Some Practical Guidelines for Effective Sample-Size Determination in Observational Studies

- The purpose of this present study was to determine the right sample size in observational study which is focusing on medical or health sciences field. Sample size calculation is actually depends on the type of how the study is designed. For example different formulas are used to calculate the sample size in different type of the study. In this article, the formula of single proportion and two proportions is discussed and an example from medical research, which may contribute to the understanding of this problem, is presented

Enzyme-Based Biosensors for Electrochemical Detection of Pesticides–A Mini Review

Despite their important contribution in increasing crops production, most pesticides are harmful to humans and living beings and can persist in the environment over long a long duration. Traditional chromatographic methods of analysis are expensive and cumbersome. Biosensor technology appears therefore as an efficient and economical alternative for fast detection of pesticides. The devices are portable, rapid, and highly sensitive. Other important features of the devices are their relatively high sensistivity and low response time. Enzymatic biosensors for pesticide detection rely either on the inhibition mechanism or on the catalytic activity of the immobilized enzyme toward a specific pesticide. Metal and carbon based nanomaterials are being widely used as immobilization support owing to novel characteristics such as biocompatibility and enhanced electron transfer ability for sensitive electrochemical detection, among others. This review focusses on the electrochemical detection of organophosphorus pesticides, delineating the limit of detection and response time of biosensors toward a wide range of organophosphorus pesticides

Pengaruh zikir terhadap kesihatan mental dan tekanan psikologi dalam mendepani cabaran revolusi industri 4.0

Revolusi Industri 4.0 (IR4) telah memberi implikasi negatif terhadap kesihatan mental dan psikologi dalam masyarakat seperti kemurungan, kebimbangan dan tekanan perasaan. Masalah-masalah ini mampu diatasi dengan amalan zikir sebagai terapi psikospiritual berunsur kerohanian Islam. Kajian ini berbentuk kualitatif dengan menggunakan kaedah temu bual separa-berstruktur serta analisis secara deduktif, induktif dan tematik untuk mengetahui kesan sebelum dan selepas berzikir secara berjemaah. Pendekatan Lataif Qur’aniyyah digunakan untuk memaknakan kedudukan al-zikr dan pengamalannya lebih meluas. Peserta-peserta majlis zikir bulanan dalam kajian ini terdiri daripada 83 orang dan diadakan di Kediaman Rasmi Menteri Besar Selangor. Hasil kajian menunjukkan ‘zikir bersanad’ yang diamalkan secara konsisten merupakan santapan rohani terbaik dalam mempengaruhi jiwa dan emosi individu ke arah celik akal yang menjadi matlamat kemuncak dalam kaunseling. Hal ini berkesan dalam membantu perubahan minda dan tingkah laku manusia dalam pembentukan keluarga dan masyarakat yang bersahsiah dan harmoni. Justeru, zikir yang bersanad, yakni dalam bimbingan bersama guru rohani (Mursyid), dengan fokus niat untuk mencapai ‘keterhubungan kerohanian’ dengan Nabi Muhammad (s.a.w.) dan ‘jiwa fakir’ kepada Allah (s.w.t.), serta memenuhi adab-adab dan syarat-syarat takwa adalah terapi psikospiritual yang mujarab dalam merawat pelbagai masalah mental

The Debt-Equity Ratio Choice: Risk Sharing Instruments, a Viable Alternative

Evidence has been documented in the literature that the interest based debt financing system is experiencing continuous discomfort. The outcome of the 2008 global financial crisis has further create fresh vigor to the assertion. Also, these authors have submitted that debt and leveraging are the two major causes of financial instability in the present system. This paper claims that the existence of the interest-based debt regime is becoming less acceptable, as excessive debt can affect the whole economic system, even in a developed country like United States. From an economic viewpoint, therefore, by banning interest rate-based contracts and decreeing exchange contracts, Islamic financeinspires risk sharing and prohibits risk transfer, risk shedding, and risk shifting. The paper proposes risk sharing based Islamic financing as a suitable alternative to the interest based debt financing. This study concludes that risk-sharing finance has several benefits, especially its potential to minimize, if not circumvent, the debt prompted financial crises that have beset the world.

