Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 79 in total

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  1. Medical image fusion scheme using complex contourlet transform based on PCA
    Al-Azzawi N, Sakim HA, Abdullah AK, Ibrahim H
    Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc, 2009;2009:5813-6.
    PMID: 19965249 DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.2009.5335180
    We present an efficient method for the fusion of medical captured images using different modalities that enhances the original images and combines the complementary information of the various modalities. The contourlet transform has mainly been employed as a fusion technique for images obtained from equal or different modalities. The limitation of directional information of dual-tree complex wavelet (DT-CWT) is rectified in dual-tree complex contourlet transform (DT-CCT) by incorporating directional filter banks (DFB) into the DT-CWT. The DT-CCT produces images with improved contours and textures, while the property of shift invariance is retained. To improve the fused image quality, we propose a new method for fusion rules based on principle component analysis (PCA) which depend on frequency component of DT-CCT coefficients (contourlet domain). For low frequency components, PCA method is adopted and for high frequency components, the salient features are picked up based on local energy. The final fusion image is obtained by directly applying inverse dual tree complex contourlet transform (IDT-CCT) to the fused low and high frequency components. The experimental results showed that the proposed method produces fixed image with extensive features on multimodality.
  2. Fulltext DAD-match; Security technique to prevent denial of service attack on duplicate address detection process in IPv6 link-local network
    Al-Ani AK, Anbar M, Manickam S, Al-Ani A
    PLoS One, 2019;14(4):e0214518.
    PMID: 30939154 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214518
    An efficiently unlimited address space is provided by Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). It aims to accommodate thousands of hundreds of unique devices on a similar link. This can be achieved through the Duplicate Address Detection (DAD) process. It is considered one of the core IPv6 network's functions. It is implemented to make sure that IP addresses do not conflict with each other on the same link. However, IPv6 design's functions are exposed to security threats like the DAD process, which is vulnerable to Denial of Service (DoS) attack. Such a threat prevents the host from configuring its IP address by responding to each Neighbor Solicitation (NS) through fake Neighbor Advertisement (NA). Various mechanisms have been proposed to secure the IPv6 DAD procedure. The proposed mechanisms, however, suffer from complexity, high processing time, and the consumption of more resources. The experiments-based findings revealed that all the existing mechanisms had failed to secure the IPv6 DAD process. Therefore, DAD-match security technique is proposed in this study to efficiently secure the DAD process consuming less processing time. DAD-match is built based on SHA-3 to hide the exchange tentative IP among hosts throughout the process of DAD in an IPv6 link-local network. The obtained experimental results demonstrated that the DAD-match security technique achieved less processing time compared with the existing mechanisms as it can resist a range of different threats like collision and brute-force attacks. The findings concluded that the DAD-match technique effectively prevents the DoS attack during the DAD process. The DAD-match technique is implemented on a small area IPv6 network; hence, the author future work is to implement and test the DAD-match technique on a large area IPv6 network.
  3. Fulltext Mechanism to prevent the abuse of IPv6 fragmentation in OpenFlow networks
    Al-Ani A, Anbar M, Laghari SA, Al-Ani AK
    PLoS One, 2020;15(5):e0232574.
    PMID: 32392261 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232574
    OpenFlow makes a network highly flexible and fast-evolving by separating control and data planes. The control plane thus becomes responsive to changes in topology and load balancing requirements. OpenFlow also offers a new approach to handle security threats accurately and responsively. Therefore, it is used as an innovative firewall that acts as a first-hop security to protect networks against malicious users. However, the firewall provided by OpenFlow suffers from Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) fragmentation, which can be used to bypass the OpenFlow firewall. The OpenFlow firewall cannot identify the message payload unless the switch implements IPv6 fragment reassembly. This study tests the IPv6 fragmented packets that can evade the OpenFlow firewall, and proposes a new mechanism to guard against attacks carried out by malicious users to exploit IPv6 fragmentation loophole in OpenFlow networks. The proposed mechanism is evaluated in a simulated environment by using six scenarios, and results exhibit that the proposed mechanism effectively fixes the loophole and successfully prevents the abuse of IPv6 fragmentation in OpenFlow networks.
  4. Fulltext Violation of publication ethics in manuscripts: Analysis and perspectives
    Parasuraman S, Raveendran R, Mueen Ahmed KK
    J Pharmacol Pharmacother, 2015 Apr-Jun;6(2):94-7.
    PMID: 25969657 DOI: 10.4103/0976-500X.155487
  5. Occupational health research priorities in Malaysia: a Delphi study
    Sadhra S, Beach JR, Aw TC, Sheikh-Ahmed K
    Occup Environ Med, 2001 Jul;58(7):426-31.
    PMID: 11404445
    As part of a consultancy project on occupational health, the Delphi method was used to identify research priorities in occupational health in Malaysia.
  6. A novel bat-associated circovirus identified in northern Hokkaido, Japan
    Matsumoto T, Sato M, Nishizono A, Ahmed K
    Arch Virol, 2019 Aug;164(8):2179-2182.
    PMID: 31111258 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-019-04286-x
    We identified two novel circoviruses, HK02976 and HK00220, in oral swabs from bats. The size of their full genome was 2,010 nucleotides (nt). The full-genome sequence of our strains shared 96.1% nucleotide sequence identity with each other, and 39.9%-69.5% identity with bat-associated circoviruses (BatACVs)1-9. Based on the species demarcation threshold for viruses of the family Circoviridae, which is 80% genome-wide nucleotide sequence identity, we have tentatively named this group of viruses "bat-associated circovirus 10" (BatACV10).
  7. Fulltext Surveillance of norovirus among children with diarrhea in four major hospitals in Bhutan: Replacement of GII.21 by GII.3 as a dominant genotype
    Wangchuk S, Matsumoto T, Iha H, Ahmed K
    PLoS One, 2017;12(9):e0184826.
    PMID: 28910371 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184826
    BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among Bhutanese children. The etiology of diarrhea is not well known due to the challenges of conducting routine surveillance with Bhutan's modest research facilities. Establishing an etiology is crucial toward generating evidence that will contribute to policy discussions on a diarrheal disease control program. Our previous study, during 2010-2012, revealed that norovirus (NoV) is an important cause of diarrhea among Bhutanese children, and that GII.21 was the major genotype circulating at that time. In other countries, GII.4 is the major genotype responsible for NoV infections. In this update report, we provide new prevalence data to describe the progression of the transformation and distribution of the NoV genotype among Bhutanese children.

