomonitoring of multi-element atmospheric deposition using terrestrial moss is a well-established technique in Europe. Although the technique is widely known, there were very limited records of using this technique to study atmospheric air pollution in Malaysia. In this present study, the deposition of 11 trace metals surrounding the main petroleum refinery plant in Kerteh Terengganu (eastern part of peninsular Malaysia) has been evaluated using two local moss species, namely Hypnum plumaeforme and Taxithelium instratum as bioindicators. The study was also done by means of observing whether these metals are attributed to work related to oil exploration in this area. The moss samples have been collected at 30 sampling stations in the vicinity of the petrochemical industrial area covering up to 15 km to the south, north, and west in radius. The contents of heavy metal in moss samples were analyzed by energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence technique. Distribution of heavy metal content in all mosses is portrayed using Surfer software. Areas of the highest level of contaminations are highlighted. The results obtained using the principal components analysis revealed that the elements can be grouped into three different components that indirectly reflected three different sources namely anthropogenic factor, vegetation factor, and natural sources (soil dust or substrate) factor. Heavy metals deposited mostly in the distance after 9 km onward to the western part (the average direction of wind blow). V, Cr, Cu, and Hg are believed to have originated from local petrochemical-based industries operated around petroleum industrial area.
Time-domain reconstruction using sensitivity coefficients for limited view ultrawide band tomography

Abdullah MZ, Yin W, Bilal M, Armitage DW, Mackin R, Peyton AJ

Rev Sci Instrum, 2007 Aug;78(8):084703.
PMID: 17764343

This article addresses time-domain ultrawide band (UWB) electromagnetic tomography for reconstructing the unknown spatial characteristic of an object from observations of the arrivals of short electromagnetic (EM) pulses. Here, the determination of the first peak arrival of the EM traces constitutes the forward problem, and the inverse problem aims to reconstruct the EM property distribution of the media. In this article, the finite-difference time-domain method implementing a perfectly matched layer is used to solve the forward problem from which the system sensitivity maps are determined. Image reconstruction is based on the combination of a linearized update and regularized Landweber minimization algorithm. Experimental data from a laboratory UWB system using targets of different contrasts, sizes, and shapes in an aqueous media are presented. The results show that this technique can accurately detect and locate unknown targets in spite of the presence of significant levels of noise in the data.
Recent Advances on Thermally Conductive Adhesive in Electronic Packaging: A Review

Alim MA, Abdullah MZ, Aziz MSA, Kamarudin R, Gunnasegaran P

Polymers (Basel), 2021 Sep 29;13(19).
PMID: 34641155 DOI: 10.3390/polym13193337

The application of epoxy adhesive is widespread in electronic packaging. Epoxy adhesives can be integrated with various types of nanoparticles for enhancing thermal conductivity. The joints with thermally conductive adhesive (TCA) are preferred for research and advances in thermal management. Many studies have been conducted to increase the thermal conductivity of epoxy-based TCAs by conductive fillers. This paper reviews and summarizes recent advances of these available fillers in TCAs that contribute to electronic packaging. It also covers the challenges of using the filler as a nano-composite. Moreover, the review reveals a broad scope for future research, particularly on thermal management by nanoparticles and improving bonding strength in electronic packaging.
Low electric field DNA separation and in-channel amperometric detection by microchip capillary electrophoresis

Ghanim MH, Najimudin N, Ibrahim K, Abdullah MZ

IET Nanobiotechnol, 2014 Jun;8(2):77-82.
PMID: 25014078 DOI: 10.1049/iet-nbt.2012.0044

