Metal artefact correction algorithm based-on DSAT technique for CT images

This paper presents a correction algorithm for metal artefacts in CT images using a novel technique known as dual-step adaptive thresholding (DSAT). The proposed artefact correction algorithm was applied to selected artefactual phantom and clinical CT images. The missing projection data due to metal is detected and extracted by double-thresholding technique. The DSAT-based algorithm allows significant reduction of the artefact and preserves most of the anatomical structures in the corrected CT images

Hospital waiting time : the forgotten premise of healthcare service delivery?

Purpose – This is a national study which aims to determine the average waiting time in Malaysian public hospitals and to gauge the level of patient satisfaction with the waiting time. It also aims to identify factors perceived by healthcare providers which contribute to the waiting time problem. Design/methodology/approach – Self-administered questionnaires were the main method of data collection. Two sets of questionnaires were used. The first set solicited information from patients on their waiting time expereince. The second set elucidated information from hospital employees on the possible causes of lengthy waiting time. The questionnaires were administered in 21 public hospitals throughout all 13 states in Malaysia. A total of 13,000 responses were analysed for the patient survey and almost 3,000 were analysed for the employee survey. Findings – The findings indicate that on average, patients wait for more than two hours from registration to getting the prescription slip, while the contact time with medical personnel is only on average 15 minutes. Employee surveys on factors contributing to the lengthy waiting time indicate employee attitude and work process, heavy workload, management and supervision problems, and inadequate facilities to be among the contributory factors to the waiting time problem. Social implications – Public healthcare in Malaysia is in a state of “excess demand”, where demand for subsidised healthcare far outstrips supply, due to the large fee differential between public and private healthcare services. There is a need for hospital managers to reduce the boredom faced by patients while waiting, and to address the waiting time problem in a more scientific manner, as has been carried out in other countries through simulation and modelling techniques. Originality/value – Healthcare organisations are keen to address their waiting time problem. However, not much research has been carried out in this area. The study thus fills the lacuna in waiting time studies in healthcare organisation

Understanding the concept of al-ibtila’ (trial) in personality development: the Muslim flood victims’ experience

Religious coping plays an important role to rehabilitate victims affected by traumatic life events. Islamic teachings emphasizes al-ibtila' (trial) concept that serves in understanding the concept of qada’ (fate) and qadar (destiny).This study explored al-ibtila’ in coping with traumatic events by achieving sense of personal control in situations that produce distress and torment, as exhibited by 2014 flood victims in Temerloh, Pahang.This study analyzed their understanding, genuine acceptance, and relationship between understanding of al-ibtila' and personality development in overcoming trauma. A mixed-method approach was applied, comprising methods of documentation, interviews (five interview subjects selected by sequential sampling), and survey questionnaires (300 flood victims as respondents). Data from documentation and interviews were analyzed using the inductive approach (qualitative) in a descriptive study, while survey data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests (quantitative). The findings gave evidence of significant positive effects in dealing with flood disaster stress from three aspects: the understanding, acceptance, and relationship between understanding of al-ibtila' with good personality development.These results emphasized the need to include understanding and acceptance of al-ibtila' as part of God’s plan in the face of traumatic events, indicating that highly optimistic flood victims can positively deal with traumatic events

Understanding probabiity concepts and learning styles among students of the Malay culture: a Rasch analysis

Research relating to the understanding of probability concepts among students have been investigated from various different perspectives and this study is no exception. The purpose of is to examine students’ perceived understanding and competency in probability concepts while focusing on the learning styles among students of the Malay culture. A convenient sample of 81 undergraduate students from the mathematical and computer sciences programmes at a local public university in Malaysia were subjected to a survey investigation. An attempt in using Rasch analysis to explore students’ perceived understanding and competency revealed that students perceived a good understanding of probability concepts after they have gone through lessons on probability concepts, as measured by the relevant constructs. The study also revealed that having a good understanding of the concepts does not necessarily mean that students possessed a high ability to perform well in the test. In its connection with the learning styles, more than half of the students interviewed consider themselves as assimilators, i.e., preference for reviewing, reflecting and learning from experience followed by converger, i.e., trying out what have been learned

Monte carlo dose calculation in dental amalgam phantom

It has become a great challenge in the modern radiation treatment to ensure the accuracy of treatment delivery in electron beam therapy. Tissue inhomogeneity has become one of the factors for accurate dose calculation, and this requires complex algorithm calculation like Monte Carlo (MC). On the other hand, computed tomography (CT) images used in treatment planning system need to be trustful as they are the input in radiotherapy treatment. However, with the presence of metal amalgam in treatment volume, the CT images input showed prominent streak artefact, thus, contributed sources of error. Hence, metal amalgam phantom often creates streak artifacts, which cause an error in the dose calculation. Thus, a streak artifact reduction technique was applied to correct the images, and as a result, better images were observed in terms of structure delineation and density assigning. Furthermore, the amalgam density data were corrected to provide amalgam voxel with accurate density value. As for the errors of dose uncertainties due to metal amalgam, they were reduced from 46% to as low as 2% at d80 (depth of the 80% dose beyond Zmax) using the presented strategies. Considering the number of vital and radiosensitive organs in the head and the neck regions, this correction strategy is suggested in reducing calculation uncertainties through MC calculation