Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 22 in total

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  1. Fulltext A semi-synchronous label propagation algorithm with constraints for community detection in complex networks
    Hou Chin J, Ratnavelu K
    Sci Rep, 2017 04 04;7:45836.
    PMID: 28374836 DOI: 10.1038/srep45836
    Community structure is an important feature of a complex network, where detection of the community structure can shed some light on the properties of such a complex network. Amongst the proposed community detection methods, the label propagation algorithm (LPA) emerges as an effective detection method due to its time efficiency. Despite this advantage in computational time, the performance of LPA is affected by randomness in the algorithm. A modified LPA, called CLPA-GNR, was proposed recently and it succeeded in handling the randomness issues in the LPA. However, it did not remove the tendency for trivial detection in networks with a weak community structure. In this paper, an improved CLPA-GNR is therefore proposed. In the new algorithm, the unassigned and assigned nodes are updated synchronously while the assigned nodes are updated asynchronously. A similarity score, based on the Sørensen-Dice index, is implemented to detect the initial communities and for breaking ties during the propagation process. Constraints are utilised during the label propagation and community merging processes. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated on various benchmark and real-world networks. We find that it is able to avoid trivial detection while showing substantial improvement in the quality of detection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling
  2. Fulltext Global-and-Local Context Network for Semantic Segmentation of Street View Images
    Lin CY, Chiu YC, Ng HF, Shih TK, Lin KH
    Sensors (Basel), 2020 May 21;20(10).
    PMID: 32455537 DOI: 10.3390/s20102907
    Semantic segmentation of street view images is an important step in scene understanding for autonomous vehicle systems. Recent works have made significant progress in pixel-level labeling using Fully Convolutional Network (FCN) framework and local multi-scale context information. Rich global context information is also essential in the segmentation process. However, a systematic way to utilize both global and local contextual information in a single network has not been fully investigated. In this paper, we propose a global-and-local network architecture (GLNet) which incorporates global spatial information and dense local multi-scale context information to model the relationship between objects in a scene, thus reducing segmentation errors. A channel attention module is designed to further refine the segmentation results using low-level features from the feature map. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed GLNet achieves 80.8% test accuracy on the Cityscapes test dataset, comparing favorably with existing state-of-the-art methods.
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling
  3. Linear-time heuristic partitioning technique for mapping of connected graphs into single-row networks
    Ser LL, Shaharuddin Salleh, Nor Haniza Sarmin
    Sains Malaysiana, 2014;43:1263-1269.
    In this paper, a model called graph partitioning and transformation model (GPTM) which transforms a connected graph into a single-row network is introduced. The transformation is necessary in applications such as in the assignment of telephone channels to caller-receiver pairs roaming in cells in a cellular network on real-time basis. A connected graph is then transformed into its corresponding single-row network for assigning the channels to the caller-receiver pairs. The GPTM starts with the linear-time heuristic graph partitioning to produce two subgraphs with higher densities. The optimal labeling for nodes are then formed based on the simulated annealing technique. Experimental results support our hypothesis that GPTM efficiently transforms the connected graph into its single-row network.
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling
  4. A comparison of mandatory and voluntary approaches to the implementation of Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) in the management of hazardous chemicals
    Ta GC, Mokhtar MB, Peterson PJ, Yahaya NB
    Ind Health, 2011;49(6):765-73.
    PMID: 22020020
    The European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have applied different approaches to facilitate the implementation of the UN Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). The EU applied the mandatory approach by gazetting the EU Regulation 1272/2008 incorporating GHS elements on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures in 2008; whereas the WHO utilized a voluntary approach by incorporating GHS elements in the WHO guidelines entitled 'WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard' in 2009. We report on an analysis of both the mandatory and voluntary approaches practised by the EU and the WHO respectively, with close reference to the GHS 'purple book'. Our findings indicate that the mandatory approach practiced by the EU covers all the GHS elements referred to in the second revised edition of the GHS 'purple book'. Hence we can conclude that the EU has implemented the GHS particularly for industrial chemicals. On the other hand, the WHO guidelines published in 2009 should be revised to address concerns raised in this paper. In addition, both mandatory and voluntary approaches should be carefully examined because the classification results may be different.
