Nowadays, the applications of tracking moving object are commonly used in various
areas especially in computer vision applications. There are many tracking algorithms
have been introduced and they are divided into three groups which are generative
trackers, discriminative trackers and hybrid trackers. One of the methods is TrackingLearning-Detection
(TLD) framework which is an example of the hybrid trackers where
combination between the generative trackers and the discriminative trackers occur. In
TLD, the detector consists of three stages which are patch variance, ensemble classifier
and KNearest Neighbor classifier. In the second stage, the ensemble classifier depends
on simple pixel comparison hence, it is likely fail to offer a better generalization of the
appearances of the target object in the detection process. In this paper, OnlineSequential
Extreme Learning Machine (OS-ELM) was used to replace the ensemble
classifier in the TLD framework. Besides that, different types of Haar-like features were
used for the feature extraction process instead of using raw pixel value as the features.
The objectives of this study are to improve the classifier in the second stage of detector
in TLD framework by using Haar-like features as an input to the classifier and to get a
more generalized detector in TLD framework by using OS-ELM based detector. The
results showed that the proposed method performs better in Pedestrian 1 in terms of
F-measure and also offers good performance in terms of Precision in four out of six
videos.
The probability of the construction accident to happen is high due the nature of
Construction work that involves complex activities, methods, machineries, materials
and hazards. The occupational safety and health (OSH) law and regulations are
mandatory for every construction project to uphold. Responsibilities to ensure the
safety and health at the workplace lies with those who create the risk and with those
who work with the risk. The owner or client of the construction project has the upper
hand in determining the standard of OSH implementation in their project through
contract documents. If the contract documents comprehensively spell out OSH
requirements and cover all OSH cost, then the issues of contractor not implementing
OSH measures could be minimized. The objective of this study is to identify
Occupational Safety and Health requirements (OSH) in the contract document of
selected construction projects. To achieve this objective, a total of seven contract
document was collected from several construction companies. The qualitative analysis
was performed to identify the extent of OSH requirements and costs are being
mentioned in the contract documents. The finding shows that most of the contract
document contains very little emphasis on OSH requirements and budgeting. Only one
contract contains, an appendix that spell out about the safe work practices for
construction works. The visible allocated budget for OSH requirements for all seven
contracts is very minute range from 0.21% to 1.99% of contract value. In order to
ensure that occupational safety and health is properly implemented, safety needs must
be included in the budget because implementation it is not free, this can be achieved
by making it a permanent feature in all bills of quantity of the project.
MeSH terms: Accidents; Appendix; Budgets; Probability; Risk; Occupational Health; Workplace; Construction Industry
Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is a device that generates electricity from the metabolism of
bacteria simultaneously treats wastewater by decolourizing the azo dye in wastewater.
In this work, the effect of different external loads and bacterial loads were examined.
The maximum open circuit voltage generated was 390 mV by using 7 consortia of
bacteria while the maximum current generated was 50 µA using 10 Ω resistor. 97%
decolourization efficiency of 0.1 g/L of azo dye was achieved after 5 days of operation.
Besides, the maximum current density and power density achieved were 17.9 µA/cm2
and 460 µW/cm2
respectively. Polarization curve was plotted and Scanning Electron
Microscope was applied to visualize the bacterial community attachment onto the
graphite felt electrode. Cyclic voltammetry was applied to study the redox properties
of the Azo dye using microorganisms in MFC. Overall, these 7 bacterial strains used in
this work showed the capability in decolourizing the Azo dye simultaneously producing
electricity in MFC.
In this study, we investigate the ability of the bacterial isolates from an Iraqi oil
reservoir, namely POS and PCO Oil to decolorize commercially used model azo dye Acid
Red-27(AR-27). The effects of inoculation volume and glycerol concentrations were
optimized to develop an economically feasible decolourization process. The isolates
were able to decolourize azo dye (AR27) at the highest decolorization efficiency of 98%
in 10 mL bacterial solution consisted of POS and PCO Oil and in the presence of 6.34
g/L glycerol. An optimized MFC using this bacterial consortium (POS + PCO Oil) and
graphite rod electrodes produced a maximum open circuit voltage (OCV) of 175 mV, in
the presence of potassium ferricyanide as the electron acceptor at the cathode. The
maximum current density of 1.7 μA/cm² and power density of 59.3 μW/cm² were
achieved when an external load of 5 kΩ was applied. Morphological analysis was
performed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to prove the bacterial
attachment onto the anode surface (graphite rod) in the MFC operation. This work
proposed that the bacterial strains POS and PCO Oil possess the ability to decolorize
Azo dye AR27 and generate electricity in the absence of nitrogen source.
Due to high energy demand worldwide, finding an alternative renewable and
sustainable energy source is of great interest. Plant microbial fuel cell (P-MFC) is one
of the most promising methods to generate green energy. In P-MFC, a plant is placed
into the anode compartment. Mutual interaction between plant root rhizodeposits
and bacterial community results in the biofilm formation at the vicinity of the
rhizosphere area in plant root could be utilized to generate electricity. Indeed, in PMFC,
bacteria metabolize rhizodeposits into electrons and protons. These electrons
could be then converted into green electricity. The objectives of this research are to
utilize Epipremnum aureum plant collected from Kota Tinggi’s lake to generate
electricity and observe current generation by different resistors, to characterize
immobilized bacteria attached on the anode surface then identify the optimum growth
temperature for isolated bacteria. Five plant microbial fuel cells were constructed in a
H-shape (dual- chambers) configuration in the plastic container. Maximum current
density for 20 days for P-MFC by external resistance of 100k Ω was 0.1 µA/cm2
with
maximum power density of 0.85 µW/cm2 and the open circuit voltage (OCV) was
measured at 195 mV. Besides, fresh biomass averages increased 5g after 20 days of
experiments below and above ground as compared to the initial fresh biomass. Five
isolated bacterial strains from the graphite felt surface found on the anode were
screened by nine biochemical tests such as catalase, TSI (triple sugar iron agar), gelatin
and etc. The immobilized bacteria attached to anode electrode in P-MFC were further
examined with Fast Electron Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The isolated
bacterial growth curves were determined at two different temperatures of 25 °C and
37 °C. The optimum growth temperature predominantly for them was 37 °C.
