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Fulltext Coverage extension and balancing the transmitted power of the moving relay node at LTE-A cellular network

Aldhaibani JA, Yahya A, Ahmad RB

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:815720.
PMID: 24672378 DOI: 10.1155/2014/815720

The poor capacity at cell boundaries is not enough to meet the growing demand and stringent design which required high capacity and throughput irrespective of user's location in the cellular network. In this paper, we propose new schemes for an optimum fixed relay node (RN) placement in LTE-A cellular network to enhance throughput and coverage extension at cell edge region. The proposed approach mitigates interferences between all nodes and ensures optimum utilization with the optimization of transmitted power. Moreover, we proposed a new algorithm to balance the transmitted power of moving relay node (MR) over cell size and providing required SNR and throughput at the users inside vehicle along with reducing the transmitted power consumption by MR. The numerical analysis along with the simulation results indicates that an improvement in capacity for users is 40% increment at downlink transmission from cell capacity. Furthermore, the results revealed that there is saving nearly 75% from transmitted power in MR after using proposed balancing algorithm. ATDI simulator was used to verify the numerical results, which deals with real digital cartographic and standard formats for terrain.
Fulltext Market Structure, Financial Dependence and Industrial Growth: Evidence from the Banking Industry in Emerging Asian Economies

Khan HH, Ahmad RB, Gee CS

PLoS One, 2016;11(8):e0160452.
PMID: 27490847 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160452

In this study, we examine the role of market structure for growth in financially dependent industries from 10 emerging Asian economies over the period of 1995-2011. Our approach departs from existing studies in that we apply four alternative measures of market structure based on structural and non-structural approaches and compare their outcomes. Results indicate that higher bank concentration may slow down the growth of financially dependent industries. Bank competition on the other hand, allows financially dependent industries to grow faster. These findings are consistent across a number of sensitivity checks such as alternative measures of financial dependence, institutional factors (including property rights, quality of accounting standards and bank ownership), and endogeneity consideration. In sum, our study suggests that financially dependent industries grow more in more competitive/less concentrated banking systems. Therefore, regulatory authorities need to be careful while pursuing a consolidation policy for banking sector in emerging Asian economies.
Fulltext The ability of analysts' recommendations to predict optimistic and pessimistic forecasts

Biglari V, Alfan EB, Ahmad RB, Hajian N

PLoS One, 2013;8(10):e73853.
PMID: 24146741 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073853

Previous researches show that buy (growth) companies conduct income increasing earnings management in order to meet forecasts and generate positive forecast Errors (FEs). This behavior however, is not inherent in sell (non-growth) companies. Using the aforementioned background, this research hypothesizes that since sell companies are pressured to avoid income increasing earnings management, they are capable, and in fact more inclined, to pursue income decreasing Forecast Management (FM) with the purpose of generating positive FEs. Using a sample of 6553 firm-years of companies that are listed in the NYSE between the years 2005-2010, the study determines that sell companies conduct income decreasing FM to generate positive FEs. However, the frequency of positive FEs of sell companies does not exceed that of buy companies. Using the efficiency perspective, the study suggests that even though buy and sell companies have immense motivation in avoiding negative FEs, they exploit different but efficient strategies, respectively, in order to meet forecasts. Furthermore, the findings illuminated the complexities behind informative and opportunistic forecasts that falls under the efficiency versus opportunistic theories in literature.
Fulltext Mechanomyogram for muscle function assessment: a review

Islam MA, Sundaraj K, Ahmad RB, Ahamed NU

PLoS One, 2013;8(3):e58902.
PMID: 23536834 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058902

BACKGROUND: Mechanomyography (MMG) has been extensively applied in clinical and experimental practice to examine muscle characteristics including muscle function (MF), prosthesis and/or switch control, signal processing, physiological exercise, and medical rehabilitation. Despite several existing MMG studies of MF, there has not yet been a review of these. This study aimed to determine the current status on the use of MMG in measuring the conditions of MFs.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Five electronic databases were extensively searched for potentially eligible studies published between 2003 and 2012. Two authors independently assessed selected articles using an MS-Word based form created for this review. Several domains (name of muscle, study type, sensor type, subject's types, muscle contraction, measured parameters, frequency range, hardware and software, signal processing and statistical analysis, results, applications, authors' conclusions and recommendations for future work) were extracted for further analysis. From a total of 2184 citations 119 were selected for full-text evaluation and 36 studies of MFs were identified. The systematic results find sufficient evidence that MMG may be used for assessing muscle fatigue, strength, and balance. This review also provides reason to believe that MMG may be used to examine muscle actions during movements and for monitoring muscle activities under various types of exercise paradigms.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Overall judging from the increasing number of articles in recent years, this review reports sufficient evidence that MMG is increasingly being used in different aspects of MF. Thus, MMG may be applied as a useful tool to examine diverse conditions of muscle activity. However, the existing studies which examined MMG for MFs were confined to a small sample size of healthy population. Therefore, future work is needed to investigate MMG, in examining MFs between a sufficient number of healthy subjects and neuromuscular patients.
Fulltext Investigation of the EMG-time relationship of the biceps Brachii muscle during contractions