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling/legislation & jurisprudence*; Product Labeling/standards
  5. Fulltext Impact of the new Malaysian cigarette pack warnings on smokers' awareness of health risks and interest in quitting smoking
    Fathelrahman AI, Omar M, Awang R, Cummings KM, Borland R, Bin Mohd Samin AS
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2010 11;7(11):4089-99.
    PMID: 21139879 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph7114089
    The objective of this research was to compare the response of adult smokers in Malaysia to newly proposed pictorial cigarette warnings against the current text-only warnings. The study population included 140 adult male smokers who were enrolled in a randomized trial to view either the new pictorial warnings (intervention) or the old text-only warnings (control). Participants completed pre-exposure and post-exposure questionnaires that assessed their awareness of the health risks of smoking, response to the package warnings, and interest in quitting smoking. Exposure to the pictorial warnings resulted in increased awareness of the risks of smoking, stronger behavioral response to the warnings and increased interest in quitting smoking. The new warnings in Malaysia will increase smokers' knowledge of the adverse health effects of smoking and have a positive effect on interest in quitting.
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling*
  6. Fulltext Invariant domain watermarking using heaviside function of order alpha and fractional Gaussian field
    Abbasi A, Woo CS, Ibrahim RW, Islam S
    PLoS One, 2015;10(4):e0123427.
    PMID: 25884854 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123427
    Digital image watermarking is an important technique for the authentication of multimedia content and copyright protection. Conventional digital image watermarking techniques are often vulnerable to geometric distortions such as Rotation, Scaling, and Translation (RST). These distortions desynchronize the watermark information embedded in an image and thus disable watermark detection. To solve this problem, we propose an RST invariant domain watermarking technique based on fractional calculus. We have constructed a domain using Heaviside function of order alpha (HFOA). The HFOA models the signal as a polynomial for watermark embedding. The watermark is embedded in all the coefficients of the image. We have also constructed a fractional variance formula using fractional Gaussian field. A cross correlation method based on the fractional Gaussian field is used for watermark detection. Furthermore the proposed method enables blind watermark detection where the original image is not required during the watermark detection thereby making it more practical than non-blind watermarking techniques. Experimental results confirmed that the proposed technique has a high level of robustness.
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling/methods*
  7. Fulltext Adult smokers' reactions to pictorial health warning labels on cigarette packs in Thailand and moderating effects of type of cigarette smoked: findings from the international tobacco control southeast Asia survey
    Yong HH, Fong GT, Driezen P, Borland R, Quah AC, Sirirassamee B, et al.
    Nicotine Tob Res, 2013 Aug;15(8):1339-47.
    PMID: 23291637 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/nts241
    In this study, we aimed to examine, in Thailand, the impact on smokers' reported awareness of and their cognitive and behavioral reactions following the change from text-only to pictorial warnings printed on cigarette packs. We also sought to explore differences by type of cigarette smoked (roll-your-own [RYO] vs. factory-made [FM] cigarettes).
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling*
  8. Model for the implementation of the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS): lessons learned from Japan
    Ta GC, Jonai H, Mokhtar MB, Peterson PJ
    J Occup Health, 2009;51(6):526-30.
    PMID: 19834280
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling/legislation & jurisprudence; Product Labeling/methods; Product Labeling/standards*
  9. Fulltext Development of photostimulated luminescence technique for detecting irradiated food
    Ros Anita Ahmad Ramli, Ahmad Zainuri Mohd Dzomir, Zainon Othman, Wan Saffiey Wan Abdullah, Muhamad Samudi Yasir
    Jurnal Sains Nuklear Malaysia, 2015;27(1):7-13.
    MyJurnal
    The exposure of food to ionizing radiation is being progressively used in many countries to
    inactivate food pathogens, to eradicate pests and to extend shelf-life of food. To ensure free
    consumer choice, irradiated food will be labeled. The availability of a reliable method to detect
    irradiated food is important to enforce legal controls on labeling requirements, ensure proper
    distribution and increase consumer confidence. This paper reports on the preliminary application
    of photostimulated luminescence technique (PSL) as a potential method to detect irradiated food
    and perhaps be used for monitoring irradiated food on sale locally in the near future. Thus this
    study will be beneficial and relevant for application of food irradiation towards improving food
    safety and security in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling
  10. Fulltext SmartFire: Intelligent Platform for Monitoring Fire Extinguishers and Their Building Environment
    Garcia-Martin R, González-Briones A, Corchado JM
    Sensors (Basel), 2019 May 25;19(10).