Miniaturisation of microchip capillary electrophoresis (MCE) is becoming an increasingly important research topic, particularly in areas related to micro total analysis systems or lab on a chip. One of the important features associated with the miniaturised MCE system is the portable power supply unit. In this work, a very low electric field MCE utilising an amperometric detection scheme was designed for use in DNA separation. The device was fabricated from a glass/polydimethylsiloxane hybrid engraved microchannel with platinum electrodes sputtered onto a glass substrate. Measurement was based on a three-electrode arrangement, and separation was achieved using a very low electric field of 12 V/cm and sample volume of 1.5 µl. The device was tested using two commercial DNA markers of different base pair sizes. The results are in agreement with conventional electrophoresis, but with improved resolution. The sensitivity consistently higher than 100 nA, and the separation time approximately 45 min, making this microchip an ideal tool for DNA analysis.
Combustion in porous media and its applications--a comprehensive survey

Mujeebu MA, Abdullah MZ, Bakar MZ, Mohamad AA, Muhad RM, Abdullah MK

J Environ Manage, 2009 Jun;90(8):2287-312.
PMID: 19299066 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.10.009

The rapid advances in technology and improved living standard of the society necessitate abundant use of fossil fuels which poses two major challenges to any nation. One is fast depletion of fossil fuel resources; the other is environmental pollution. The porous medium combustion (PMC) has proved to be one of the technically and economically feasible options to tackle the aforesaid problems to a remarkable extent. PMC has interesting advantages compared with free flame combustion due to the higher burning rates, the increased power dynamic range, the extension of the lean flammability limits, and the low emissions of pollutants. This article provides a comprehensive picture of the global scenario of research and developments in PMC and its applications that enable a researcher to decide the direction of further investigation. The works published so far in this area are reviewed, classified according to their objectives and presented in an organized manner with general conclusions. A separate section is devoted for the numerical modeling of PMC.
Fulltext Arrangements of Resting State Electroencephalography as the Input to Convolutional Neural Network for Biometric Identification

Lai CQ, Ibrahim H, Abdullah MZ, Abdullah JM, Suandi SA, Azman A

Comput Intell Neurosci, 2019;2019:7895924.
PMID: 31281339 DOI: 10.1155/2019/7895924

Biometric is an important field that enables identification of an individual to access their sensitive information and asset. In recent years, electroencephalography- (EEG-) based biometrics have been popularly explored by researchers because EEG is able to distinct between two individuals. The literature reviews have shown that convolutional neural network (CNN) is one of the classification approaches that can avoid the complex stages of preprocessing, feature extraction, and feature selection. Therefore, CNN is suggested to be one of the efficient classifiers for biometric identification. Conventionally, input to CNN can be in image or matrix form. The objective of this paper is to explore the arrangement of EEG for CNN input to investigate the most suitable input arrangement of EEG towards the performance of EEG-based identification. EEG datasets that are used in this paper are resting state eyes open (REO) and resting state eyes close (REC) EEG. Six types of data arrangement are compared in this paper. They are matrix of amplitude versus time, matrix of energy versus time, matrix of amplitude versus time for rearranged channels, image of amplitude versus time, image of energy versus time, and image of amplitude versus time for rearranged channels. It was found that the matrix of amplitude versus time for each rearranged channels using the combination of REC and REO performed the best for biometric identification, achieving validation accuracy and test accuracy of 83.21% and 79.08%, respectively.
Continuous medication monitoring: A clinical model to predict adherence to medications among chronic kidney disease patients

Islahudin F, Lee FY, Tengku Abd Kadir TNI, Abdullah MZ, Makmor-Bakry M

Res Social Adm Pharm, 2021 10;17(10):1831-1840.
PMID: 33589374 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2021.02.002