Ahamed NU, Ahmed N, Alqahtani M, Altwijri O, Ahmad RB, Sundaraj K

J Phys Ther Sci, 2015 Jan;27(1):39-40.
PMID: 25642033 DOI: 10.1589/jpts.27.39

[Purpose] This study investigated the changes in the slope of EMG-time curves (relationship) at the maximal and different levels of dynamic (eccentric and concentric) and static (isometric) contractions. [Subjects and Methods] The subject was a 17 year-old male adolescent. The surface EMG signal of the dominant arm's biceps brachii (BB) was recorded through electrodes placed on the muscle belly. [Results] The results obtained during the contractions show that the regression slope was very close to 1.00 during concentric contraction, whereas those of eccentric and isometric contractions were lower. Significant differences were found for the EMG amplitude and time lags among the contractions. [Conclusion] The results show that the EMG signal of the BB varies among the three modes of contraction and the relationship of the EMG amplitude with a time lag gives the best fit during concentric contraction.
Analysis of crosstalk in the mechanomyographic signals generated by forearm muscles during different wrist postures

Islam A, Sundaraj K, Ahmad RB, Sundaraj S, Ahamed NU, Ali MA

Muscle Nerve, 2015 Jun;51(6):899-906.
PMID: 25204740 DOI: 10.1002/mus.24454

In this study, we analyzed the crosstalk in mechanomyographic (MMG) signals generated by the extensor digitorum (ED), extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU), and flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) muscles of the forearm during wrist flexion (WF) and extension (WE) and radial (RD) and ulnar (UD) deviations.
Fulltext Longitudinal, lateral and transverse axes of forearm muscles influence the crosstalk in the mechanomyographic signals during isometric wrist postures

Islam MA, Sundaraj K, Ahmad RB, Sundaraj S, Ahamed NU, Ali MA

PLoS One, 2014;9(8):e104280.
PMID: 25090008 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104280

In mechanomyography (MMG), crosstalk refers to the contamination of the signal from the muscle of interest by the signal from another muscle or muscle group that is in close proximity.
Evaluation of repetitive isometric contractions on the heads of triceps brachii muscle during grip force exercise

Ali MA, Sundaraj K, Ahmad RB, Ahamed NU, Islam MA, Sundaraj S

Technol Health Care, 2014;22(4):617-25.
PMID: 24990168 DOI: 10.3233/THC-140833

Normally, surface electromyography electrodes are used to evaluate the activity of superficial muscles during various kinds of voluntary contractions of muscle fiber. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of repetitive isometric contractions on the three heads of the triceps brachii muscle during handgrip force exercise.
Fulltext Cross-talk in mechanomyographic signals from the forearm muscles during sub-maximal to maximal isometric grip force

Islam MA, Sundaraj K, Ahmad RB, Sundaraj S, Ahamed NU, Ali MA

PLoS One, 2014;9(5):e96628.
PMID: 24802858 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096628

This study aimed: i) to examine the relationship between the magnitude of cross-talk in mechanomyographic (MMG) signals generated by the extensor digitorum (ED), extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU), and flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) muscles with the sub-maximal to maximal isometric grip force, and with the anthropometric parameters of the forearm, and ii) to quantify the distribution of the cross-talk in the MMG signal to determine if it appears due to the signal component of intramuscular pressure waves produced by the muscle fibers geometrical changes or due to the limb tremor.
Fulltext Online Learning Approach for Predictive Real-Time Energy Trading in Cloud-RANs

Wan Ariffin WNSF, Zhang X, Nakhai MR, Rahim HA, Ahmad RB

Sensors (Basel), 2021 Mar 25;21(7).
PMID: 33806215 DOI: 10.3390/s21072308

Constantly changing electricity demand has made variability and uncertainty inherent characteristics of both electric generation and cellular communication systems. This paper develops an online learning algorithm as a prescheduling mechanism to manage the variability and uncertainty to maintain cost-aware and reliable operation in cloud radio access networks (Cloud-RANs). The proposed algorithm employs a combinatorial multi-armed bandit model and minimizes the long-term energy cost at remote radio heads. The algorithm preschedules a set of cost-efficient energy packages to be purchased from an ancillary energy market for the future time slots by learning both from cooperative energy trading at previous time slots and by exploring new energy scheduling strategies at the current time slot. The simulation results confirm a significant performance gain of the proposed scheme in controlling the available power budgets and minimizing the overall energy cost compared with recently proposed approaches for real-time energy resources and energy trading in Cloud-RANs.
Fulltext Critical Data-Based Incremental Cooperative Communication for Wireless Body Area Network

