CST330 – Network Programming (Pengaturcaraan Rangkaian)

First Semester Examination 2022/2023 Academic Sessio

Removal of Arsenic from Aqueous Solution by Various Natural Soil-Based Adsorbents

Rapid industrialization, mining and agricultural activities lead to the release of contaminants such as arsenic (As) into the water sources that causes adverse effect to living organism. Thus, the application of effective and efficient removal method is crucial. The objective of the study is to apply the adsorption method by utilizing natural soil-based adsorbents including red, clay, sandy and black soil for removal of arsenic from aqueous solution. This study involved the characterisation of heavy metal content and physicochemical characteristic of soil adsorbents, followed by batch adsorption process and the study of adsorption model and mechanism. The results for concentration of arsenic in all soil adsorbents were lower than the permissible limit stated by European United (EU) and mean concentration of iron (Fe) observed to be higher in red soil compared to in other soil samples. For the physicochemical characterisation analysis, red soil has highest number of functional group, content of Fe based minerals, surface area and pore volume with the smallest particle size. From this study, the optimum removal conditions of arsenic from aqueous solution were 2.2 g/50 mL dosage of adsorbents for 60 minutes of contact time at pH of 5.5±0.5 and temperature of 40°C. The adsorption capability and efficiency of soil adsorbent in removing arsenic from aqueous solution were red soil> clay soil> sandy soil> black soil. The kinetic, isotherm and thermodynamic model showed that the mechanism of adsorption of arsenic was a chemisorption, non-spontaneous and endothermic process

CPC453 - Computer Vision & Robotics (Penglihatan Komputer & Robotik)

First Semester Examination 2022/2023 Academic Sessio

Sebuah Analisis Mengenai Peranan Dan Kesan Gerakan Masyarakat Dalam Mengubah Landskap Politik Di Malaysia

Tesis ini bertujuan mengkaji peranan dan kesan gerakan masyarakat dalam mengubah landskap demokrasi di Malaysia yang akan diperincikan melalui Gerakan Reformasi 1998, Gabungan Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (BERSIH), dan Himpunan Rang Undang-Undang 355 (RUU355) sama ada gabungan tersebut membentuk kepada perubahan landskap demokrasi di Malaysia ataupun tidak. Empat elemen yang menjadi kayu pengukur adalah ideologi, strategi, struktur dan aktor. Kajian ini juga akan memperlihatkan sama ada gerakan-gerakan ini semua dapat mengubah pola gerakan masyarakat serta mengubah landskap demokrasi di Malaysia. Di awal penulisan kajian ini diterangkan bagaimana gerakan masyarakat di Malaysia dengan mengambil panduan dari sebelum dan selepas kemerdekaan negara pada tahun 1957. Seterusnya, kajian ini juga akan membahaskan keadaan sosiopolitik yang mendasari kepada ketiga-tiga gerakan tersebut dan melihat bentuk advokasi yang dilakukan dalam usaha untuk menawarkan sebuah gerakan masyarakat di Malaysia

Selected air pollutants and their effects on lung function among petrol station workers in Johor

