Sedimentological characteristics of sediments of the South China Sea, Area II: Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei Darussalam waters

Surficial investigation of bottom sediments was conducted within the waters off the coast of Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei Darussalam. Two sampling of bottom sediments were conducted, one before (September 1996) and one after (April 1997) the Northeast monsoon period, which normally lasts from November to February annually. During the pre-monsoon cruise, fifty-one samples were collected while 52 samples were collected during the post-monsoon exercise. The collected samples were analysed for their sedimentological characteristics of mean, sorting, skewness and kurtosis. Analyses revealed that the post-monsoon sediments are finer, better sorted in arrangement, more symmetrical and less peaked than the pre-monsoon sediments. Deeper water sediment shows the same characteristics as described above when compared to shallow water sediments. In general, the near-shore sediments are coarsest, more poorly sorted, more positively skewed and most peaked in characteristics when compared to the mid-shore and off-shore sediments

Environmental Factors and Students\u27 Learning Approaches: a Survey on Malaysian Polytechnics Students

Several studies have shown the impact of environmental factors on student learning approaches. Despite the importance of such studies, studies on technical learners are few. Thus, this study aimed to determine the influence of learning environment on Polytechnics students\u27 learning approaches in Malaysia. Learning environment plays an important role in the cognitive, effective and social domains of students because it could improve students\u27 learning outcomes. Learning approaches refer to the ways students deal with academic tasks that are related to learning outcomes. This study used Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and Revised Two-Factor Study Process Questionnaire (RSPQ-2F) to collect the research data. Data were analyzed using AMOS Version 18. Multiple regressions were conducted to predict learning environment factors that influenced the level of students\u27 learning approaches. The result shows that effective teaching is a major factor that influences students\u27 deep approach followed by the assessment, learning resources and clear objectives

Sedimentological characteristics of the sediments of the South China Sea, Area I: Gulf of Thailand and east coast of Peninsular Malaysia

Two batches of eighty sediment samples were cut from the first centimeter of sediment cores collected during September 1995, representing the pre-monsoon period, and April 1996, representing the post-monsoon period, at the same location. The samples were collected within the waters of the Gulf of Thailand and the eastern board of Peninsular Malaysia. The sediment samples were analyzed for their sedimentological characteristics using the techniques of sieving and laser diffraction. In general the sediments of the Gulf of Thailand are finer, better sorted, more peaked than that of the Malaysian waters. Skewness of sediments from Thailand waters was more positively skewed than the Malaysian sediments for the pre-monsoon period but tended to be more negatively skewed for the post-monsoon period. It is also interesting to note that in general, the sediments collected during the post-monsoon period are finer, better sorted, more positively skewed and less peaked than the sediments collected during the pre-monsoon period. This is true for both the sediments collected from the Gulf of Thailand and the Malaysian waters. Near-shore sediments were also found to be the coarsest, followed by the off-shore sediments

Child presence detection system and technologies

Child Presence Detection (CPD) is a safety system designed to assist drivers to prevent the consequences of mistakenly left children in closed parked vehicles. Recently, ASEAN NCAP has released its 2021-2025 Roadmap that outlines the implementation of CPD technology as an initiative to prevent such incidences from happening in the future. This paper aims to provide an overview of these CPD systems and their associated technologies that are readily embedded in vehicles, or commercially available in the market

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Estimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: 22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution. Findings: Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations. Interpretation: Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic

Sedimentological Characteristics of Sediments of the South China Sea, Area II: Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei Darussalam Waters

Surficial investigation of bottom sediments was conducted within the waters off the coast of Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei Darussalam. Two sampling of bottom sediments were conducted, one before (September 1996) and one after (April 1997) the Northeast monsoon period, which normally lasts from November to February annually. During the pre-monsoon cruise, fifty-one samples were collected while 52 samples were collected during the post-monsoon exercise. The collected samples were analysed for their sedimentological characteristics of mean, sorting, skewness and kurtosis. Analyses revealed that the post-monsoon sediments are finer, better sorted in arrangement, more symmetrical and less peaked than the pre-monsoon sediments. Deeper water sediment shows the same characteristics as described above when compared to shallow water sediments. In general, the near-shore sediments are coarsest, more poorly sorted, more positively skewed and most peaked in characteristics when compared to the mid-shore and off-shore sediments

Development of anthropometric database for ASEAN NCAP: A case study of Malaysian children aged 6 years old

With the rapid growth of human populations throughout the globe, physical characteristics of human body composition may have significant variation, particularly in height and weight. Access to this information is vital for any product development programs, especially when it comes to safety aspects; hence it is particularly important to the New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN NCAP) as the champion of vehicle safety in ASEAN region. This paper aims to describe the development of anthropometric database for ASEAN NCAP. Tasks such as identification of important anthropometric parameters, methodology of measurement and data analysis are explained. A total of 42 anthropometric parameters were measured using direct measuring methods; however only 8 parameters are discussed in this paper. As a case study, a total of 143 Malaysian children aged 6 years old have participated in the anthropometric measurement activity. Statistical information including the mean, standard deviation, 5th percentile, 50th percentile and 95th percentile for each parameter for various body dimensions were tabulated. The collected data and mean of 42 parameters are utilised further for the development of digital 3D-models (using SolidWorks) of the Malaysian children aged 6 years old

Establishment procedure of child restraint systems reference list for ASEAN NCAP

Babies and children below the age of 12 are the most vulnerable road users compared to older children (i.e., 12 years and above) and adults. To reduce the risk of severe injuries in the case of crashes or emergency braking, it is important that these groups of children are transported properly using age- or size-appropriate Child Restraint Systems (CRS) for as long as possible. As part of the ASEAN NCAP protocol, a so-called "CRS Reference List" that contains a sample of widely available, well-performing child seats in the ASEAN market was established to assess the vehicle’s ability to safely and correctly accommodate child seats. The reference list should be reviewed every two years following a systematic revision process and published in ASEAN NCAP’s website. In this paper, some shortlisted CRS identified in previous work would be assessed following ASEAN NCAP Child Occupant Protection (COP) protocol where the CRS performance is evaluated. The technical assessment is explained in detail in this paper, where several measurements taken during vehicle impact tests using several shortlisted CRS are shown. The final "CRS Reference List" would then be established by ASEAN NCAP following the systematic assessment process based on the findings and recommendations from this work for the future ASEAN NCAP COP assessment

Modeling and controller design of an industrial hydraulic actuator system in the presence of friction and internal leakage

This paper presents a robust controller scheme and its capabilities to control the position tracking performance of an electro-hydraulic actuator system. Sliding mode control with fixed and varying boundary layer is proposed in the scheme. It is aimed to compensate nonlinearities and uncertainties caused by the presence of friction and internal leakage. Its capabilities are verified through simulations in Matlab Simulink environment. The friction was represented by the LuGre model and the internal leakage was assumed to change. The results indicate that the scheme successfully improves the robustness and the tracking accuracy of the system. This improvement offers a significant contribution in the control of modern equipment positioning applications