Work exposure to traffic air pollutants (PM10, benzene, toluene, and xylene) and respiratory health implications among urban traffic policemen in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Introduction: This study aimed to identify the exposure levels of traffic air pollutants specifically PM10, benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) among traffic policemen and the risks to their respiratory health. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 42 traffic policemen and 42 desk-bound policemen as the exposed and comparative groups respectively. Methods: The questionnaire adapted from the American Thoracic Society for Adult Respiratory Health Disease (ATS-DLD) to obtain socio-demographic and respiratory symptoms data. A spirometer (Chestgraph Hi-105) was used to perform lung function test. A personal air sampling pump was used to measure the personal exposure level to PM10. A Ppbrae 3000 was used to measure the outdoor and indoor concentration of BTX during morning and afternoon peak hours respectively. Results: The mean personal exposure level of PM10 among the traffic policemen was 150.14 ± 130.66 μg/m3 compared to only 84.14 ± 94.11 μg/m3 in the comparative group. The short exposures to BTX at the roadsides were found to be slightly higher in the afternoons than in the mornings. Indoor offices air concentrations were only detectable for benzene while the mornings and afternoons values for toluene and xylene were below the detection limits. A median concentration of benzene documented significantly higher at the selected of sampling roadsides areas (median=0.157 ppm) than indoor office areas (median=0.071 ppm). Conclusion: The respiratory symptoms were significantly higher in the exposed group compared to the comparative group which they were 3.9, 4.1, and 3.5 times more likely to develop cough, wheezing, and breathlessness respectively

Determining Characteristics of the Software Components Reusability for Component Based Software Development

Nowadays, due to the availability of many alternatives of common-off-the-shelf software components, Component-based Software Development (CBSD) is becoming a popular approach to software development. CBSD is the software development with the assembly of existing software components. There are many characteristics and sub characteristics for software component reusability available today. The challenge is how to determine the suitable characteristics and sub characteristics reusable component for CBSD. The aim of this study is to determine the suitability of characteristics and sub characteristics for software component reusability for CBSD. The survey is conducted among of software reuse practitioners at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. The finding from the empirical study conducted that involves software developers and practitioners as the respondents will be used in development of metrics for reusable component. This metrics can be used to measure the reusable component for CBSD

An Architecture of Decision Support System for Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic (VAK) Learning Styles Detection Through Behavioral Modelling

Learning style (LS) is a description of the attitudes and behaviors which determine an individual’s preferred way of learning. Since each student has different LS, it is important for the teacher to recognize the differences in LS. Thus, an appropriate technique to detect students' LS, improve the motivation and academic achievement are required. The common approach using questionnaires to identify LS is less accurate due to complete the questionnaire is a tedious task for students and tend to choose answers randomly without understanding the questions. Emotions such as anger, sadness, and happiness resulting the different questionnaire answers. Due to the approach constrains, this study has focused on automated approaches that identify student LS from student behavior in the learning process. Implementation of decision support system (DSS) as automated application systems is needed to help teachers make decisions in determining students' LS. Thus, the objective of this study is to propose the architecture of LS detection automatically using decision support system. The development of the architecture is applying the behavioral modelling, that are contained student’s behavior parameters for visual-auditory-kinesthetic (VAK) model. Evaluation of the architecture is tested with the precision DSS engine. The accuracy of the rule technique achieves significant 80% accuracy. This study aims to help teachers to identify the ability of the student through the learning style (LS) in order to create effectiveness of learning and improving student’s achievement indirectly. Keywords— decision support system, reasoning engines, learning style detection, user behavior, visual-auditory-kinesthetic (VAK) mode

Utilizing Path Finding Algorithm for Secured Path Identification in Situational Crime Prevention

Crimes could happen anywhere and at any time. Most crimes happen when there exist opportunity for crimes to take place. Such crimes are categorized as situational crime. In this study, we are interested in this type of crimes because it focuses on the settings and pattern of crime, rather than upon those committing criminal acts. Crime prevention can be referred to as attempts made to reduce and deter crime and criminals. It is applied specifically to efforts made by government authorities and agencies to reduce crime, enforce the law, and maintain criminal justice. In this research, we propose a hybrid model, known as PCAHP that combine path finding algorithm, chess strategy and Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) to handle uncertain situations when approaching crime prone areas. In this tactical path finder, considerations need to be given to various factors affecting the best decision on alternative paths in order to avoid the risks of becoming the victims of crime. A support system adopting the PCAHP model will be developed to calculate the weights of the criteria for evaluating each crime factors and suggesting the safest possible path. The expected result of this research is to come out with a support tool that could help the public especially the pedestrian in choosing the safest alternative path either when passing through a crime hotspot or faced with uncertain situations to prevent crimes. The tool should also help to create awareness to the public on the status of crimes in their neighborhood