Background: Petrol station workers are exposed to various air pollutants in their workplaces. These air pollutants include particulate matters (PM2.5 and PM10) and VOC that were proven hazardous to health, especially respiratory systems. With the increasing number of petrol stations, no enforcement on self-service, and no specific safety and health programmes, petrol station workers may develop abnormal lung function due to exposure to air pollutants. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the mean concentrations of air pollutants and their associations with respiratory illness among petrol station workers in Johor. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to December 2022 at selected petrol stations in Johor sampled using proportionate stratified random sampling. The concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, and TVOC at the petrol stations were measured. Subsequently, workers from the selected petrol stations were interviewed regarding respiratory symptoms using standardised questionnaires and underwent the lung function test. All data were analysed descriptively, and the One-way Repeated Measures ANOVA test was conducted to look for the mean differences in air pollutants concentrations. Logistic and linear regression analyses were used to identify associated factors of abnormal lung function and its parameters. Results: The mean concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 at the petrol stations in Johor were 12.93 μg/m3 and 42.02 μg/m3, respectively, which did not exceed the 24-hour standard of WHO and NAAQS. There were significant mean differences in particulate matter concentrations between the different periods of the day [F (1.2, 52.6) = 95.587, p < 0.001 for PM2.5 and F (1.2, 53.3) = 158.294, p < 0.001 for PM10]. Mean differences in TVOC concentrations between various work processes or conditions were also found to be significant [F (1,43) = 3295.59, p < 0.001]. Ninety-three (38.3%) out of 243 petrol station workers had at least one respiratory symptom in which cough was the most commonly reported (25.9%). The prevalence of abnormal lung function among petrol station workers was 28.8%, predominantly obstructive impairment pattern (15.6%). Multiple logistic regression revealed that being a pump attendant (Adj. OR = 6.75; 95% CI: 2.70, 16.90; p < 0.001), duration of employment (Adj. OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.08; p = 0.016), respiratory symptoms (Adj. OR = 13.44; 95% CI: 5.28, 34.23; p < 0.001), significant past medical history (Adj. OR = 20.77; 95% CI: 5.57, 77.45; p < 0.001) and workplace PM10 concentration (Adj. OR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.16; p < 0.001) were significantly associated with abnormal lung function. Conclusion: Abnormal lung function was quite prevalent among petrol station workers in Johor, even though the mean concentrations of air pollutants did not exceed the standard. This warranted more confirmatory studies to establish the causal relationship between air pollutants and abnormal lung function and the development of safety and health programmes for petrol station workers

Informal caregiver burden among stroke patients in east-coast Peninsular Malaysia: a short-term longitudinal study

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Many stroke survivors require assistance for basic activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Stroke attacks happen suddenly, and family members must act as informal caregivers swiftly. Unfortunately, many caregivers feel upset or burdened during caring for stroke survivors. Studies on caregiver burden are vital in helping policymakers prioritise support and researchers develop interventions targeting stroke survivors and caregivers. This study aims to measure the burden among informal caregivers for stroke survivors in East Coast Peninsular Malaysia. Method: In this research, three related research articles were produced. First, a bibliometric analysis was done to measure the academic production and collaboration of the author, institutions, and countries. The publications with a title containing “stroke” and “caregiver” were searched using Clarivate’s Web of Science database. Second, a descriptive analysis was done to describe the distribution of stroke survivors, informal caregivers, and the burden of stroke caregivers. Stroke survivors and their caregivers were recruited from three East Coast Peninsular Malaysia hospitals. The caregiver burden was measured using the Malay version of Zarit Burden Interview (MZBI) and the Malay version of Caregiver Appraisal of Function and Upset (Malay-CAFU) via phone call four times within the first three months post-discharge. Third, using the same data, an inferential analysis was done using a linear mixed effect model to estimate the stroke caregiver burden trends and the effect of stroke survivors’ dependency level on the burden trajectory. Result: In the bibliometric analysis, it was found that 678 publications dated from 1989 to 2022 with titles containing the terms “stroke” and “caregiver”. The publications were primarily published in the English language. The publications mainly were produced in the USA (28.6%), by The University of Toronto (9.5%), in ‘Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation’ journal (5.8%), and the most productive author was Tamilyn Bakas (3.1%). For the caregiver burden, 85 stroke survivors and 155 informal caregivers were recruited. On average, the stroke survivors had two caregivers, mainly female (58.1%). In the first three months, the burden was reduced, with the mean (SD) of MZBI reduced from 27.42 (12.73) in the first week to 17.77 (11.20) in the third month, while IADL Malay-CAFU Upset reduced from 1.14 (0.94) to 0.62 (0.64) and ADL Malay-CAFU from 1.36 (1.00) to 0.78 (0.65) in the same period. When accounted for the clustering effect using a linear mixed effect model, the MZBI shows a reduction from 1-week post-discharge to 3-month [beta = -10.76 (95% CI = -11.94, -9.57)], and Malay-CAFU at 3-month [beta = -0.68 (95% CI = -0.80, -0.57)]. The burden was higher among caregivers with dependent stroke survivors; however, the rate of reduction of burden was not significantly different. Conclusion: The studies on stroke caregivers were extensive; however, ongoing studies on the field are essential. Areas of interest in the field include the experience of stroke caregivers, the level and the determinant of burden and the interventions in managing the burden. Many stroke survivors were taken care of by several informal caregivers, especially family members. However, the caregivers may feel burdened while giving care; however, the burden is usually reduced in the first three months post-stroke. Therefore, policymakers and healthcare providers should initiate support and interventions for caregivers and stroke survivors as early as at the time of diagnosis

