Improved cascade control structure for enhanced performance

In conventional single feedback control, the corrective action for disturbances does not begin until the controlled variable deviates from the set point. In this case, a cascade control strategy can be used to improve the performance of a control system particularly in the presence of disturbances. In this paper, an improved cascade control structure and controller design based on standard forms, which was initially given by authors, is suggested to improve the performance of cascade control. Examples are given to illustrate the use of the proposed method and its superiority over some existing design methods

Silica aerogels’ nanostructure studied using small angle neutron scattering technique

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) technique has been widely employed in probing the microstructure of amorphous materials in the nanometer range. In aerogels system, the size range of 1 – 100 nm is of particular interest since the structural units, such as the pores and particles, often fall in this range. In a typical scattering experiment, scattered neutron intensity is measured as a function of the scattering angle. Various plots of intensity I(Q) and scattering vector, Q, can provide information about fractal dimensions, and particle and cluster sizes. In this study, SANS facilities, at Nuklear Malaysia (NM) and Badan Tenaga Atom Nasional(BATAN), Indonesia were used to analyse particle and cluster size of silica aerogels and titanium containing silica aerogels. Results from NM showed that silica aerogels have surface fractal dimension while titanium containing silica aerogels have mass fractal dimension. On the other hand, results from BATAN showed that both silica aerogels and titanium containing silica aerogels have mass fractal dimension. The particle size for silica aerogels and titanium containing silica aerogels samples obtained by NM were 11.18 ± 0.03 and 9.19 ± 0.06 nm, respectively while the respective values obtained from BATAN measurements were 11.78 ± 0.06 and 10.57 ± 0.07 nm

EVALUATION OF IMPACT TO PISA SUCCESS OF SCHOOL-BASED MANAGEMENT POLICIES

In this study, countries with the highest levels of achievement according to math and science scores in the PISA exams and countries with the lowest levels of achievement were compared in terms of school-based management policy indicators in education. This research is a quantitative research method. The research is in statistical scanning model. Data are taken directly from EUROSTAT, OECD and PISA database. The educational systems of the countries with the highest scores in the PISA exams and the countries with the lowest scores were compared. It is seen that local governments have more funding for schools, schools have the authority to determine their own teachers, schools have the authority to determine the textbooks, students have the authority to evaluate student achievement and the school budget, and these rates are above the OECD average. In high score countries inter-school disadvantage was below the OECD average. In low score countries inter-school disadvantage was above the OECD average.   Article visualizations

What has been done to tackle overweight and obesity in Malaysia?: a literature review (2005 – 2015)

As reported by the World Health Organisation, Malaysia is the fattest country (Malaysian adults with the highest prevalence of overweight, body mass index equal or more than 25kg/m2) among the Southeast Asia. Among others, obesity is a leading contributor of non-communicable diseases (e.g., type II diabetes and cancer). This article aims to review the exiting weight management programmes targeting overweight and obese adults in Malaysia from 2005 to 2015. EMBASE, MEDLINE and PubMed were used to search for the published literature. Out of 544 articles, eight articles were selected for this review. Components of the intervention programmes in this review were: “spirituality-based programmes”, “dietary-based and physical activity programmes” and “diet, physical activity and behaviour modification-oriented programmes”. The findings from this review could be useful for future intervention efforts in an attempt to address such issues in Malaysia. Weight management or weight reduction intervention can be conducted among overweight or obese Malaysian adults in order to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity, therefore reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Malaysia

The relationship between parental belief on filial piety and child psychosocial adjustment among Malay families

This study examines the relationship between parental belief on filial piety and child psychosocial adjustment among Malay families. The study sample comprised 108 mother-child dyads of Malay families from the central zone of Peninsular Malaysia. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Parental belief was measured using Parental Belief Scale, while child psychosocial adjustment was measured using Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results showed that children whose parents believed in filial piety had significantly lower levels of total difficulties in behavioural, emotional symptoms, conduct problem, and hyperactivity or inattention. Findings implied that filial piety could be used as a positive measure of behavioural and emotional control of a child. Therefore, it is important for parents to nurture their children about filial piety expectations so as to provide them with moral education associated with positive psychosocial adjustment

What Has Been Done to Tackle Overweight and Obesity in Malaysia?: A Literature Review (2005 – 2015)

As reported by the World Health Organisation, Malaysia is the fattest country (Malaysian adults with the highest prevalence of overweight, body mass index equal or more than 25kg/m2) among the Southeast Asia. Among others, obesity is a leading contributor of non-communicable diseases (e.g., type II diabetes and cancer). This article aims to review the exiting weight management programmes targeting overweight and obese adults in Malaysia from 2005 to 2015. EMBASE, MEDLINE and PubMed were used to search for the published literature. Out of 544 articles, eight articles were selected for this review. Components of the intervention programmes in this review were: “spirituality-based programmes”, “dietary-based and physical activity programmes” and “diet, physical activity and behaviour modification-oriented programmes”. The findings from this review could be useful for future intervention efforts in an attempt to address such issues in Malaysia. Weight management or weight reduction intervention can be conducted among overweight or obese Malaysian adults in order to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity, therefore reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Malaysia

Determination and Application of Pont's Index in Turkish Population

Disharmony between tooth size and dental arch size induces orthodontic problems. So, dental indices were identified by various authors. One of these is Pont who determined a method of prediction of the ideal dental arch width which has become known as Pont's Index. The purpose of this study was to assess the applicability of Pont's Index to a Turkish population and to compare the results with those obtained from studies of different ethnic subjects. The sample comprised 64 male subjects and 78 female subjects with age range from 14 to 15 years. Measurements were obtained directly from plaster casts; they included mesiodistal crown diameters of the four maxillary incisors, as well as interpremolar and intermolar maxillary arch widths as specified by Pont. Correlation coefficients determined between the measured arch width values and those calculated according to Pont's Index were low in all cases, with r values ranging from 0.02 to 0.36. It was concluded that Pont's Index should not be used to predetermine ideal arch width values in Turkish individuals

Multi-sample nonparametric treatments comparison in medical follow-up study with unequal observation processes through simulation and bladder tumour case study

In medical follow-up study, the diseases recurrent processes evolved in continuous time and the patients are usually monitor at distinct and different intervals. Therefore, most of the existing methods that assumed identical observation processes might provide misleading results in this case. To address this, a nonparametric test based on integrated weighted different between the mean cumulative functions which characterized both the recurrent processes and observation processes with condition on treatment is proposed to allow unequal observation processes. The empirical power of the proposed test has been investigated via Monte Carlo simulation study and bladder tumour case study. The results arein line with earlier research; the proposed test procedure works well for practical situations and had a good power in detecting treatment difference.Keywords: nonparametric; unequal observation; multi-sample; treatments comparison

Studies of Sea Surface Temperature and Chlorophyll-a Variations in East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

This paper attempts to classify the oceanographic conditions of the fishing grids in east coast of Peninsular Malaysia using surface chlorophyll-a content and sea surface temperature (SST) data from satellite. The variation of SST and chlorophyll-a content in the South China Sea is greatly affected by the monsoon system. Analysis results showed that both SST and chlorophyll-a variations of the fishing grids are closely related to their geographical locations. The classification using chlorophyll-a on the fishing grids give a clearer variation compared to SST. Hierarchical cluster analysis gave a better means of understanding the variations of these oceanographic conditions and the relationship among the fishing grids. However, to understand how these variations of oceanographic condition affect the marine fisheries catch in Malaysian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), further studies should be conducted using longer time scale data