    PMID: 31130598 DOI: 10.3390/s19102390
    Due to fire protection regulations, a minimum number of fire extinguishers must be available depending on the surface area of each building, industrial establishment or workplace. There is also a set of rules that establish where the fire extinguisher should be placed: always close to the points that are most likely to be affected by a fire and where they are visible and accessible for use. Fire extinguishers are pressure devices, which means that they require maintenance operations that ensure they will function properly in the case of a fire. The purpose of manual and periodic fire extinguisher checks is to verify that their labeling, installation and condition comply with the standards. Security seals, inscriptions, hose and other seals are thoroughly checked. The state of charge (weight and pressure) of the extinguisher, the bottle of propellant gas (if available), and the state of all mechanical parts (nozzle, valves, hose, etc.) are also checked. To ensure greater safety and reduce the economic costs associated with maintaining fire extinguishers, it is necessary to develop a system that allows monitoring of their status. One of the advantages of monitoring fire extinguishers is that it will be possible to understand what external factors affect them (for example, temperature or humidity) and how they do so. For this reason, this article presents a system of soft agents that monitors the state of the extinguishers, collects a history of the state of the extinguisher and environmental factors and sends notifications if any parameter is not within the range of normal values.The results rendered by the SmartFire prototype indicate that its accuracy in calculating pressure changes is equivalent to that of a specific data acquisition system (DAS). The comparative study of the two curves (SmartFire and DAS) shows that the average error between the two curves is negligible: 8% in low pressure measurements (up to 3 bar) and 0.3% in high pressure (above 3 bar).
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling
  11. Fulltext Evaluation of the modified-ceylon copra kiln for accelerated production of ball copra
    Marikkar, J.M.N., Banu, M.K.I., Yalegama, C.
    International Food Research Journal, 2009;16(2):175-181.
    MyJurnal
    This study attempted to investigate the effect of kiln drying on the rate of formation of ball copra. Three samples containing fifty partially dried-coconuts were placed as a single layer in three compartmentalized blocks namely, Front: Blok-1, Middle: Block-2, and Rear: Block-3 in the copra bed of the modified-Ceylon copra kiln. From each of the three blocks, thirty coconuts were selected randomly for labeling and their fresh weights were recorded. The samples were subjected to intermittent drying in the kiln by thirty five firing cycles using charcoal dust as the fuel source. The temperature distribution pattern of the three blocks during the first six firing was monitored at three hourly intervals. The weight losses of individual coconuts in each block were measured after the completion of each firing. The results showed that, there was a significant (p
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling
  12. Health warning messages on tobacco products: a review
    Hammond D
    Tob Control, 2011 Sep;20(5):327-37.
    PMID: 21606180 DOI: 10.1136/tc.2010.037630
    OBJECTIVE: To review evidence on the impact of health warning messages on tobacco packages.
    DATA SOURCES: Articles were identified through electronic databases of published articles, as well as relevant 'grey' literature using the following keywords: health warning, health message, health communication, label and labelling in conjunction with at least one of the following terms: smoking, tobacco, cigarette, product, package and pack.
    STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Relevant articles available prior to January 2011 were screened for six methodological criteria. A total of 94 original original articles met inclusion criteria, including 72 quantitative studies, 16 qualitative studies, 5 studies with both qualitative and qualitative components, and 1 review paper: Canada (n=35), USA (n=29) Australia (n=16), UK (n=13), The Netherlands (n=3), France (n=3), New Zealand (n=3), Mexico (n=3), Brazil (n=2), Belgium (n=1), other European countries (n=10), Norway (n=1), Malaysia (n=1) and China (n=1).
    RESULTS: The evidence indicates that the impact of health warnings depends upon their size and
    DESIGN: whereas obscure text-only warnings appear to have little impact, prominent health warnings on the face of packages serve as a prominent source of health information for smokers and non-smokers, can increase health knowledge and perceptions of risk and can promote smoking cessation. The evidence also indicates that comprehensive warnings are effective among youth and may help to prevent smoking initiation. Pictorial health warnings that elicit strong emotional reactions are significantly more effective.