Process evaluation and cost analysis of the team approach in diabetes management in a primary care setting

Introduction: The Team Approach is a patient-centred multidisciplinary approach in the management of diabetes that aims to empower patients in the self-care towards achieving good diabetes control. This study began with the development of the flow chart and clinical pathway of the Team Approach that guided the process evaluation and cost analysis of the program and the additional costs that required to improve the program. Methodology: This study consisted of three parts. Part 1 of the study is the design and development of a flow chart and clinical pathway that was developed from observing the work processes and activities of the Team Approach at the Simpang Kuala health clinic. The development of the flow chart and clinical pathway was based on the 10- step framework for developing and disseminating clinical pathway by the Centre of Evidence-based Practice, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia. Part 2 was a process evaluation of the Team Approach on the program’s context, reach, dose delivered, fidelity, and implementation. Part 3 of the research was a cost analysis of the Team Approach using the top-down and bottom-up costing approach to determine the cost per patient from providers’ perspective. Additional resources and costs required to expand the program to achieve 50% and 70% of patients with HbA1c level ≤6.5% was also forecasted. Result: The Diabetes Patient Process Flow Chart (DPPF) and the Integrated Care Pathway of Diabetes Management (ICPDM) of the Team Approach work processes were visualized using the Business Process Model and Notation tool and the time-task matrix format of a chain model. The process evaluation discovered factors that influenced the implementation of Team Approach was the leadership of the clinic’s manager, human resource, facilities and equipment, health informatics, variations in consultation practices, commitments of patients, acceptance of new knowledge, stigma on insulin use and the effect of Covid-19 pandemic. The scores obtained in the evaluation of reach, dose delivered and fidelity of the services and consultations in the Team Approach ranged from 0% to 100%. The overall score for the implementation of the Team Approach in diabetes management and care was 57%. The cost of treatment for diabetes patient in 2020 was RM1,330.05 per patient. To achieve 50% and 70% of the total diabetes patients with HbA1c of ≤6.5% in the same year, the cost per patient will be RM1,659.34 and RM2,117.68 respectively. Conclusion: The research is a comprehensive study of the Team Approach in diabetes management in a primary care setting. The flow chart and clinical pathway will be useful in standardizing the delivery of care and sharing of practices among other clinics. Whilst the process evaluation enabled the weaknesses of the program to be identified, thus aiding future improvements and guiding the Ministry of Health in the planning resources and funding for the management and care of diabetes mellitus in Malaysia

Cross professional team characteristics, translation and construct validation of teamwork survey questionnaire (TSQ) at Malaysian east coast public Hospital

Cross professional teamwork in healthcare refers to the interaction between individuals with different expertise and training backgrounds, working together towards shared patient care goals. Cross professional teamwork is necessary to support integrated service delivery. However, cross professional teamwork has not been given sufficient attention in Malaysia’s developing country context. There is a lack of tools to assess cross professional teamwork for Malaysian settings. This study aimed to translate the English version teamwork survey questionnaire (TSQ) into Malay and perform tool construct validation at a Malaysian east coast public hospital. The TSQ assesses teamwork on domains of integration, climate and efficiency; the tool has been previously used in Swedish and Australian settings. This study’s aim was achieved through a cross-sectional mixed methods study in three phases. Phase 1 and Phase 2 were carried out through qualitative approaches while Phase 3 utilized a quantitative approach. Phase 1 focused on translating the TSQ into Malay language using forwardbackward translation together with the committee approach. Next, a qualitative interview study was conducted in Phase 2 to explore fulfillment of cross professional team characteristics at the hospital’s 16 inpatient wards. A total of 35 interviews were conducted with medical, nursing and allied health professionals; the sample is sufficient for qualitative data saturation. Recordings from interview sessions were transcribed and thematically analyzed. The construct validity and reliability of the Malay version TSQ was determined in Phase 3. In Phase 3, 150 respondents were recruited from wards found to have cross professional team characteristics during Phase 2. A response rate of 98.24% was obtained in filling in the Malay version TSQ, the percentage of recruited respondents being sufficient for statistical analysis. Construct validity was assessed through Principal Component Analysis with Varimax rotation and reliability was tested through the analysis of internal consistency. Findings from Phase 1 indicate the translated Malay version TSQ to have equivalence with the English version. Phase 2 interview findings reveal that inpatient wards generally fulfill cross professional team criteria related to team composition, patient care objectives and professional interactions. Phase 3 construct validation results indicate that three constructs namely team climate, team efficiency and team integration, without any item deletion are valid for the Malay version TSQ. The Cronbach’s alpha value is 0.917 for the translated whole TSQ scale, while the three scale constructs also have reliable Cronbach’s alpha values in the range of 0.703-0.946. Discrepancies for particular words used from the forward backward translation process were resolved without affecting meaning of the original items. Health professionals in this study acknowledge the different professions involved in patient care. However, disciplinary diversity at the respective wards varies depending on patient care specialties and treatment objectives. The Cronbach’s alpha values for the Malay version TSQ factors reflect better team climate and integration values and comparably similar team efficiency value when contrasted with the original tool. In conclusion, the results support usage of the tool as a reliable instrument for assessing cross professional teams in other similar Malaysian public healthcare services. Further research could test the reliability and validity of the Malay version TSQ in other Malaysian regions

