Variable Step Size Maximum Correntropy Criteria Based Adaptive Filtering Algorithm

Maximum correntropy criterion (MCC) based adaptive filters are found to be robust against impulsive interference. This paper proposes a novel MCC based adaptive filter with variable step size in order to obtain improved performance in terms of both convergence rate and steady state error with robustness against impulsive interference. The optimal variable step size is obtained by minimizing the Mean Square Deviation (MSD) error from one iteration to the other. Simulation results in the context of a highly impulsive system identification scenario show that the proposed algorithm has faster convergence and lesser steady state error than the conventional MCC based adaptive filters

Socio-hydrologic drivers of the pendulum swing between agricultural development and environmental health: A case study from Murrumbidgee River basin, Australia

This paper presents a case study centred on the Murrumbidgee River basin in eastern Australia. It illustrates the dynamics of the balance between water extraction and use for food production, and efforts to mitigate and reverse consequent degradation of the riparian environment. In particular, the paper traces the history of a pendulum swing between an exclusive focus on agricultural development and food production in the initial stages and its attendant socio-economic benefits, followed by the gradual realization of the adverse environmental impacts, subsequent efforts to mitigate these with the use of remedial measures, and ultimately concerted efforts and externally imposed solutions to restore environmental health and ecosystem services. The 100-year history of development within the Murrumbidgee is divided into four eras, each underpinned by the dominance of different values and norms and turning points characterized by their changes. The various stages of development can be characterized by the dominance, in turn, of infrastructure systems, policy frameworks, economic instruments, and technological solutions. The paper argues that, to avoid these costly pendulum swings, management needs to be underpinned by long-term coupled socio-hydrologic system models that explicitly include the two-way coupling between human and hydrological systems, including the slow evolution of human values and norms relating to water and the environment. Such coupled human-water system models can provide insights into dominant controls of the trajectory of their co-evolution in a given system, and can also be used to interpret patterns of co-evolution of such coupled systems in different places across gradients of climatic, socio-economic and socio-cultural conditions, and in this way to help develop generalizable understanding. © 2014 Author(s)

Analisis Trend Bagi Pesalah Muda Yang Telah Menjalani Hukuman Perintah Khidmat Masyarakat Di Malaysia (A Trend Analysis Among Young Offenders Undergone Community Service Order In Malaysia)

This article attempts to present the trend among young offenders undergone Community Service Order (CSO) in Malaysia. An archival time series analysis approach was applied to identify the ethnicity, gender, type of crime and the total number of young offenders undergone CSO across Malaysia from 2009 until 2015. Relevant information was gathered after obtaining official statistic from the Department of Social Welfare Malaysia. In sum, a total number of 13,896 cases were reported in sixyear duration throughout Malaysia. The highest number of cases were recorded in Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (545 cases). Moreover, an overall number of 2,989 young offenders have successfully undergone CSO from 2009 until 2015. The resultant data also indicated that majority of male young offenders undergone CSO are Malays in ethnicity (67.79%) and most of them have involved in property-related crime (47%). As an overall impact, the study provided implications to the concerned parties and key personnel such as welfare officers, criminal justice authorities and policies makers to reinforce the implementation of a community-based approach to recuperate young offenders who have involved in criminal activities

Tahap Konsep Kendiri, Kesedaran Komuniti, Sokongan Sosial dan Pengintegrasian Sosial bagi Pesalah Muda di Malaysia (Level of Self-Concept, Sense of Community, Social Support and Social Integration among Young Offenders in Malaysia)

