Evaluation of academic library web sites in Malaysia

This study evaluates the content and design of academic library Web sites in Malaysia and uses a mixed-method approach that combines both quantitative and qualitative analyses of academic library Web sites evaluation. A total of twelve library Web sites of public and private institutions of higher learning were selected for evaluation. Thefindings reveal that the academic libraries in Malaysia generally have set up well-designed and useful Web sites. A few academic library Web sites, however, have very simple and basic features. Overall, they fall short of expectations as virtual expressions of the quality levels of academic libraries

A novel framework for making dominant point detection methods non-parametric

Most dominant point detection methods require heuristically chosen control parameters. One of the commonly used control parameter is maximum deviation. This paper uses a theoretical bound of the maximum deviation of pixels obtained by digitization of a line segment for constructing a general framework to make most dominant point detection methods non-parametric. The derived analytical bound of the maximum deviation can be used as a natural bench mark for the line fitting algorithms and thus dominant point detection methods can be made parameter-independent and non-heuristic. Most methods can easily incorporate the bound. This is demonstrated using three categorically different dominant point detection methods. Such non-parametric approach retains the characteristics of the digital curve while providing good fitting performance and compression ratio for all the three methods using a variety of digital, non-digital, and noisy curves

Enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma subtypes are characterized by loss of function of SETD2

Enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma (EATL) is a lethal, and the most common, neoplastic complication of celiac disease. Here, we defined the genetic landscape of EATL through whole-exome sequencing of 69 EATL tumors. SETD2 was the most frequently silenced gene in EATL (32% of cases). The JAK-STAT pathway was the most frequently mutated pathway, with frequent mutations in STAT5B as well as JAK1 , JAK3 , STAT3 , and SOCS1 . We also identified mutations in KRAS , TP53 , and TERT . Type I EATL and type II EATL (monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T cell lymphoma) had highly overlapping genetic alterations indicating shared mechanisms underlying their pathogenesis. We modeled the effects of SETD2 loss in vivo by developing a T cell–specific knockout mouse. These mice manifested an expansion of γδ T cells, indicating novel roles for SETD2 in T cell development and lymphomagenesis. Our data render the most comprehensive genetic portrait yet of this uncommon but lethal disease and may inform future classification schemes

Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level

Importance: Early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale. Objectives: To report the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis in patients across the world during a single year, to investigate associations between clinical variables and national income level, and to investigate risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 278 retinoblastoma treatment centers were recruited from June 2017 through December 2018 to participate in a cross-sectional analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed in 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age at presentation, proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, and tumor stage and metastasis. Results: The cohort included 4351 new patients from 153 countries; the median age at diagnosis was 30.5 (interquartile range, 18.3-45.9) months, and 1976 patients (45.4) were female. Most patients (n = 3685 84.7%) were from low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, the most common indication for referral was leukocoria (n = 2638 62.8%), followed by strabismus (n = 429 10.2%) and proptosis (n = 309 7.4%). Patients from high-income countries (HICs) were diagnosed at a median age of 14.1 months, with 656 of 666 (98.5%) patients having intraocular retinoblastoma and 2 (0.3%) having metastasis. Patients from low-income countries were diagnosed at a median age of 30.5 months, with 256 of 521 (49.1%) having extraocular retinoblastoma and 94 of 498 (18.9%) having metastasis. Lower national income level was associated with older presentation age, higher proportion of locally advanced disease and distant metastasis, and smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma. Advanced disease at diagnosis was more common in LMICs even after adjusting for age (odds ratio for low-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 17.92 95% CI, 12.94-24.80, and for lower-middle-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 5.74 95% CI, 4.30-7.68). Conclusions and Relevance: This study is estimated to have included more than half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017. Children from LMICs, where the main global retinoblastoma burden lies, presented at an older age with more advanced disease and demonstrated a smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, likely because many do not reach a childbearing age. Given that retinoblastoma is curable, these data are concerning and mandate intervention at national and international levels. Further studies are needed to investigate factors, other than age at presentation, that may be associated with advanced disease in LMICs. © 2020 American Medical Association. All rights reserved

Computerisation of the University of Malaya Library (UML): issues of implementation

The Library started implementing its computerized integrated library project in January 1991. The complete computerization of the Library is envisaged to take place in 2 phases. Phase I encompasses the installation and operation of the VAXcomputer and the ATLAS integrated library software. A total of 100 terminals distributed within the Library system will be connected to the main computer system in a campus-wide network. Phase /I will involve some upgrading to the hardware configuration in terms of memory, disk storage, and other encitterv equipment to accomodate up to 300 concurrent users to the system. This includes the additional terminals for the branch libraries as well as the links from users in the various faculties, departments to the library network. Phase I which is currently in progress is being implemented on a turnkey basis, and is scheduled for completion by the end of 1991. The first three months have been scheduled for site preparation and delivery of the computer hardware, followed by three months of application software installation, training, testing and acceptance of the system. The system will be monitored in actual operation for the next 6 months till the end of 1991. Work has been going on according to schedule, save for an anticipated delay in the outdoor cabling work due to a shortage of the required cable. Implementation of the ATLAS software will focus on getting some modules to become operational as early as possible, to allow library users in general to enjoy tangible benefits from the computerization project. Problems in implementing a big project like this is inevitable, but to date all have been speedily resolved with the vendor

Organizing the pamphlet collection for effective retrieval

Phamphlets are little booklets that the library receives or purchases from time to time. It is a non-periodical publication or publication not more than 48 pages.These type of collections are not easy to organise or catalogue. Describes the phamplet collection at the Medical library, UNiversity of Malaya. The collection is indexed based on the KWOC (Keyword out of context) method

Developing a CDS ISIS-based online cataloguing and information retrieval interfaces for use in small libraries

Describes the development of ONLIS, a customised user interface for computerised MARC cataloguing and information retrieval targeted for use in small libraries and information centres. Micro CDS/ISIS Ver. 3.07 software package and its built-in Pascal language were used for the design process and development. The design philosophy centres on the development of a very user-friendly and simple interface, capable of mimicking the sdient features 0/ contemporary commercial library package, yet easy to implement and maintain in a small library environment requiring little or no technical expertise. The system incorporates many new features and comprises two main components, namely (a) data entry and file maintenance and (b) information retrieval. A security system is incorporated into the former environment to ensure data integrity and regulate important file maintenance tasks. While the system is ready for immediate implementation in libraries, modifications and enhancements are currently undertaken to make it a truly reliable product. Some degree of user training in MARC and cataloguing using AACR2 is necessary to get the maximum benefits from the system

Core words and Parikh matrices

Parikh matrices have been widely investigated due to their applicability in arithmetizing words by numbers. This paper introduces the core of a binary word, which captures the essential part of a word from the perspective of its Parikh matrix. Additionally, the stronger notion of core M-unambiguity is introduced and the characterization of core M-unambiguous binary words is obtained. Finally, a generalization of the core of a binary word and some of its interesting properties are investigated

Bahasa tulisan pelajar pekak: analisis struktur sintaksis ayat berdasarkan teori tatabahasa transformasi generatif

Tujuan utama kajian ini ialah menganalisis struktur sintaksis ayat tulisan pelajar pekak berdasarkan teori tatabahase transformasi generatif. Didapati pelajar pekak mempelajari bahasa melalui kaedah manual-visual. Oleh sebab itu, kajian ini mengadaikan bahawa strucktur ayat tulisan pelajar pekak mengandungi ciri-ciri tersendiri yang berkait rapat dengan sistem bahasa orang pekak