Effects Of Nicotinamide and Nilotinib on Telomerase Activity and Telomere Length Associated with PARP-1 Regulation in K562 Myeloid Cell Line

Chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) is one of the four major types of leukaemia disease that affecting myeloid cells. The blast phase of CML has continued to exist as a challenging disease even though the advanced tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy has been introduced, but with its limitations and significantly less effective, causing the patient to be less favourably to respond to the therapy. Switching to highly potent TKI, such as nilotinib also not be able to improve the overall health. Currently, no treatment options are responding effectively in the blast crisis phase of CML. Therefore, it requires an identification of new drug therapies to treat these CML patients. In this study, we investigate the effect of nicotinamide on telomerase activity and telomere length associated with poly (ADP-Ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) regulation in a myeloid cell line to enhance the current treatment of CML as part of the supplementary agent. K562 cell line was used as the model representing CML in the blast phase and was treated with nicotinamide or nilotinib before the combination of both substances was applied. This study has shown the effect of nicotinamide, nilotinib and combination of both substances in exhibit the anti-proliferation ability on the K562 cell line after 48 hours. The implicated mechanism involved in inducing such an effect is not yet clear. In addition of nicotinamide, nilotinib and combination of both substances on the K562 cell line have been indicated as telomerase-positive with significantly higher telomeres activity. Telomere length analysis was evaluated to determine the relation to the function of the telomerase enzyme to maintain the telomere cap of the chromosome. Data showed in longer telomere length in all treatment groups except for nicotinamide with slightly decreases in telomerase activity. The expression of the TERT gene in this study suggests that the effect of these substances on telomerase activity and telomere length is necessarily dependent on their effect on TERT expression. Inhibition of the cell proliferation on the K562 cell line may be associated with the upregulation of PARP-1 related markers (BAX, RIPK1 and TRAF2) and elevated effect in apoptosis assay. The effect of nicotinamide and nilotinib on PARP-1 regulation including mechanisms related to apoptosis, will provide evidence for future and wider research

A methodology building for multilayer feed-forward neural network (MLFFNN): an application in biometry modelling

This research aims to develop a hybrid method for Multi-Layer Feed-Forward Neural Network (MLFFNN) with two different approaches; (i) Multiple Logistic Regression (MLogisticR) for the first method, (ii) Multiple Linear Regression (MLinearR) for the second method. The developed hybrid method is based on bootstrap, regression, and MLFFNN. In the first method, the accuracy of the developed method is measured based on the value of the Mean Squared Error Neural Network (MSE.net), Mean Absolute Deviance (MAD), and the accuracy percentage. While for the second method, Mean Squared Error Neural Network (MSE.net) and R2 will be used to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. All those components serve as a yardstick to determine the accuracy and efficiency of the developed model. Existing software only produces limited results. The main focus of this study is the need for better decision-making with solid evidence. The main goal of this research is to build a hybrid method and generate a numerical result and visualization (graphical representation). The results from both case studies show that the hybrid method has successfully improved the accuracy, effectiveness, and efficiency of parameter estimation in the final results of the analysis. The findings of this study contribute to the development of a comprehensive research methodology in future and suggest more accurate results for the decision-making process