    CONCLUSIONS: Health warnings on packages are among the most direct and prominent means of communicating with smokers. Larger warnings with pictures are significantly more effective than smaller, text-only messages.
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling/methods*
  13. Evaluation of medical image watermarking with tamper detection and recovery (AW-TDR)
    Zain JM, Fauzi AR
    Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc, 2007;2007:5662-5.
    PMID: 18003297
    This paper will study and evaluate watermarking technique by Zain and Fauzi [1]. Recommendations will then be made to enhance the technique especially in the aspect of recovery or reconstruction rate for medical images. A proposal will also be made for a better distribution of watermark to minimize the distortion of the Region of Interest (ROI). The final proposal will enhance AW-TDR in three aspects; firstly the image quality in the ROI will be improved as the maximum change is only 2 bits in every 4 pixels, or embedding rate of 0.5 bits/pixel. Secondly the recovery rate will also be better since the recovery bits are located outside the region of interest. The disadvantage in this is that, only manipulation done in the ROI will be detected. Thirdly the quality of the reconstructed image will be enhanced since the average of 2 x 2 pixels would be used to reconstruct the tampered image.
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling/methods
  14. Fulltext Effectiveness of color and picture labeling in improving the knowledge on topical medications among patients with psoriasis: A randomized controlled trial
    Mohd Ali N, Lee CC, Mohd Akhir NSN, Ahmad Izani AS, Leong CT, Muneswarao J, et al.
    J Pharm Bioallied Sci, 2020 04 10;12(2):201-209.
    PMID: 32742120 DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.JPBS_140_19
    Aim and Objective: The success of topical treatment in patients with psoriasis is still below par in Malaysia. The contributing factors include patients' understanding and knowledge about prescribed topical medications. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of color and picture labeling (C and P labeling) in improving the knowledge about topical medications among patients with psoriasis.

    Materials and Methods: An unblinded randomized controlled trial was undertaken at the dermatology clinic of a tertiary care hospital. Consent from the patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were obtained, and they were included in this study. They were randomized into two groups, namely Gp-1 (C and P labeling) and Gp-2 (conventional labeling). Both groups were assessed at week 0, 6, and 12 (visit 1, 2, and 3) using knowledge assessment list and psoriasis severity assessment score. For visit 2 (week 6), reinforcement of their understanding of topical treatment was performed.

    Results: A total of 101 patients were recruited. Only 91 of them completed the study. The mean ages were 44.52 (±16.61) and 45.49 (±15.84) years, with 70.3% males and approximately half Malay ethnics. The changes of knowledge and comparison of Topical Application Assessment Score between the groups showed an incremental raise of significance with every visit (P = 0.006 [week 1], 0.004 [week 6], and 0.002 [week 12]). Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 75 could not draw any conclusion as patients who achieved >75% improvement were inadequate.

    Conclusion: C and P labeling was effective in improving the understanding and knowledge of patients with psoriasis. Both groups showed improvement in body surface area and Dermatology Life Quality Index for every visit; however, it was statistically insignificant.

    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling
  15. How the Malaysian tobacco industry exploits loopholes in pictorial health warnings
    Tan YL, Foong K
    Tob Control, 2012 Jan;21(1):55-6.
    PMID: 21803928 DOI: 10.1136/tc.2011.042713
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling/legislation & jurisprudence*
  16. The lower effectiveness of text-only health warnings in China compared to pictorial health warnings in Malaysia
    Elton-Marshall T, Xu SS, Meng G, Quah AC, Sansone GC, Feng G, et al.
    Tob Control, 2015 Nov;24 Suppl 4:iv6-13.
    PMID: 26420242 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2015-052616
    In 2009, China changed its health warnings on cigarette packs from side-only text warnings to two text-only warnings on 30% of the bottom of the front and back of the pack. Also in 2009, Malaysia changed from similar text warnings to pictorial health warnings consistent with Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 11 Guidelines.
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling/methods*
  17. Tobacco control and gender in Southeast Asia. Part I: Malaysia and the Philippines
    Morrow M, Barraclough S
    Health Promot Int, 2003 Sep;18(3):255-64.