BACKGROUND: An adherence model is required to optimise medication management among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, as current assessment methods overestimate the true adherence of CKD patients with complex regimens. An approach to assess adherence to individual medications is required to assist pharmacists in addressing non-adherence.
OBJECTIVE: To develop an adherence prediction model for CKD patients.
METHODS: This multi-centre, cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 tertiary hospitals in Malaysia using simple random sampling of CKD patients with ≥1 medication (sample size = 1012). A questionnaire-based collection of patient characteristics, adherence (defined as ≥80% consumption of each medication for the past one month), and knowledge of each medication (dose, frequency, indication, and administration) was performed. Continuous data were converted to categorical data, based on the median values, and then stratified and analysed. An adherence prediction model was developed through multiple logistic regression in the development group (n = 677) and validated on the remaining one-third of the sample (n = 335). Beta-coefficient values were then used to determine adherence scores (ranging from 0 to 7) based on the predictors identified, with lower scores indicating poorer medication adherence.
RESULTS: Most of the 1012 patients had poor medication adherence (n = 715, 70.6%) and half had good medication knowledge (n = 506, 50%). Multiple logistic regression analysis determined 4 significant predictors of adherence: ≤7 medications (constructed score = 2, p
Fulltext Double-Layer Micro Porous Media Burner from Lean to Rich Fuel Mixture: Analysis of Entropy Generation and Exergy Efficiency

Ismail NC, Abdullah MZ, Mustafa KF, Mazlan NM, Gunnasegaran P, Irawan AP

Entropy (Basel), 2021 Dec 10;23(12).
PMID: 34945969 DOI: 10.3390/e23121663

Porous media burner (PMB) is widely used in a variety of practical systems, including heat exchangers, gas propulsion, reactors, and radiant burner combustion. However, thorough evaluations of the performance of the PMB based on the usefulness of entropy generation, thermal and exergy efficiency aspects are still lacking. In this work, the concept of a double-layer micro PMB with a 23 mm cylindrical shape burner was experimentally demonstrated. The PMB was constructed based on the utilization of premixed butane-air combustion which consists of an alumina and porcelain foam. The tests were designed to cover lean to rich combustion with equivalence ratios ranging from ϕ = 0.6 to ϕ = 1.2. It was found that the maximum thermal and exergy efficiency was obtained at ϕ = 1.2 while the lowest thermal and exergy efficiency was found at ϕ = 0.8. Furthermore, the findings also indicated that the total entropy generation, energy loss, and exergy destroyed yield the lowest values at ϕ = 1.0 with 0.0048 W/K, 98.084 W, and 1.456 W, respectively. These values can be stated to be the suitable operating conditions of the PMB. The findings provided useful information on the design and operation in a double-layer PMB.
Fulltext Lattice Boltzmann Method of Different BGA Orientations on I-Type Dispensing Method

Abas A, Gan ZL, Ishak MH, Abdullah MZ, Khor SF

PLoS One, 2016;11(7):e0159357.
PMID: 27454872 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159357

This paper studies the three dimensional (3D) simulation of fluid flows through the ball grid array (BGA) to replicate the real underfill encapsulation process. The effect of different solder bump arrangements of BGA on the flow front, pressure and velocity of the fluid is investigated. The flow front, pressure and velocity for different time intervals are determined and analyzed for potential problems relating to solder bump damage. The simulation results from Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) code will be validated with experimental findings as well as the conventional Finite Volume Method (FVM) code to ensure highly accurate simulation setup. Based on the findings, good agreement can be seen between LBM and FVM simulations as well as the experimental observations. It was shown that only LBM is capable of capturing the micro-voids formation. This study also shows an increasing trend in fluid filling time for BGA with perimeter, middle empty and full orientations. The perimeter orientation has a higher pressure fluid at the middle region of BGA surface compared to middle empty and full orientation. This research would shed new light for a highly accurate simulation of encapsulation process using LBM and help to further increase the reliability of the package produced.
Exploring the effect of ultrasonic power, frequency, and load toward remediation of oil-contaminated beach and oilfield sands using ANOVA

Mat-Shayuti MS, Tuan Ya TMYS, Abdullah MZ, Othman NH, Alias NH

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2021 Nov;28(41):58081-58091.
PMID: 34106401 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14776-8