    METHODS: From June 2013 through May 2014, diarrheal stool samples were collected at one national referral hospital in Thimphu, two regional referral hospitals in the eastern and central regions, and one general hospital in the western region of Bhutan. NoV was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), by amplifying the capsid gene. The RT-PCR results were confirmed by nucleotide sequencing of the amplicons.

    RESULTS: The proportion of NoV-positive stool samples was 23.6% (147/623), of which 76.9% were NoV GII and the remainders were NoV GI. The median age of infected children was 15.5 months, with a fairly balanced female: male ratio. NoV GII was most prevalent in the colder months (late November-mid April) and NoV GI had the highest prevalence in the summer (mid April-late September). Nucleotide sequencing was successful in 99 samples of GII strains. The most common genotypes were GII.3 (42.6%), GII.4 Sydney 2012 (15.8%), and GII.4 unassigned (11.9%). No GII.21 was found in any child in the present study. Phylogenetic analysis showed that GII.3 strains in the present study belonged to an independent cluster in lineage B. These strains shared an ancestor with those from different countries and Bhutanese strains circulating during 2010.

    CONCLUSION: NoV remains an important cause of diarrhea among Bhutanese children. Genotype GII.3 from a single ancestor strain has spread, replacing the previously circulating GII.21. Current NoV genotypes are similar to the strains circulating worldwide but are primarily related to those in neighboring countries. NoV GII is prevalent during the cold season, while GI is prevalent during the summer. To develop a NoV infection control policy, further studies are needed.

