Spatial assessment on ambient air quality status: a case study in Klang, Selangor

Klang as the center of economic and industrial zone in Malaysia has been exposed to poor air quality condition over the years. This study was conducted to evaluate the spatial variation pattern of air quality status in Klang, Selangor by using a four years (2010-2013) secondary database from the Malaysian Department of Environment (DOE). The finding shows that carbon monoxide (CO) had a strong correlation with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) (r = 0.76, p < 0.001), while Air Pollutant Index (API) had moderate correlation with particulate matter (PM10) (r = 0.64, p < 0.001). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicates that the most significant air pollutants were NO2, CO and PM10. Statistical Process Control (SPC) reveals that several PM10 data beyond the limitations of SPC and the national guidelines. This study shows that active collaboration among all relevant environmental departments and agencies should be implemented for the effective management of air quality.Keywords: air quality; correlation; principal component analysis; statistical process control

Relationship between soil erodibility and engineering properties

Different soils exhibit different erodibility (sand, clay) therefore erodibility is tied to soil properties. On the other hand, many researchers have attempted to develop such equations without much success. One problem is that erodibility is not a single number but a relationship between the erosion rate and the water velocity or the hydraulic shear stress. This erosion function is a curve and it is difficult to correlate a curve to soil properties. The main purpose of this study is to develop correlations between the elements of the erosion function (critical velocity, critical shear stress, slope of the erosion function) with elementary soil properties (plasticity index, mean grain size, unit weight, shear strength, and others). There are many tests to evaluate the erodibility of the soil in laboratory and in situ and to identify the erosion function (i.e. Jet Erosion Test, Erosion Function Apparatus, Hole Erosion Tests, etc.). This study deals with developing correlating equations between erodibility parameters obtained from many years of testing experience with Erosion Function Apparatus (EFA) and geotechnical properties of the soil

Gastrografin in the management of adhesive small bowel obstruction in children: a pilot study

Background/purpose Adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) is a common emergency problem in children with previous abdominal surgery. Management protocols usually start with a conservative approach that may be successful in some cases, whereas in others it will end eventually by laparotomy with its associated morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to assess the role of water-soluble contrast, gastrografin, in the conservative management of ASBO. Patients and methods During the period January 2009 to July 2010, 33 patients with ASBO were presented at the Pediatric Surgery Unit at the Ain Shams University Hospitals. Patients who failed to improve after 48 h of conservative management in the absence of signs of strangulation were subjected to gastrografin administration. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically to determine the resolution of the adhesive attack, with estimation of hospital stay time. Results An oral administration of gastrografin successfully completed the conservative management in eight of 12 patients (66.6%), thus avoiding surgery and subsequently reducing hospital stay. Conclusion Gastrografin may have a valuable role in the management of ASBO, whether diagnostic or therapeutic, but a randomized controlled trial is needed to prove its effectiveness in reducing surgical intervention rate and hospital stay time.Keywords: adhesive, bowel obstruction, gastrografi

Application of Artificial Intelligence in Cardiology : A Bibliometric Analysis

Peer reviewe

Adherence to Preoperative Fasting Guidelines in Elective Surgical Patients

Peer reviewe

Syphilis epidemiology in Norway, 1992-2008: resurgence among men who have sex with men

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In recent years, the number of syphilis cases has stabilised in many countries of Western Europe, however several countries have reported increases among men who have sex with men (MSM). The aim of this article was to describe the epidemiology of early syphilis in Norway in 1992-2008.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cases of early syphilis and congenital syphilis reported to the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases (MSIS) 1992-2008 were described by route of transmission, gender, age, birthplace, stage of disease, HIV co-infection, source partner and place of infection.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The incidence of reported syphilis ranged from 0.05 (1992) to 1.50 (2002) per 100 000 person-years. Of 562 cases reported to MSIS during the study period, 62% were men infected by another man. The proportion of those, infected homosexually increased from 0 (1992-1994) to 77% (2008). Most of them were Norwegians (83%). The proportion of HIV co-infection among homosexually infected increased over time and reached 39% in 2008. The majority reported being infected by a casual partner (73%) and in the municipality of Oslo (72%). Of 152 heterosexually infected men 64% were Norwegians; 51% were infected by casual contacts and 20% by commercial sex workers; 73% were infected abroad. Among 56 women, 57% were Norwegians, 57% were infected by a steady partner and 40% were infected abroad. Almost half (46%) were diagnosed in the early latent stage. Four cases had congenital syphilis, two of whom were adopted from abroad.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Syphilis is rare in Norway, but MSM represent almost two thirds of cases. The increase of HIV co-infected cases among MSM may enhance transmission of both infections. We recommend sexually active MSM to be tested for syphilis 2-4 times a year. Due to its variable clinical course, syphilis might be difficult to recognise at an early stage among women in a low-prevalence population. We estimate current practice of prenatal screening in Norway as sufficient.</p

Higher ethical objective (Maqasid al-Shari'ah) augmented framework for Islamic banks : assessing the ethical performance and exploring its determinants.