Machinability And Surface Quality Of Hybrid Composite CFRP/Al2024

oai:myjas.www.journal.unisza.edu.my:article/1The use of hybrid composite has increased due to their special mechanical and physical properties. However, machining of composite materials is extremely difficult due to non-homogeneous, anisotropic and highly abrasive characteristics. The performance of machined surface quality of CFRP/Al2024 was described using two level full factorial methodology. Trimming test was performed under dry conditions using 6mm diameter of burr tools end mills. The factors investigated were spindle speed(N), feed rate(fr) and depth of cut(dc), furthermore Ra CFRP and Ra Al2024 were the response variables. This work aims to minimize the machined surface quality of CFRP/Al2024 between 1μm to 2μm. The finding of this empirical study has shown that, the best estimated value of fr should be 500 mm/min to 530 mm/min, N is between and 2313.870 rpm to 2336.042 rpm. For both response spindle speed is the most significant effect followed by Feed rate and Depth of Cut

Probiotic inhibits oral carcinogenesis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to investigate the effects if probiotics can inhibit oral carcinogenesis. Design: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and PLOS databases were searched up to February 2020 to identify randomised controlled trials that fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tool was used for quality assessment of articles. This review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA-P) 2015 protocol guidelines. Result: The initial search retrieved 774 articles. Of these, only five articles were included in the qualitative synthesis. Two out of the five papers were further analysed for quantitative synthesis in meta-analysis. The majority of the included studies were found to be of “moderate quality”. The qualitative synthesis found four probiotics that exhibited potential therapeutic effects in oral carcinogenesis, includingAcetobacter syzygii, AJ2, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus salivarius REN. Among them, the application of L. salivarius REN re- sulted in a 95 % lower risk for developing oral cancer (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It is known that probiotics have the potential to inhibit oral carcinogenesis, thus supporting the hypothesis of the study. The ability of L. salivarius REN to inhibit the development of oral cancer suggested that this bacterium can be a potential inhibitory agent against oral carcinogenesis

Optimization of Precious Metals Recovery from Electronic Waste by Chromobacterium violaceum Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

An effective recovery technology will be valuable in the future because the concentration of the precious metal contained in the source can be a key driver in recycling technology. This study aims to use response surface methodology (RSM) through Minitab software to discover the optimum oxygen level (mgL−1), e-waste pulp density (% w/v), and glycine concentration (mgL−1) for the maximum recovery of gold (Au) and silver (Ag). The method of precious metals recovery used for this study was taken from the bioleaching using 2 L of batch stirred tank reactor (BSTR). A Box-Behnken of RSM experimental statistical designs was used to optimize the experimental procedure. The result of the RSM optimization showed that the highest recovery was achieved at an oxygen concentration of 0.56 mgL−1, a pulp density of 1.95%, and a glycine concentration of 2.49 mgL−1, which resulted in the recovery of 62.40% of Au. The pulp density and glycine concentration greatly impact how much Au is bioleached by C. violaceum. As a result, not all of the variables analyzed seem crucial for getting the best precious metals recovery, and some adjustments may be useful in the future

Microbiome dysbiosis in depression: a systematic review

The objective of the study is to determine the role of microbiome dysbiosis in depression, with the hypothesis that dysbiosis involves in depression. PubMed, Science Direct and Scopus databases were used to identify the relevant studies which fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The searches were limited from January 2015 to July 2020. Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tools was used for quality assessment of the studies. This review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA-P) 2015 proto- col guidelines. Initially, 1297 studies were identified. Of these, only three studies were included in the final synthesis. The studies were categorised as “high” quality. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, particularly by Faecalibacterium, Dialister, Acetivibrio, Collinsella, and Odofibacter, has been involved in depression. Treatment using probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum and Enterococcus faecalis was suggested to promote a balanced gut microbiome. Microbiome dysbiosis may involve in depression, thus supporting the hypothesis of the present study. However, no consensus was obtained to conclude which bacterial taxa are mostly relevant to depression

Level of learning from occupational safety accidents: current status in Malaysia

The occupational safety and health (OSH) accident rate in Malaysia is decreasing, however, statistically it is still high if compared to the other developing nations. One of the reasons why accidents keep on happening is due to poor learning from accidents. This paper discusses the level of accident learning from accident reports submitted to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) Malaysia and the Society Security Organization (SOCSO) Malaysia involving 1,291 accident cases. Based on the quality and completeness of the accident reports, the levels of learning were ranked using the knowledge management hierarchy. Based on the analysis, the level of learning from accidents among the industries in Malaysia was less than adequate which promotes limited learning from accident

A decade of amphibian studies (Animalia, Amphibia) at Sekayu lowland forest, Hulu Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia

Amphibians of Sekayu lowland forest have been studied more than a decade, with discoveries of new records of species showing no sign of abating between the years 2003 to 2020, indicating the remarkably rich diversity of anurans in this forest. Despite ceaseless anthropogenic activities in this area, this study successfully recorded 52 species of amphibians from 32 genera in the lowland forest of Sekayu. The species composition consisted of a single species from the family Ichthyophiidae and 51 species of anurans of 31 genera and six families. The number of species recorded has steadily increased especially during more recent surveys from 2015 to 2020. This study augments the total number of amphibian species recorded from Hulu Terengganu by ten additional species, increasing the total to 70 species for the district