  8. Fulltext Role of N-(carboxymethyl)lysine in the development of ischemic heart disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus
    A Ahmed K, Muniandy S, S Ismail I
    J Clin Biochem Nutr, 2007 Sep;41(2):97-105.
    PMID: 18193103 DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.2007014
    This study aims to determine the levels of N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) in patients with Type 2 diabetic patients with and without ischemic heart disease (IHD) and to find for a possible association between circulating CML and a number of clinical parameters including lipids, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in Type 2 diabetic IHD patients. Serum CML levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using polyclonal anti-CML antibodies. Serum levels of CML and MDA were assessed in 60 IHD patients with Type 2 diabetes, 43 IHD patients without Type 2 diabetes, 64 Type 2 diabetics without IHD, and 80 sex- and age-matched healthy subjects. Correlations studies between CML levels and lipids, HbA1c, and lipid peroxidation were performed in Type 2 diabetes patients with and without IHD. A statistical significance was observed in the levels of serum glucose, lipids (triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol), MDA, HbA1c, CML and LDL-cholesterol (p<0.05) between the groups of the study. CML levels were significantly increased in diabetic IHD patients compared with Type 2 diabetes patients but without IHD (537.1 +/- 86.1 vs 449.7 +/- 54.9, p<0.001). A positive correlation was observed between serum levels of CML and MDA, r = 0.338 (p = 0.008) in Type 2 diabetes patients with IHD. However, age, HbA1c and lipids had no significant influence on CML levels among diabetics (p>0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrates the effect of both diabetes and oxidative stress on the higher levels of circulating CML. These results showed that increased serum levels of CML are associated with the development of IHD in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  9. Fulltext Self-Medication Among King Khalid University Students, Saudi Arabia
    Alshahrani SM, Alavudeen SS, Alakhali KM, Al-Worafi YM, Bahamdan AK, Vigneshwaran E
    Risk Manag Healthc Policy, 2019;12:243-249.
    PMID: 31814786 DOI: 10.2147/RMHP.S230257
    Purpose: This study objective was to explore the pattern of self-medications among King Khalid University students, Saudi Arabia.

    Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over five months among King Khalid University students, Abha, Saudi Arabia.

    Results: Among all the study participants, nearly 98.7% were practicing self-medication. Headache (75.9%), cough and cold (52.5%), and fever (35.6%) and body pain (24.6%) were the most reported symptoms. Use of painkillers (91.6%) was significantly predominant among the medical students, whereas non-medical students used antibiotics (35.4%).Time saving (64.2%), mild symptom (51.7%) and quick relief (36.9%) were the reasons behind seeking self-medication in this study.

    Conclusion: Self-medications was common in King Khalid University. Educational programs are highly recommended.

  10. Fulltext Cholinesterase inhibitors from botanicals
    Ahmed F, Ghalib RM, Sasikala P, Ahmed KK
    Pharmacogn Rev, 2013 Jul;7(14):121-30.
    PMID: 24347920 DOI: 10.4103/0973-7847.120511
    Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, wherein a progressive loss of cholinergic synapses occurs in hippocampus and neocortex. Decreased concentration of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine (ACh), appears to be critical element in the development of dementia, and the most appropriate therapeutic approach to treat AD and other form of dementia is to restore acetylcholine levels by inhibiting both major form of cholinesterase: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Consequently, researches have focused their attention towards finding cholinesterase inhibitors from natural products. A large number of such inhibitors have been isolated from medicinal plants. This review presents a comprehensive account of the advances in field of cholinesterase inhibitor phytoconstituents. The structures of some important phytoconstituents (collected through www.Chemspider.com) are also presented and the scope for future research is discussed.
  11. Bufavirus genotype 3 in Turkish children with severe diarrhoea
    Altay A, Yahiro T, Bozdayi G, Matsumoto T, Sahin F, Ozkan S, et al.
    Clin Microbiol Infect, 2015 Oct;21(10):965.e1-4.
    PMID: 26086570 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2015.06.006
    Recently a parvovirus called bufavirus (BuV) has been implicated as a causative agent of diarrhoea. To further reveal the epidemiology and genetic characteristics of BuV, this study was performed in Turkish children with diarrhoea. BuV was detected in 1.4% (8/583) of stool samples. All stool samples from healthy children (n = 148) were negative for BuV. Diarrhoea in BuV-positive patients was severe and occurred mainly during the colder months of the year. Complete genome sequences were generated from four BuVs. Only BuV3 was found, which was genetically and phylogenetically similar to Bhutanese BuV3, indicating that BuV3 is prevalent in Asian countries.
  12. Fulltext Cholera outbreak by Sea Gypsies in Sabah, Malaysia: A challenge in North Borneo
    Jikal M, Riduan T, Aarifin R, Jeffree MS, Ahmed K
    Int J Infect Dis, 2019 Jun;83:83-85.
    PMID: 30986543 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2019.04.008
    OBJECTIVES: In this study we investigated an outbreak of Vibrio cholera O1 Ogawa serotype, occurred during December 2014 in Kudat district, situated in Sabah state of the Malaysian part of Borneo.