The behaviour of high-rise building with or without shear wall under different earthquakes

On the 5th June 2015, an earthquake hit Ranau, Sabah with a magnitude of 6.0 that caused 18 casualties and several injuries are one of the examples that show Malaysia is not safe from any seismic event. Most of the structure in Malaysia was designed not to include seismic action. Furthermore, an area that has a high density of population such as in the central region (Klang valley) and several main cities in Malaysia has less available land to build landed housing and uses high-rise apartments as an alternative. High-rise buildings that are normally having problems with soft story mechanisms and plan irregularity which could lead to severe damage when earthquakes happen. This study aims to observe the response of high-rise buildings when under different earthquakes in the presence of shear walls. To achieve this objective two models were modelled and analyzed by using ETABS software, the one with a shear wall and the one with no shear wall. The methods used in this study were the response spectrum method and time-history analysis. In the end, the parameters observed were base shear, story stiffness, story drift, and story displacement. The observations highlighted that the effect of earthquake intensities shows a significant effect. The acquired results indicated that the building with the shear wall is more resistant and strong structures as compared to buildings without shear wall when undergoing seismic analysis

Learning style tendencies based on fleming’s VARK learning style among TVET students

This study aims to identify learning style tendencies based on the Fleming’s VARK learning style of TVET students. This study uses a questionnaire approach to assess TVET students' learning styles based on Fleming’s visual, auditory, writing or reading and kinesthetic learning styles. The study population is technical students of FPTV, UTHM and the selected sample consists of 53 students from various fields namely General Machining (BBA), Welding and Metal Fabrication (BBD), Electrical & Electronics (BBE) and Creative Multimedia (BBF) who took the subject BBD10803 Information Technology in Education at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. The results of this study indicate that the most preferred Fleming’s VARK learning style is a visual learning style

Factors associated with glycaemic control among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus has become one of the most serious global health problems recently. The Malaysian National Diabetes Registry has reported that 76.2% of the population have poor glycaemic control (HbA1c ≥6.5%). Thus, the objective of this study is to determine the association between sociodemographic and medical profiles with glycaemic control among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in five health clinics in the Tampin district. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in five health clinics in the Tampin district, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Three hundred and twenty four type 2 diabetes mellitus patients participated in this study. A face-to face interview was conducted with each respondent using validated questionnaire. Descriptive analyses, such as the chi square test, were performed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences version 22 software. Results: The response rate was 90%. The percentage of poor glycaemic control was 66.4%. They were associated with age (χ²=10.405, p 0.006), marital status (χ ²=5.718, p 0.017), and education status (χ²=7.312, p 0.026). In addition, types of medication intake (χ²=18.058, p=<0.001), family history (χ²=7.234, p 0.007), and co-morbidities (χ²=5.718, p 0.017) are also associated with the percentage. Conclusion: The majority of the respondents of this study had poor glycaemic control. The factors that contribute to the poor glycaemic control are among respondents who are: of older age (≥65 years); single/widowed/separated/divorced; of non-formal education; on insulin alone / combination of oral agent and insulin; no family history; and do not experience co-morbidities. For the future wellbeing of all type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, a good glycaemic control is important. Therefore, plans with appropriate significance on early preventive measures to diabetic treatment need to be strengthened in order to boost quality of life among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Fuzzy arithmetical modeling of a steam turbine and a boiler system

The steam turbine and a boiler are important components of a power generation plant. Improved efficiency of a power plant leads to increase of energy production and less waste. In this paper, a model of the power plant as a multivariable system using fuzzy arithmetic which is based on the Transformation Method (TM) is presented. The analytical solution is used to evaluate the state space model. The TM is then used to quantify the in uence of each parameter and their gain factors are calculated to allow estimation of relative measures of uncertainty. The method is applied to a boiler and a steam turbine systems for simulation, analysis and indication of TM’s efficiency. The efficiency of TM is presented in this paper