Modeling the effect of neighborhood competition on tree diameter growth in the Pacific Northwest Coast Range

Trees compete for various resources such as sunlight, water, and nutrients, which can be expressed as numerical terms, called competition indices (CI). Competition between individual trees is correlated with their growth and mortality. Therefore, CIs are used as independent variables to develop, improve and modify growth and yield models. This study was conducted to test the effect of neighborhood competition on tree diameter growth among Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg) and red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.), in the Pacific Northwest Coast Range, USA. After testing seven distance-independent CIs and three distance-dependent CIs, only the distance-independent CIs were found to significantly affect the diameter growth model. Among them, CIs with basal area and diameter information were the most impactful. As a result, a simple CI was very effective in a model that accounts for the basal area information of different tree species

Age and sequence of eruption of permanent teeth in children and adolescents in North-eastern Malaysia

The aim of this study is to determine the age and sequence of eruption of permanent teeth as well as gender differences in children and adolescents in the state of Kelantan, north-eastern Malaysia. Cross-sectional data on permanent tooth eruption were collected by examining pre-school, primary and secondary school children of 5-17 years of age. The subjects were drawn by multistage random sampling from the school register. There were 2382 subjects in the sample, 1062 boys and 1320 girls. A tooth was considered erupted if any part of its crown was visible in the mouth. The data were subjected to probit analysis to compute the eruption time of each individual tooth in terms of median, 95th percentile and 99 percentile. The mean age of eruption of lower first molar is 6.0 years (5.8yr,6.2yr) at 95%CI and for lower canine is 10.2 years (10.0yr,l0.3yr) at 95%CI. The median age of eruption of each tooth was earlier in girls than in boys. Although the range of years during which the teeth erupted was similar in both sexes, the sequence of the individual teeth differed. All mandibular teeth, with the exception of first and second premolars in both males and females, tended to erupt earlier than their maxillary counterparts. The findings seem to correspond to earlier studies done in the other parts of the world, however the eruption time seems to be earlier compared to studies done in Thailand and Madras

DC-link voltage balancing and control of qZ-source inverter fed induction motor drive

Poor performance of the motor drive system is caused when the direct current-link (DC-link) capacitor voltages of the inverter are not sufficiently generated. This is mainly because of the various load torque changes and input voltage fluctuation. The qZ-source inverter operates with a fully shoot-through technique. This technique causes mismatching between the upper and lower DC-link capacitor voltages. Without capacitor voltage-balancing function, the desired DC-link capacitor voltages could not be provided or maintained when there are load and speed changes. A Sawtooth carrier-based simple boost triple-sixty-degree (TSD) pulse width modulation (PWM) technique is used to drive the qZ-source T-type inverter because this technique can give a more significant boost DC-link voltage than a traditional simple boost PWM technique. Proportional integral (PI) controller is applied for the DC-link voltage controller to achieve the fast response and less steady-state error. The simulation model was constructed for a 4 kW, 400 V, 1,400 rpm induction motor (IM) drive system used in rolling mill using MATLAB/Simulink with and without voltage balancing function. As a result, DC-link voltages of the qZ-source T-type inverter fed the induction motor drive system could be controlled using a capacitor voltage-balancing function and the output power of the motor from the simulation result is approximately equal to 4 kW

Appropriateness in utilization of emergency department services in Hospital Kota Bharu and Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

The prime concern in the inappropriate utilization of emergency departments antara J00-200 perkataan di (ED) is compromised management of patients requiring emergency treatment. dalam Bahasa Malaysia dan Significant attendance of non-emergency cases in ED was found in several Bahasa lnggeris. lni countries. kemudiannya akan dimuatkan ke dalam Laporan Talmnan Sahagian Penyelidikan & Pembangunan sebagai safll cara 11ntuk menyampaikan dapatan projek tuanl puan kepada pihak Universiti). The objectives of this study are to determine the proportion of inappropriate cases, as well as the distribution of utilization by time (over 24 hours and within a week) and by diagnoses (Phase I) and to determine the associated factors and the reported reasons in the inappropriate utilization of ED services (Phase II). A cross sectional study (Phase I) was conducted in ED, Hospital Kota Bharu (HKB) and ED, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM). A sample of 350 cases from each ED was randomly selected from ED register of the year 2000. A decision flowchart, which was adopted from 4 guidelines, was applied to identify inappropriate cases. The proportions of inappropriate cases were 57.4 % for ED HKB and 55 % for ED HUSM. The inappropriate cases increased considerably in early morning, late evening, during the weekend and early part of the week. Most common diagnoses of inappropriate cases were upper respiratory tract infections, mild acute gastroenteritis and urinary tract infections. The subsequent case-control study (Phase II) with 170 cases in each group revealed the independently significant factors associated with inappropriate utilization of ED services such as perceived il lness (Odds Ratio (OR)=9.13; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 4.99, 16.67), knowledge on roles and functions ofED (OR=0.65; 95% Cl : 0.50, 0.85}, knowledge on roles and functions of OPD (OR=0.24; 95% Cl: 0.13, 0.44), marital status (OR=4.58; 95% Cl : 1.16, 18.06), gender (OR= 3.00; 95% Cl: 1.73, 5.18), number of family members (OR=0.88; 95% Cl: 0.79, 0.97), and shift-work (OR= 2.34; 95% Cl: 1.15, 4.71). The first 3 factors seem to be modifiable by giving education, whereas the later 4 factors give some understanding on customer needs, which may help to customize ED and OPD services. Studies to explore further on customer needs and customizing the hospital services accordingly, which will lead to a more efficient primary care, are recommended

Appropriateness in the Utilization of Emergency Department Services In Hospital Kota Sharu and Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