Al-Mishmish H, Akhayyat A, Rahim HA, Hammood DA, Ahmad RB, Abbasi QH

Sensors (Basel), 2018 Oct 28;18(11).
PMID: 30373314 DOI: 10.3390/s18113661

Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) are single-hop network systems, where sensors gather the body's vital signs and send them directly to master nodes (MNs). The sensors are distributed in or on the body. Therefore, body posture, clothing, muscle movement, body temperature, and climatic conditions generally influence the quality of the wireless link between sensors and the destination. Hence, in some cases, single hop transmission ('direct transmission') is not sufficient to deliver the signals to the destination. Therefore, we propose an emergency-based cooperative communication protocol for WBAN, named Critical Data-based Incremental Cooperative Communication (CD-ICC), based on the IEEE 802.15.6 CSMA standard but assuming a lognormal shadowing channel model. In this paper, a complete study of a system model is inspected in the terms of the channel path loss, the successful transmission probability, and the outage probability. Then a mathematical model is derived for the proposed protocol, end-to-end delay, duty cycle, and average power consumption. A new back-off time is proposed within CD-ICC, which ensures the best relays cooperate in a distributed manner. The design objective of the CD-ICC is to reduce the end-to-end delay, the duty cycle, and the average power transmission. The simulation and numerical results presented here show that, under general conditions, CD-ICC can enhance network performance compared to direct transmission mode (DTM) IEEE 802.15.6 CSMA and benchmarking. To this end, we have shown that the power saving when using CD-ICC is 37.5% with respect to DTM IEEE 802.15.6 CSMA and 10% with respect to MI-ICC.
Fulltext Requirements engineering issues causing software development outsourcing failure

Iqbal J, Ahmad RB, Khan M, Fazal-E-Amin, Alyahya S, Nizam Nasir MH, et al.

PLoS One, 2020;15(4):e0229785.
PMID: 32271783 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229785

Software development outsourcing is becoming more and more famous because of the advantages like cost abatement, process enhancement, and coping with the scarcity of needed resources. Studies confirm that unfortunately a large proportion of the software development outsourcing projects fails to realize anticipated benefits. Investigations into the failures of such projects divulge that in several cases software development outsourcing projects are failed because of the issues that are associated with requirements engineering process. The objective of this study is the identification and the ranking of the commonly occurring issues of the requirements engineering process in the case of software development outsourcing. For this purpose, contemporary literature has been assessed rigorously, issues faced by practitioners have been identified and three questionnaire surveys have been organized by involving experienced software development outsourcing practitioners. The Delphi technique, cut-off value method and 50% rule have also been employed. The study explores 150 issues (129 issues from literature and 21 from industry) of requirements engineering process for software development outsourcing, groups the 150 issues into 7 identified categories and then extricates 43 customarily or commonly arising issues from the 150 issues. Founded on 'frequency of occurrence' the 43 customarily arising issues have been ranked with respect to respective categories (category-wise ranking) and with respect to all the categories (overall ranking). Categories of the customarily arising issues have also been ranked. The issues' identification and ranking contribute to design proactive software project management plan for dealing with software development outsourcing failures and attaining conjectured benefits of the software development outsourcing.
Fulltext Prevalence of 3.7 and 4.2 deletions in Sudanese patients with red cells hypochromia and microcytosis

Osman HA, Hamid MMA, Ahmad RB, Saleem M, Abdallah SA

BMC Res Notes, 2020 Feb 10;13(1):65.
PMID: 32041645 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-020-4933-5