Stigma merupakan suatu proses yang terbentuk apabila beberapa elemen utama seperti stereotaip, pelabelan, kehilangan status diri, pemisahan dan diskriminasi bergabung dengan situasi yang tertekan serta memberi kesan negatif yang mendalam terhadap proses komunikasi yang wujud di antara pesalah muda dengan ahli komuniti. Justeru, konsep kendiri, kesedaran komuniti, sokongan sosial dan pengintegrasian sosial yang tinggi amat diperlukan oleh pesalah muda untuk mengadaptasikan diri dalam komuniti bagi mengelakkan masalah keterasingan sosial akibat daripada sejarah keterlibatan dengan aktiviti jenayah. Oleh yang demikian, artikel ini disediakan bagi membincangkan mengenai tahap konsep kendiri, kesedaran komuniti, sokongan sosial dan pengintegrasian sosial bagi pesalah muda di Malaysia. Sebuah kajian kuantitatif dengan menggunakan reka bentuk tinjauan keratan-lintang telah dijalankan ke atas 306 pesalah muda yang sedang menjalani hukuman Perintah Khidmat Masyarakat di bawah pengawasan Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat. Data kajian dianalisis secara deskriptif dengan menggunakan IMB for SPSS versi 23.0. Keputusan kajian mendapati bahawa tahap konsep kendiri (72.9%), kesedaran komuniti (55.2%), sokongan sosial (77.5%) dan pengintegrasian sosial (67.3%) bagi pesalah muda berada pada tahap sederhana. Dapatan kajian memberi implikasi terhadap keperluan pihak yang berkepentingan untuk merangka dan menambahbaik modul dan program-program pemulihan ke arah meningkatkan tahap konsep kendiri, kesedaran komuniti, sokongan sosial dan pengintegrasian sosial bagi pesalah muda di Malaysia

Challenges in Re-Entry among Former Inmates : A Review

Failure of re-entry has been associated with risks of higher recidivism rates and is a potential factor of decreased in inmate’s well-being. This article will examine the challenges endured by the former inmates during the process of re-entry. A literature search has been performed using various keywords like “challenges”, “re-entry”, “crime”, “inmates” and “former inmates” in databases, such as Emerald, Elsevier, Sage, and Google Scholar. The results indicate that majority of the inmates undergo common challenges, which includes limited employment prospects, lack of family support, difficulties in securing housing, unstable physical/mental condition and drug dependency. Therefore, this article review is hoped to call for efforts to be made by the government and interested parties to reduce these challenges encountered by former inmates upon their prison release

Meneroka Strategi Daya Tindak Golongan Ibu dalam Menjaga Anak Kurang Upaya Kategori Cerebral Palsy (Exploring Coping Strategies of Mother in Taking Care of a Child with Cerebral Palsy Disability)

Living with a disabled person can bring significant effects to the entire family members especially for parents, siblings and next of kin because they need to undergo a peculiar experience which can influence different aspect of family functioning. Thus, this article examines coping strategies of mothers who take care of their child with Cerebral Palsy disability. Data is collected using a qualitative approach among six mothers who have a child with Cerebral Palsy disability. In-depth interview was conducted to gather information regarding informants’ coping strategies in taking care of their children. All the informants who took part in this study were mothers in the age range between 33 to 52 years old with an average income rate between RM1,200 to RM3,000 and have two to three children. The findings also indicate that informants’ practiced four types of coping strategies namely; (i) self-control, (ii) social support, (iii) accepting responsibilities and (iv) solving problems with a proper planning in overcoming stress and crisis in their life. As an overall impact, the study provided implications to the concerned parties to empower and emancipate mothers by providing effective psychological counselling to overcome challenges in taking care of their disabled child

Socio-Demographic and Perpetrators Experience in Committing Crime: A Descriptive Study on Male Young Offenders Undergoing Community Service Order

The present study attempts to identify the underlying socio-demographic and perpetrators experience in committing crime among male young offenders undergoing community service order. An observational cross-sectional approach was applied using self-administered survey among young offenders. A total number of 60 respondents were recruited from Malaysia Department of Social Welfare to participate in this study. For this research, the sample criteria are male young offenders aged between 18 to 21 years old. Written and signed consent form were also given to the respondents to obtain their agreement prior to their voluntary participation in the research. The self-administered survey consisted of two main sections. Section one contained questions on socio-demographic of the young offenders while section two queried information regarding type of crimes, weapon usage, factors associate to commit crime, factors contributing for successfully executing criminal acts, factors associates to failure in committing crime and how they were caught. Data were compiled, organised and analysed using SPSS version 23.0. Results indicates that despite living with their family, young person involves in crime acts. This study suggest to examine family factors that contribute to the perpetrator experience to involve in crime in Malaysia

cabaran Golongan Ibu dalam Penjagaan Anak Kurang upaya (cerebral Patsy): Satu Kajian di "The cerebral Palsy (Spastic) Children's Association of Penangl'