    METHODS: Active case detection and contact tracing were done at respective localities by house to house survey. Passive case detection was done among acute gastroenteritis patients attended at various health facilities. To determine the source, samples from food, water and environment were taken. A case control study was also done to determine the risk factors.

    RESULTS: A total of 44 symptomatic and 34 asymptomatic cases from 19 localities were investigated. 39 cases were detected through passive case detection. Median age of cases was 23 years. All cases belonged to serogroup O1 and Ogawa serotype. The epidemiological investigation of time, place, and person identified that V. cholerae cross-transmission might have occurred in two fish markets and the fish-loading port. Circumstantial evidences indicated that cholera was possibly transmitted through contaminated sea foods.

    CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the life-style of Sea Gypsies is a challenge in cholera control; therefore vaccination might be an effective way to mitigate cholera in an outbreak prone area like Kudat.

  13. Fulltext Editorial: Can the Health Implications of Land-use Change Drive Sustainability?
    Ahmed K, Jeffree MS, Hughes T, Daszak P
    Ecohealth, 2019 12;16(4):585-586.
    PMID: 31811598 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-019-01462-y
  14. Decomposing the trade-environment nexus for Malaysia: what do the technique, scale, composition, and comparative advantage effect indicate?
    Ling CH, Ahmed K, Binti Muhamad R, Shahbaz M
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2015 Dec;22(24):20131-42.
    PMID: 26300360 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5217-9
    This paper investigates the impact of trade openness on CO2 emissions using time series data over the period of 1970QI-2011QIV for Malaysia. We disintegrate the trade effect into scale, technique, composition, and comparative advantage effects to check the environmental consequence of trade at four different transition points. To achieve the purpose, we have employed augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) and Phillips-Perron (PP) unit root tests in order to examine the stationary properties of the variables. Later, the long-run association among the variables is examined by applying autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to cointegration. Our results confirm the presence of cointegration. Further, we find that scale effect has positive and technique effect has negative impact on CO2 emissions after threshold income level and form inverted U-shaped relationship-hence validates the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis. Energy consumption adds in CO2 emissions. Trade openness and composite effect improve environmental quality by lowering CO2 emissions. The comparative advantage effect increases CO2 emissions and impairs environmental quality. The results provide the innovative approach to see the impact of trade openness in four sub-dimensions of trade liberalization. Hence, this study attributes more comprehensive policy tool for trade economists to better design environmentally sustainable trade rules and agreements.
  15. Effect of trade on ecological quality: a case of D-8 countries
    Ahmed K, Ozturk I, Ghumro IA, Mukesh P
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2019 Dec;26(35):35935-35944.
    PMID: 31705412 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06520-0
    Sustainable development inculcates the process of preserving the environment for future generations while maintaining existing human needs. This study attempts to empirically investigate the relationship between CO2 emissions, GDP, energy consumption, and imports and exports using yearly data between 1980 and 2014 for the panel of eight developing countries (i.e., Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey). All the tests for cointegration establish the long-run association among the variables and confirm the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis for the panel of eight countries. GDP and energy consumption remained significant factors for emission intensity both in the long and short run. However, exports found to be positive factor for emissions in the long run only and imports spur emissions in the short run. The country-specific results validate EKC hypothesis for Bangladesh, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey. The findings are policy oriented and suggest that the countries' economic growth along with energy consumption and exports are highly emission intensive which require necessary adjustments at sustainable development policy front.
  16. Fulltext Developing and evaluating health education learning package (HELP) to control soil-transmitted helminth infections among Orang Asli children in Malaysia
    Al-Delaimy AK, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Lim YA, Nasr NA, Sady H, Atroosh WM, et al.
    Parasit Vectors, 2014;7:416.
    PMID: 25179100 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-416
    This study was carried out to develop a health education learning package (HELP) about soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections, and to evaluate what impact such a package could have in terms of reducing the incidence and intensity of STH infections among Orang Asli schoolchildren in Pahang, Malaysia.
  17. Fulltext Experimental and theoretical studies of Schiff bases as corrosion inhibitors
    Jamil DM, Al-Okbi AK, Al-Baghdadi SB, Al-Amiery AA, Kadhim A, Gaaz TS, et al.
    Chem Cent J, 2018 Feb 05;12(1):7.
    PMID: 29404816 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-018-0376-7
    BACKGROUND: Relatively inexpensive, stable Schiff bases, namely 3-((4-hydroxybenzylidene)amino)-2-methylquinazolin-4(3H)-one (BZ3) and 3-((4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene)amino)-2-methylquinazolin-4(3H)-one (BZ4), were employed as highly efficient inhibitors of mild steel corrosion by corrosive acid.