Despite the potential shown by previous investigations on the use of ultrasound for the remediation of oil-contaminated sand, the influence and interactions among ultrasonic parameters and oily sand are unclear, leading to possible ineffective treatment and high-power consumption. In order to improve the process efficiency, this work analyzes the effects of ultrasonic power, frequency, and load toward the cleaning of crude oil-contaminated sand, using two different sample positions and sand types. Crude oil-contaminated beach sand and produced sand from offshore oil well were used as samples. They were cleaned in custom-made ultrasonic bath reactor for 10 min with power from 30 to 120 W, frequency covering 25-60 kHz, and sand load of 10-100 g. With experimental design consisting multiple factors and levels, the interactions between factors in all possible combinations were determined using ANOVA (n = 210). From p-value based at 95% confidence interval and extensive F test, the three most significant factors were the sand type, the ultrasonic frequency, and the interaction between sand type and frequency. The best setting for suspended samples involved high frequency of 60 kHz, whereas bottom samples preferred low frequency at 28 kHz. This finding was justified when the acoustic pressure attenuation, standing wave pattern, and surface pitting/cracking were found in correlation with the cleaning results. Overall, the maximum treatment under ultrasonic bath solely gained around 60%, improvable by hybrid cleaning with other techniques such as chemical, biological, mechanical, and thermal.
Progress in ultrasonic oil-contaminated sand cleaning: a fundamental review

Mat-Shayuti MS, Tuan Ya TMYS, Abdullah MZ, Megat Khamaruddin PNF, Othman NH

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2019 Sep;26(26):26419-26438.
PMID: 31327143 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05954-w

Steady efforts in using ultrasonic energy to treat oil-contaminated sand started in the early 2000s until today, although pilot studies on the area can be traced to even earlier dates. Owing to the unique characteristics of the acoustic means, the separation of oil from sand has been showing good results in laboratories. This review provides the compilation of researches and insights into the mechanism of separation thus far. Related topics in the areas of oil-contaminated sand characterizations, fundamental ultrasonic cleaning, and cavitation effects are also addressed. Nevertheless, many of the documented works are only at laboratory or pilot-scale level, and the comprehensive interaction between ultrasonic parameters towards cleaning efficiencies may not have been fully unveiled. Gaps and opportunities are also presented at the end of this article.
An economic feasibility assessment of implementing photovoltaic module reflectors under Malaysian meteorological conditions

Sultan SM, Abdullah MZ, Tso CP, Abllah NFN, Zakaria N, Ajeel RK, et al.

Sci Rep, 2024 Feb 09;14(1):3349.
PMID: 38336991 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54031-x

The use of a reflector can increase the solar radiation on the photovoltaic module (PV) surface, whereby the energy output can be improved. However, the economic feasibility may need to be considered too. This study is conducted, for the first time, due to the lack of studies regarding the economic feasibility assessment of implementing reflectors under the Malaysian meteorological conditions. The outcome will give information about the suitability for implementing a PV reflector in Malaysia through an experimental setup at a sewage treatment site, for two months in 2022. The Malaysian meteorological data, which include daily solar radiation, ambient temperature and wind velocity, were collected to study the output energy, efficiency and the economic perspective of a PV. In February 2022, the PV was operating without a reflector and the averaged values for the monthly solar radiation, ambient temperature and wind velocity were 539.9 MJ/m2, 28.4 °C and 2.2 m/s, respectively, which resulted in an output energy of 106.43 kWh. On the other hand, for April 2022, the PV was operating with a reflector. With the respective averaged input parameters 544.98 MJ/m2, 28.9 °C and 1.51 m/s, the output energy was 121.94 kWh. It is thus shown that the PV with a reflector increases the PV's output energy by 14.57%. Also, it is shown that the cost-effective factor value is 0.955 which means that the PV reflector is economically feasible to be implemented under the Malaysian meteorological conditions. Hence, extensive research should be conducted to improve the performance of PV reflectors. The findings of this paper maybe useful for researchers and/or manufacturers of PV reflectors.

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