The prime concern in the inappropriate utilization of emergency departments (FD) is compromised management of patients requiring emergency treatment. Kesan utama penyalahgunaan jabatan kecemasan adalah gangguan terhadap perjalanan perkhidmatan ini kepada pesakit yang benar-benar didalam kecemasan atau tenat. Kajian menunjukkan penggunaan jabatan kecemasan bagi kes-kes bukan kecemasan adalah signifikan dibeberapa negara

Occupational xylene exposure and respiratory impairment of paint manufacturing workers

A cross-sectional study was conducted among paint workers to determine the association between xylene exposures with respiratory health. Sixty-four exposed workers working with xylene and 47 unexposed administrative workers were selected. Air xylene (AX) were analyzed using the Gas Chromatography while urinary methyl hippuric acid (MHA) were analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Lung functions were measured using Chestgraph HI-701 spirometer. The AX for the exposed was significantly higher than the unexposed workers (p<0.001). The urinary MHA of the exposed was higher than the unexposed workers (p<0.001). Among the exposed, more respiratory symptoms, higher lung functions abnormality and significantly lower FEV1% predicted and FVC% predicted were found. Findings showed significant correlations between AX and urinary MHA. AX significantly influenced the lung functions. Smoking years and education influenced the respiratory symptoms. Those exposed have early signs of lung impairment and respiratory symptoms. Smokers faced the risk of developing chronic irreversible respiratory diseases

A pilot study of risk factors in cleft lip/palate patients in Kelantan

About 2-3% of pregnancies result in neonates with serious genetic diseases or birth defects causing disabilities, mental retardation, and in some cases early death. Non-syndromic cleft lip and palate (CLP) is a common craniofacial anomaly affecting between lin 700 and 1 in 1000 births in the UK and USA respectively. In Malaysia, studies of school children showed the incidence of 1 in every 941 subjects examined. The risks of non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate and isolated cleft palate (CLP) are influenced by variations at several loci of the gene and these loci interact with environmental factors to determine disease risk.The aim of the study is to establish the relationship between risk factors and incidence of cleft lip and palate and further enhance research activities in finding specific genetic factors that are sensitive to the risk factors.This is a case controlled study of non-syndromic CLP patients attending combined clinic in Kota Bharu and patients attending outpatient clinic in HUSM. Information was obtained by interviewing parents using questionnaires. Patients attending CLP clinic were first interviewed. The age of the control group was restricted to age. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data.More than 90% of the subjects are Malays from lower socio-economic status. It was found that demographically there are variations to risks of non-syndromic CLP. People from Tanah Merah and Tumpat are 8.74 fold increase risk compared to people from Kota Bharu. There is association between passive smokers and CLP(OR)= 2.45(95% CI: 1.5,3.94). Maternal and paternal history of cleft, occupation of father and position of child in the family increase the risk of CLP (p=0.009).The study suggested that there are some geographical variations in the risk of CLP. Copper et al (2000) believed that the variation could indicate environmental factors such as seasonal availability of nutrients, infectious disease circle and vitamin deficiency during pregnancy. Exposure to cigarette smoke (passive smokers) is shown to increase the risk of CLP. This is consistent with the findings of Wyszynski et al (1997).The seventh child and above have increased risk of CLP. This could be due to increased maternal age as consistently in other studies.This analysis suggests a small but statistically significant association between maternal cigarette smoking during the first trimester of gestation and increased risk of having child with CLP

Is Online Assessment in Higher Education Institutions during COVID-19 Pandemic Reliable?

The online learning helps to minimise disruptions on teaching and compromising students' learning outcomes; however there is limited evidence on effective online assessment methods used at Higher Education Institutions during pandemics. This paper aimed to summarise online assessment methods and recommend reliable as well as practical approaches used at HEIs during COVID-19 pandemic. We performed a scoping literature review to identify original papers, review and reports that examine the online assessment methods used in higher education before and during COVID-19 pandemic. We identified common themes in data analysis.  The psychometric theory is useful when designing valid and reliable online assessment methods for online learning, particularly in medical education. The typical online assessment methods used at HEIs include online quizzes, continuous feedback, multiple-choice questions and automated assessment for essays. The online tools for formative assessment in higher education include feedback, self-test quiz and discussion forums. The critical strategies recommended managing online examination involve setting up online questions using freely available software and utilising free video conferencing tool as CCTV on mobile phones for invigilation purposes. Educators must consider readiness among students and teachers, cheating practices and student diversity when employing online assessment at HEIs.  They can benefit from training for online learning and the assessment methods to prepare them better when facing global uncertainties such as COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, educators must evaluate the methods and their impact on students' learning outcomes

Is Online Assessment in Higher Education Institutions during COVID-19 Pandemic Reliable?

The online learning helps to minimise disruptions on teaching and compromising students' learning outcomes; however there is limited evidence on effective online assessment methods used at Higher Education Institutions during pandemics. This paper aimed to summarise online assessment methods and recommend reliable as well as practical approaches used at HEIs during COVID-19 pandemic. We performed a scoping literature review to identify original papers, review and reports that examine the online assessment methods used in higher education before and during COVID-19 pandemic. We identified common themes in data analysis. The psychometric theory is useful when designing valid and reliable online assessment methods for online learning, particularly in medical education. The typical online assessment methods used at HEIs include online quizzes, continuous feedback, multiple-choice questions and automated assessment for essays. The online tools for formative assessment in higher education include feedback, self-test quiz and discussion forums. The critical strategies recommended managing online examination involve setting up online questions using freely available software and utilising free video conferencing tool as CCTV on mobile phones for invigilation purposes. Educators must consider readiness among students and teachers, cheating practices and student diversity when employing online assessment at HEIs. They can benefit from training for online learning and the assessment methods to prepare them better when facing global uncertainties such as COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, educators must evaluate the methods and their impact on students' learning outcomes