OBJECTIVE: Alpha-thalassemia is a genetic disorder characterized by deletions of one or more α globin genes that result in deficient of α globin chains reducing haemoglobin concentration. The study aimed to screen 97 patients with microcytosis and hypochromasia for the 3.7 and 4.2 alpha thalassemia deletion mutations.
RESULTS: Out of 97 patients screened, only 7 were carriers for the 3.7 deletion and all patients were negative for the 4.2 deletion. The 3.7 deletion was found in Foor, Hawsa and Rezagat Sudanese tribes. In the carriers of the 3.7 deletion, Red Blood Cells and Haematocrit were significantly increased. The Red Blood Cells were 7.23 ± 0.78 × 1012/L in adult males and 7.21 ± 0.67 × 1012/L in adult females while in children were 5.07 ± 0.87 × 1012/L. The mean cell volume and mean cell haemoglobin were significantly decreased, but the mean cell haemoglobin concentration slightly decreased. Haemoglobin levels didn't revealed statistically significant decrease in adult males (11.7 ± 0.57 g/dL) and adult females (11.25 ± 0.64 g/dL), while in children were (11.6 ± 2.95 g/dL). Haemoglobin electrophoresis revealed two patients of the 3.7 and 4.2 negative were carriers for β-thalassemia. The study concluded that α3.7 deletion has frequency of 0.07 in Sudanese with hypochromasia and microcytosis.
Fulltext Multi-stage feature selection (MSFS) algorithm for UWB-based early breast cancer size prediction

Vijayasarveswari V, Andrew AM, Jusoh M, Sabapathy T, Raof RAA, Yasin MNM, et al.

PLoS One, 2020;15(8):e0229367.
PMID: 32790672 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229367

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and it is one of the main causes of death for women worldwide. To attain an optimum medical treatment for breast cancer, an early breast cancer detection is crucial. This paper proposes a multi- stage feature selection method that extracts statistically significant features for breast cancer size detection using proposed data normalization techniques. Ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, controlled using microcontroller are transmitted via an antenna from one end of the breast phantom and are received on the other end. These ultra-wideband analogue signals are represented in both time and frequency domain. The preprocessed digital data is passed to the proposed multi- stage feature selection algorithm. This algorithm has four selection stages. It comprises of data normalization methods, feature extraction, data dimensional reduction and feature fusion. The output data is fused together to form the proposed datasets, namely, 8-HybridFeature, 9-HybridFeature and 10-HybridFeature datasets. The classification performance of these datasets is tested using the Support Vector Machine, Probabilistic Neural Network and Naïve Bayes classifiers for breast cancer size classification. The research findings indicate that the 8-HybridFeature dataset performs better in comparison to the other two datasets. For the 8-HybridFeature dataset, the Naïve Bayes classifier (91.98%) outperformed the Support Vector Machine (90.44%) and Probabilistic Neural Network (80.05%) classifiers in terms of classification accuracy. The finalized method is tested and visualized in the MATLAB based 2D and 3D environment.
Fulltext A comparison between the effectiveness of a gamified approach with the conventional approach in point-of-care ultrasonographic training

Lai AKH, Noor Azhar AMB, Bustam AB, Tiong XT, Chan HC, Ahmad RB, et al.

BMC Med Educ, 2020 Aug 12;20(1):263.
PMID: 32787921 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-020-02173-7

BACKGROUND: Although gamification increases user engagement, its effectiveness in point-of-care ultrasonographic training has yet to be fully established. This study was conducted with the primary outcome of evaluating its effectiveness in point-of-care ultrasonographic training as compared to conventional approach.
METHODS: Participants consisting of junior doctors were randomized into either the (1) gamified or the (2) conventional educational approach for ultrasonographic training.
RESULTS: A total of 31 junior doctors participated in this study (16 participants in gamified arm, 15 in the conventional arm after one participant from the conventional arm dropped out due to work commitment). Two-way mixed ANOVA test showed that there was no statistically significant interaction between the types of educational approach and time of testing (pre-test, post-test, 2 months post-training) for both theoretical knowledge score and practical skills score, with F(2, 58) = 39.6, p
Fulltext Dengue fever and insecticide resistance in Aedes mosquitoes in Southeast Asia: a review

Gan SJ, Leong YQ, Bin Barhanuddin MFH, Wong ST, Wong SF, Mak JW, et al.

Parasit Vectors, 2021 Jun 10;14(1):315.
PMID: 34112220 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04785-4

Dengue fever is the most important mosquito-borne viral disease in Southeast Asia. Insecticides remain the most effective vector control approach for Aedes mosquitoes. Four main classes of insecticides are widely used for mosquito control: organochlorines, organophosphates, pyrethroids and carbamates. Here, we review the distribution of dengue fever from 2000 to 2020 and its associated mortality in Southeast Asian countries, and we gather evidence on the trend of insecticide resistance and its distribution in these countries since 2000, summarising the mechanisms involved. The prevalence of resistance to these insecticides is increasing in Southeast Asia, and the mechanisms of resistance are reported to be associated with target site mutations, metabolic detoxification, reduced penetration of insecticides via the mosquito cuticle and behavioural changes of mosquitoes. Continuous monitoring of the status of resistance and searching for alternative control measures will be critical for minimising any unpredicted outbreaks and improving public health. This review also provides improved insights into the specific use of insecticides for effective control of mosquitoes in these dengue endemic countries.

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