    FINDINGS: The inhibition efficiencies were estimated based on weight loss method. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the inhibition mechanism. The synthesized Schiff bases were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and micro-elemental analysis. The inhibition efficiency depends on three factors: the amount of nitrogen in the inhibitor, the inhibitor concentration and the inhibitor molecular weight.

    CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition efficiencies of 96 and 92% were achieved with BZ4 and BZ3, respectively, at the maximum tested concentration. Density functional theory calculations of BZ3 and BZ4 were performed to compare the effects of hydroxyl and N,N-dimethylamino substituents on the inhibition efficiency, providing insight for designing new molecular structures that exhibit enhanced inhibition efficiencies.

  18. Fulltext Epidemiology of intestinal polyparasitism among Orang Asli school children in rural Malaysia
    Al-Delaimy AK, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Nasr NA, Sady H, Atroosh WM, Nashiry M, et al.
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2014 Aug;8(8):e3074.
    PMID: 25144662 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003074
    This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the current prevalence and risk factors associated with intestinal polyparasitism (the concurrent infection with multiple intestinal parasite species) among Orang Asli school children in the Lipis district of Pahang state, Malaysia.
  19. Fulltext Effects of vitamin A supplementation on iron status indices and iron deficiency anaemia: a randomized controlled trial
    Al-Mekhlafi HM, Al-Zabedi EM, Al-Maktari MT, Atroosh WM, Al-Delaimy AK, Moktar N, et al.
    Nutrients, 2014 Jan;6(1):190-206.
    PMID: 24384995 DOI: 10.3390/nu6010190
    Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world including developed and developing countries. Despite intensive efforts to improve the quality of life of rural and aboriginal communities in Malaysia, anaemia and IDA are still major public health problems in these communities particularly among children. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 250 Orang Asli (aboriginal) schoolchildren in Malaysia to investigate the effects of a single high-dose of vitamin A supplementation (200,000 IU) on iron status indices, anaemia and IDA status. The effect of the supplement was assessed after 3 months of receiving the supplements; after a complete 3-day deworming course of 400 mg/day of albendazole tablets. The prevalence of anaemia was found to be high: 48.5% (95% CI=42.3, 54.8). Moreover, 34% (95% CI=28.3, 40.2) of the children had IDA, which accounted for 70.1% of the anaemic cases. The findings showed that the reduction in serum ferritin level and the increments in haemoglobin, serum iron and transferrin saturation were found to be significant among children allocated to the vitamin A group compared to those allocated to the placebo group (p<0.01). Moreover, a significant reduction in the prevalence of IDA by almost 22% than prevalence at baseline was reported among children in the vitamin A group compared with only 2.3% reduction among children in the placebo group. In conclusion, vitamin A supplementation showed a significant impact on iron status indices and IDA among Orang Asli children. Hence, providing vitamin A supplementation and imparting the knowledge related to nutritious food should be considered in the efforts to improve the nutritional and health status of these children as a part of efforts to improve the quality of life in rural and aboriginal communities.
  20. Fulltext Knowledge, attitude, and practices towards schistosomiasis among rural population in Yemen
    Sady H, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Atroosh WM, Al-Delaimy AK, Nasr NA, Dawaki S, et al.
    Parasit Vectors, 2015 Aug 25;8:436.
    PMID: 26302747 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1050-8
    BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis is highly prevalent in Yemen, with an estimated 3 million cases, particularly among rural communities. This community-based study aims to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) on schistosomiasis among rural communities in Yemen.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 250 households from ten rural districts in Yemen. Overall, 400 children were screened for urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis. Moreover, parents were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire to collect information about the demographic and socioeconomic information and their KAP concerning schistosomiasis.

    RESULTS: A total of 127 (31.8%) children were found to be excreting schistosome eggs in either their urine or faeces (22.5% S. haematobium and 8.0% S. mansoni). Although 92.4% of the respondents had heard about schistosomiasis, 49.8%, 68.0% and 47.2% had knowledge concerning the transmission, signs and symptoms, and prevention, respectively. In addition, 77.1% considered schistosomiasis as harmful while 48.5% believed that schistosomiasis could be prevented, albeit their practices to prevent infections were still inadequate. Significant associations between the KAP and age, education, employment status and household monthly income were reported (P 

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