Artiket ini membincangkan tentang ca.baranyang dihadapi oteh golongan ibu dntammenjaga anak irrong upaya kategori Cerebral Palsy (CP)'Satu kajian kualitatif iiiito"*on ke atas enam orang ibu yang mempunyai anak kurang upaya. Xaiaan rcmubual mendalam digunalcan bagi mengumpul dpta yang ierknitan dengan maklumat sosiodemografi serta cabaran yang dihadapi oleh informan dalam meniaga anak merela. Maioriti daripada informan yang terlibU dalam kajian ini ialah golongan ibu yang berusia di antara 42 hinggo 45 tahun.Hasit kaiian mendapati bahawa golongan ibu menghadapi masalah tekanan perasctan-, kurong mendapat sol<ongan sosial daripada pasangan dan ahli keliarga serta sukar mengawal tinglah laku anak merela yang tidak menentu (tantrum). Selain itu, informan iuga menghadapi masalah kewangan mem.andangkan kos peniagaan kanak-lanak kurang upaya adalah tinggi' Tambahanlugo, infoiman turut berhadapan dengan isu penerimoan negatif daripada jeriekttaran sosial serta mempunyai masalah pengangkutan untuk membawa keluar anak mereka bagi mendapatkan perkhidmatan kesihatan yang sewajarnya. Justeru, akses kepada sistem sokongan sosial, kesihatan dan- pengangkutan awam perlu dipertingkatl<an untuk menSurangkan cabaran yang dihadapi oleh golongan ibu dalam meniaga anak mereka

Implementation of a structured emergency nursing framework results in significant cost benefit

Abstract Background Patients are at risk of deterioration on discharge from an emergency department (ED) to a ward, particularly in the first 72 h. The implementation of a structured emergency nursing framework (HIRAID) in regional New South Wales (NSW), Australia, resulted in a 50% reduction of clinical deterioration related to emergency nursing care. To date the cost implications of this are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine any net financial benefits arising from the implementation of the HIRAID emergency nursing framework. Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted between March 2018 and February 2019 across two hospitals in regional NSW, Australia. Costs associated with the implementation of HIRAID at the study sites were calculated using an estimate of initial HIRAID implementation costs (AUD) ($492,917) and ongoing HIRAID implementation costs ($134,077). Equivalent savings per annum (i.e. in less patient deterioration) were calculated using projected estimates of ED admission and patient deterioration episodes via OLS regression with confidence intervals for incremental additional deterioration costs per episode used as the basis for scenario analysis. Results The HIRAID-equivalent savings per annum exceed the costs of implementation under all scenarios (Conservative, Expected and Optimistic). The estimated preliminary savings to the study sites per annum was $1,914,252 with a payback period of 75 days. Conservative projections estimated a net benefit of$1,813,760 per annum by 2022–23. The state-wide projected equivalent savings benefits of HIRAID equalled $227,585,008 per annum, by 2022–23. Conclusions The implementation of HIRAID reduced costs associated with resources consumed from patient deterioration episodes. The HIRAID-equivalent savings per annum to the hospital exceed the costs of implementation across a range of scenarios, and upscaling would result in significant patient and cost benefit. </jats:sec

The prevalence of obesity and the knowledge, attitude and practice of healthy lifestyle among the adult population in Kampung Banyuk, Kampung Kerto and Kampung Langup

Background Obesity has become a great public health concern and prevent!ive measures need to be done. Objective The objective of this research is to determine the prevalence ofobesity and their knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) towards a healthy lifestyle among the residents in Kampung Banyok, Kampung Kerto and Kampung Langup. Methods A cross-sectional study was done among 126 randomly selected villagers aged 18 years and above from the three selected villages. They were interviewed based on a questionnaire and their body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Results It was found that more than half of the respondents are obese. Among the respondents, for the healthy lifestyle component, the level of good KAP is 69.2%, 46.8% and 60.3% respectively. As for obesity component, the level of good KAP is 60.3%, 54% and 54.8% respectively. Among the obese respondents, the level of knowledge and attitude on healthy lifestyle and obesity is better. Obese respondents have better obesity preventive practice while the non-obese respondents have better practice on healthy lifestyle. The only significant correlation noted was between knowledge and practice on obesity albeit a negative one. Conclusion The level of knowledge and attitude and practice on healthy lifestyle among the obese respondents are encouraged but more effort in the preventive practice ofobesity shou1d be done to reduce the prevalence.