    PMID: 12920146 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/dag021
    In the World Health Organization's Western Pacific Region, being born male is the single greatest risk marker for tobacco use. While the literature demonstrates that risks associated with tobacco use may vary according to sex, gender refers to the socially determined roles and responsibilities of men and women, who initiate, continue and quit using tobacco for complex and often different reasons. Cigarette advertising frequently appeals to gender roles. Yet tobacco control policy tends to be gender-blind. Using a broad gender-sensitivity framework, this contradiction is explored in four Western Pacific countries. Part I of the study discusses issues surrounding gender and tobacco, and analyses developments in Malaysia and the Philippines. Part II deals with Singapore and Vietnam. In all four countries, gender was salient for the initiation and maintenance of smoking, and in Malaysia and the Philippines was highly significant in cigarette promotion. Yet, with a few exceptions, gender was largely unrecognized in control policy. Suggestions for overcoming this weakness in order to enhance tobacco control are made in Part II.
    Study name: National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS-2006)
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling/legislation & jurisprudence
  18. Tobacco control and gender in south-east Asia. Part II: Singapore and Vietnam
    Morrow M, Barraclough S
    Health Promot Int, 2003 Dec;18(4):373-80.
    PMID: 14695368
    In the World Health Organization's Western Pacific Region, being born male is the single greatest risk marker for tobacco use. While the literature demonstrates that risks associated with tobacco use may vary according to sex, gender refers to the socially determined roles and responsibilities of men and women, who initiate, continue and quit using tobacco for complex and often different reasons. Cigarette advertising frequently appeals to gender roles. Yet tobacco control policy tends to be gender-blind. Using a broad, gender-sensitivity framework, this contradiction is explored in four Western Pacific countries. Part I of the study presented the rationale, methodology and design of the study, discussed issues surrounding gender and tobacco, and analysed developments in Malaysia and the Philippines (see the previous issue of this journal). Part II deals with Singapore and Vietnam. In all four countries gender was salient for the initiation and maintenance of smoking. Yet, with a few exceptions, gender was largely unrecognized in control policy. Suggestions for overcoming this weakness in order to enhance tobacco control are made.
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling/legislation & jurisprudence
  19. Fulltext Smokers' responses toward cigarette pack warning labels in predicting quit intention, stage of change, and self-efficacy
    Fathelrahman AI, Omar M, Awang R, Borland R, Fong GT, Hammond D, et al.
    Nicotine Tob Res, 2009 Mar;11(3):248-53.
    PMID: 19246625 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntn029
    This paper is concerned with the effects of cigarette pack warning labels on quitting intentions. We examined whether different responses among smokers toward cigarette pack warning labels could predict quit intentions and self-efficacy in quitting. Variables studied were "noticing warning labels during last month," "reading or looking closely at warning labels," "avoiding looking at labels during last month," "thinking about health risks of smoking because of the warning labels, "more likely to quit because of the warning labels," and "stopping from having a cigarette when about to smoke one because of the labels."
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling*
  20. Analysis of the comprehensibility of chemical hazard communication tools at the industrial workplace
    Ta GC, Mokhtar MB, Mohd Mokhtar HA, Ismail AB, Abu Yazid MF
    Ind Health, 2010;48(6):835-44.
    PMID: 20616463
    Chemical classification and labelling systems may be roughly similar from one country to another but there are significant differences too. In order to harmonize various chemical classification systems and ultimately provide consistent chemical hazard communication tools worldwide, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) was endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Several countries, including Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Malaysia, are now in the process of implementing GHS. It is essential to ascertain the comprehensibility of chemical hazard communication tools that are described in the GHS documents, namely the chemical labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Comprehensibility Testing (CT) was carried out with a mixed group of industrial workers in Malaysia (n=150) and factors that influence the comprehensibility were analysed using one-way ANOVA. The ability of the respondents to retrieve information from the SDS was also tested in this study. The findings show that almost all the GHS pictograms meet the ISO comprehension criteria and it is concluded that the underlying core elements that enhance comprehension of GHS pictograms and which are also essential in developing competent persons in the use of SDS are training and education.
    Matched MeSH terms: Product Labeling/methods*; Product Labeling/statistics & numerical data
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