This study utilises higher objectives postulated in Islamic moral economy or the maqasid al-Shari’ah theoretical framework’s novel approach in evaluating the ethical, social, environmental and financial performance of Islamic banks. Maqasid al-Shari’ah is interpreted as achieving social good as a consequence in addition to well-being and, hence, it goes beyond traditional (voluntary) social responsibility. This study also explores the major determinants that affect maqasid performance as expressed through disclosure analysis. By expanding the traditional maqasid al-Shari’ah,, we develop a comprehensive evaluation framework in the form of a maqasid index, which is subjected to a rigorous disclosure analysis. Furthermore, in identifying the main determinants of the maqasid disclosure performance, panel data analysis is used by including several key variables alongside political and socio-economic environment, ownership structures, and corporate and Shari’ah governance-related factors. The sample includes 33 full-fledged Islamic banks from 12 countries for the period of 2008–2016. The findings show that although during the nine-year period the disclosure of maqasid performance of the sampled Islamic banks has improved, this is still short of ‘best practices’. Through panel data analysis, this study finds that the Muslim population indicator, CEO duality, Shari’ah governance, and leverage variables positively impact the disclosure of maqasid performance. However, the effect of GDP, financial development and human development index of the country, its political and civil rights, institutional ownership, and a higher share of independent directors have an overall negative impact on the maqasid performance. The findings reported in this study identify complex and multi-faceted relations between external market realities, corporate and Shari’ah governance mechanisms, and maqasid performance

Remote detection of invasive alien species

The spread of invasive alien species (IAS) is recognized as the most severe threat to biodiversity outside of climate change and anthropogenic habitat destruction. IAS negatively impact ecosystems, local economies, and residents. They are especially problematic because once established, they give rise to positive feedbacks, increasing the likelihood of further invasions and spread. The integration of remote sensing (RS) to the study of invasion, in addition to contributing to our understanding of invasion processes and impacts to biodiversity, has enabled managers to monitor invasions and predict the spread of IAS, thus supporting biodiversity conservation and management action. This chapter focuses on RS capabilities to detect and monitor invasive plant species across terrestrial, riparian, aquatic, and human-modified ecosystems. All of these environments have unique species assemblages and their own optimal methodology for effective detection and mapping, which we discuss in detail

Suicide risk in schizophrenia: learning from the past to change the future

Suicide is a major cause of death among patients with schizophrenia. Research indicates that at least 5–13% of schizophrenic patients die by suicide, and it is likely that the higher end of range is the most accurate estimate. There is almost total agreement that the schizophrenic patient who is more likely to commit suicide is young, male, white and never married, with good premorbid function, post-psychotic depression and a history of substance abuse and suicide attempts. Hopelessness, social isolation, hospitalization, deteriorating health after a high level of premorbid functioning, recent loss or rejection, limited external support, and family stress or instability are risk factors for suicide in patients with schizophrenia. Suicidal schizophrenics usually fear further mental deterioration, and they experience either excessive treatment dependence or loss of faith in treatment. Awareness of illness has been reported as a major issue among suicidal schizophrenic patients, yet some researchers argue that insight into the illness does not increase suicide risk. Protective factors play also an important role in assessing suicide risk and should also be carefully evaluated. The neurobiological perspective offers a new approach for understanding self-destructive behavior among patients with schizophrenia and may improve the accuracy of screening schizophrenics for suicide. Although, there is general consensus on the risk factors, accurate knowledge as well as early recognition of patients at risk is still lacking in everyday clinical practice. Better knowledge may help clinicians and caretakers to implement preventive measures. This review paper is the results of a joint effort between researchers in the field of suicide in schizophrenia. Each expert provided a brief essay on one specific aspect of the problem. This is the first attempt to present a consensus report as well as the development of a set of guidelines for reducing suicide risk among schizophenia patients