Particle Swarm Optimization Performance: Comparison of Dynamic Economic Dispatch with Dantzig-Wolfe Decomposition

Economic Dispatch (ED) problem, in practice, is a nonlinear, non-convex type,which has developed gradually into a serious task management goal in the planning phase of the power system. The prime purpose of Dynamic Economic Dispatch (DED) is to minimize generators’ total cost of the power system. DED is to engage the committed generating units at a minimum cost to meet the load demand while fulfilling various constraints. Utilizing heuristic, population-based, and advanced optimization technique, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), represents a challenging problem with large dimension in providing a superior solution for DED optimization problem. The feasibility of the PSO method has been demonstrated technically, and economically for two different systems, and it is compared with the Dantzig-Wolfe technique regarding the solution quality and simplicity of implementation. While Dantzig-Wolfe method has its intrinsic drawbacks and positive features, PSO algorithm is the finest and the most appropriate solution. Conventional techniques have been unsuccessful to present compatible solutions to such problems due to their susceptibility to first estimates and possible entrapment into local optima which may complicate computations

Work-Life Balance Of Women Entrepreneurs (Wlbwe): A Model

Today’s women are contributing to family and nation’s economy. This study proposed a new conceptual framework that incorporates the importance of the worklife balance and implication on health for women entrepreneurs in Small Medium Enterprises (SMESs). Survey questionnaire was used to gather information on variables that are pertinent to the development of the model. The survey questionnaires were analyzed using multiple regression. The samples for this study consisted of 278 women entrepreneurs. The findings revealed that work-life balance women entrepreneurs model (WLBWE model) is suitable for women entrepreneurs to enhance their life well – being and gain profit in their business. Finally, the alert of health affected only significant in the contribution between work demands and family demands to enhance profit in organization and maintain with happy life with family and doesn’t give a direct impact to personal and annual turnover performance. The study is beneficial for policy makers and Human Capital Development units in organizations to embed essential concepts in their organizations’ strategic planning

Dynamic Economic Dispatch Problems: PSO Approach

Due to limited availability of coal and gases, optimization plays an important factor in thermal generation problems. The economic dispatch problems are dynamic in nature as demand varies with time. These problems are complex since they are large dimensional, involving hundreds of variables, and have a number of constraints such as spinning reserve and group constraints. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method is used to solve these challenging optimization problems. Three test cases are studied where PSO technique is successfully applied

Diabetes Care in Malaysia: Problems, New Models, and Solutions

Background: Diabetes is a major public health concern in Malaysia, and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes(T2D) has escalated to 20.8% in adults above the age of 30, affecting 2.8 million individuals. The burden of managing diabetes falls on primary and tertiary health care providersoperating in various settings. Objectives: This review focuses on the current status of diabetes in Malaysia, including epidemiology, complications, lifestyle, and pharmacologic treatments, as well as the use of technologies in its management and the adoption of the World Health Organization chronic care model in primary care clinics. Methods: A narrative review based on local available health care data, publications, and observations from clinic experience. Findings: The prevalence of diabetes varies among the major ethnic groups in Malaysia, with Asian Indians having the highest prevalence of T2D, followed by Malays and Chinese. The increase prevalence of overweight and obesity has accompanied the rise in T2D. Multidisciplinary care is available in tertiary and primary care settings with integration of pharmacotherapy, diet, and lifestyle changes. Poor dietary adherence, high consumption of carbohydrates, and sedentary lifestyle are prevalent in patients with T2D. The latest medication options are available with increasing use of intensive insulin regimens, insulin pumps, and continuous glucose monitoring systems for managing glycemic control. A stepwise approach is proposed to expand the chronic care model into an Innovative Care for Chronic Conditions framework to facilitate implementation and realize better outcomes in primary care settings. Conclusions: A comprehensive strategy and approach has been established by the Malaysian government to improve prevention, treatment, and control of diabetes as an urgent response to this growing chronic disease

Awareness of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Hospital Putrajaya

The glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test is the most widely accepted laboratory test for evaluating long term glycaemic control. Patient’s understanding of HbA1c can lead to better glycaemic control. This study is aimed to determine the awareness and level of understanding of HbA1c among type 2 DM patients and its association with glycaemic control. A cross-sectional descriptive study among Type 2 DM patients undergoing routine follow up in an endocrine clinic of a tertiary centre in Malaysia. Patients were invited to answer a validated questionnaire which assessed their awareness and understanding of HbA1c. Their last HbA1c results were retrieved from the laboratory information system. A total of 92 participants were recruited. Fifty-six (60.9%) were aware of the term HbA1c. Fifty percent were categorised as having good HbA1c understanding, with age, monthly income and level of education between HbA1c understanding and glycaemic control, although more patients with good HbA1c understanding had achieved the target glycaemic control compared to those with poor understanding. The level of HbA1c awareness and understanding was acceptable. Factors associated with understanding were age, income and level of education. Continuing efforts however, must be made to improve patients understanding of their disease and clinical disease biomarkers

Relationship between dyslipidaemia and glycaemic status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

The risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) is dramatically increased in diabetic patients due to their atherogenic lipid profile. The severity of CHD in diabetic patients has been found to be directly associated with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). According to the Malaysian Clinical Practice Guidelines on diabetes mellitus (DM), HbA1c level less than 6.5% reduces the risk of microvascular and macro vascular complications. Hence, this study aimed to determine the relationship between dyslipidaemia and glycaemic status in patients with type 2 DM (T2DM) patients in Hospital Putrajaya, a tertiary endocrine centre in Malaysia. This was a cross sectional, retrospective study of 214 T2DM patients with dyslipidaemia who had visited the endocrine clinic between January 2009 and December 2012. Significant correlations were found between fasting blood glucose (FBG) and HbA1c with total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL), LDL/HDL ratio and TC/HDL ratio; greater correlation being with HbA1c than FBG. In patients with HbA1c ≥6.5%, TC, TG, non-HDL and TC/HDL ratio were significantly higher than in patients with HbA1c < 6.5%. Non-HDL, LDL/HDL ratio, TC/HDL ratio and HbA1c were significantly lower in patients on statin treatment than non-treated patients (p<0.05). This significant association between glycaemic status and dyslipidaemia emphasises the additional possible use of HbA1c as a biomarker for dyslipidaemia as well as a potential indirect predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in T2DM patients

Social Entrepreneurship Among Students With Disabilities For Special Education Community Using Digital Technology

The objective of this research is to explore the importance of entrepreneurship education for the improvement of students with disabilities. This study was involved by students and teachers who attended entrepreneurship program. The findings of this research showed educators, students with disabilities and practical consequences. This research was categorized academically the subject and educational curriculums of entrepreneurship students program. The efficacy of entrepreneurial education is determined by the degree to which learners perceive the entrepreneurial curriculum and their satisfaction. The greater the level of satisfaction, particularly after the students complete their school, the greater the efficiency of entrepreneurship training

Entrepreneurial Education On Entrepreneurial Intention Among School Teachers In Malaysia

Recently, the development of youth entrepreneurship has received a considerable attention from both the literature and the governments. Yet, most studies focus on developed countries. Therefore, this study was based in the Malaysian context through developing social entrepreneurial training program to inculcate entrepreneurship skills and knowledge. This paper aimed to analyse the entrepreneurial training determinants that successfully formed entrepreneurial intention among secondary school teachers. A survey via questionnaire was conducted among 73 teachers. Exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were utilized. The selected schools are among the large schools in the city and provide entrepreneurial knowledge, especially to students with disability. The findings yielded that knowledge of entrepreneurship positively affects students’ intention mediated by, norms, attitude and self-efficiency

Transcultural Diabetes Nutrition Algorithm: A Malaysian Application

Glycemic control among patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) in Malaysia is suboptimal, especially after the continuous worsening over the past decade. Improved glycemic control may be achieved through a comprehensive management strategy that includes medical nutrition therapy (MNT). Evidence-based recommendations for diabetes-specific therapeutic diets are available internationally. However, Asian patients with T2D, including Malaysians, have unique disease characteristics and risk factors, as well as cultural and lifestyle dissimilarities, which may render international guidelines and recommendations less applicable and/or difficult to implement. With these thoughts in mind, a transcultural Diabetes Nutrition Algorithm (tDNA) was developed by an international task force of diabetes and nutrition experts through the restructuring of international guidelines for the nutritional management of prediabetes and T2D to account for cultural differences in lifestyle, diet, and genetic factors. The initial evidence-based global tDNA template was designed for simplicity, flexibility, and cultural modification. This paper reports the Malaysian adaptation of the tDNA, which takes into account the epidemiologic, physiologic, cultural, and lifestyle factors unique to Malaysia, as well as the local guidelines recommendations

Structured lifestyle intervention based on a trans-cultural diabetes-specific nutrition algorithm (tDNA) in individuals with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: Trans-cultural diabetes nutrition algorithm (tDNA) was created by international task force and culturally customized for Malaysian population. This study was designed to evaluate its effectiveness versus usual diabetes care in primary care settings. Research design and methods We randomized 230 patients with overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes, and glycated hemoglobin (A1c) 7%–11% to receive usual care (UC) or UC with tDNA for 6 months. The tDNA intervention consisted of structured low-calorie meal plan, diabetes-specific meal replacements, and increased physical activity. Participants were counseled either through motivational interviewing (tDNA-MI) or conventional counseling (tDNA-CC). The UC group received standard dietary and exercise advice through conventional counseling. All patients were followed for another 6 months after intervention. Results: At 6 months, A1c decreased significantly in tDNA-MI (−1.1±0.1%, p<0.001) and tDNA-CC (−0.5±0.1%, p=0.001) but not in UC (−0.2±0.1%, p=NS). Body weight decreased significantly in tDNA-MI (−6.9±1.3 kg, p<0.001) and tDNA-CC (−5.3±1.2 kg, p<0.001) but not in UC (−0.8±0.5 kg, p=NS). tDNA-MI patients had significantly lower fasting plasma glucose (tDNA-MI: −1.1±0.3 mmol/L, p<0.001; tDNA-CC: −0.6±0.3 mmol/L, p=NS; UC: 0.1±0.3 mmol/L, p=NS) and systolic blood pressure (tDNA-MI: −9±2 mm Hg, p<0.001; tDNA-CC: −9±2 mm Hg, p=0.001; UC: −1±2 mm Hg, p=NS). At 1 year, tDNA-MI patients maintained significant reduction in A1c (tDNA-MI: −0.5±0.2%, p=0.006 vs tDNA-CC: 0.1±0.2%, p=NS and UC: 0.02±0.01%, p=NS) and significant weight loss (tDNA-MI: −5.8±1.3 kg, p<0.001 vs tDNA-CC: −3.3±1.2 kg, p=NS and UC: 0.5±0.6 kg, p=NS). Conclusions: Structured lifestyle intervention through culturally adapted nutrition algorithm and motivational interviewing significantly improved diabetes control and body weight in primary care setting