Aggregate planning acts as a blueprint for all operational planning activities. Despite
the substantial amount of research that has been done in determining methods to
improve aggregate planning approaches, the industry is still at a loss when it comes
to working on the tactical planning aspect, especially in aggregate production.
Therefore, this research work aims to present a comprehensive and generalised
framework that will formulate a realistic batch production environment using an
interactive Production Decision Support System. This system consists of an aggregate
planning framework that combines a simulation model and a Pinch Analysis graphical
approach to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the decision-making process.
The target is to allow operational opportunities to be captured at first sight and thus,
maximise organisational profit. The simplicity and practicality of this new Production
Decision Support System is demonstrated through two illustrative examples where a
total of four heuristics were identified and turned into the new strategies to avoid the
stock-out scenarios.
MeSH terms: Heuristics; Agriculture; Decision Making; Industry; Research
Many nonlinear problems that arise in various science and engineering fields can be
modelled by the Goursat partial differential equations. Modelling these non-linear
problems using the Goursat partial differential equations has not received much
attention especially the theoretical aspect . The proposed scheme of solution is
supported by examining a nonlinear Goursat problem. The verification of the
theoretical results from several series of numerical experiments are discussed. Results
obtained from Taylor series expansion show that the proposed new scheme is
consistent. By using the von Neumann analysis and essence of stability, the proposed
new scheme is found to be unconditionally stable. In addition, the trend of the
numerical results shows that the new scheme is also convergent.
We report the computational and experimental efforts in the design and synthesis of novel neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors from ferulic acid and vanillin. Two proposed ferulic acid analogues, MY7 and MY8 were predicted to inhibit H1N1 NA using molecular docking. From these two analogues, we designed, synthesised and evaluated the biological activities of a series of ferulic acid and vanillin derivatives. The enzymatic H1N1 NA inhibition assay showed MY21 (a vanillin derivative) has the lowest IC50 of 50 μM. In contrast, the virus inhibition assay showed MY15, a ferulic acid derivative has the best activity with the EC50 of ~0.95 μM. Modelling studies further suggest that these predicted activities might be due to the interactions with conserved and essential residues of NA with ΔGbind values comparable to those of oseltamivir and zanamivir, the two commercial NA inhibitors.
Many studies have shown that the immune response highly depends on the inheritance of specific HLA
genes in promoting the generation of T cells for the elimination of pathogens. Loss or alteration of HLA
antigen expression in tumor cells has been observed in a variety of human malignancies leading to immune
escape or immune resistance. We investigated whether the inheritance of certain alleles of HLA class II
genes confers susceptibility or resistance towards the development of colorectal carcinoma (CRC).
Molecular typing of HLA DRB1, DQB1 and DPB1 alleles in 42 patients diagnosed with CRC and 50
ethnically matched healthy controls using the PCR-sequence based typing (PCR-SBT) was conducted. The
HLA DPB1*02:01:02 was significantly higher in CRC patients (38.1%, p=0.0189) compared to healthy
controls (16%). Also, HLA DQB1*05:02:01 was present in 28.6% of CRC patients but only 10% of healthy
controls (p=0.0278). The odds ratios for HLA DPB1*02:01:02 and HLA DQB1*05:02:01were 3.23 and 3.60,
respectively. There were no significant association observed for the DRB1 allele with CRC. Our study
suggests that the HLA DPB1*02:01:02 and HLA DQB1*05:02:01 alleles may confer a higher risk for CRC
Glioma is the most common primary brain tumour of the central nervous system. Many genetic alterations
and mutations have been identified in glioma using various approaches. We performed DNA sequencing on
the tumours of 16 patients with Grade I, II, III and IV glioma. The AmpliSeq Cancer Primers Pool was used
to generate the amplicons. The targeted-ion sphere particles were prepared using the Ion One Touch and
Ion Enrichment systems. DNA sequencing was performed on the Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine
(PGM) and the data were analysed using the Torrent Suite Software.
In total, 14 mutations were identified in the following genes: KDR (Q472H), MLH1 (V384D), MET (N375S),
PTPN11 (E69K), BRAF (V600E), TP53 (D149E, E154K, V157F), IDH1 (R132H), PIK3CA (H1047R), CSF1R
(c1061_1061 ins A), KIT (M541L), PTEN (c1373_1373 del A) and PDGFRA (E556V). In addition, there were
four novel mutations identified; TP53 (E154K, and D149E), CSF1R (c1061_1061 ins A) and PDGFRA
(E556V). The pathogenicity prediction showed that only three mutations were pathogenic: PTPN11 (E69K),
BRAF (V600E) and Tp53 (E154K). These mutations result in changes of the proteins’ structure and could
affect their functions. Pathway analyses suggested that these genes are closely related to the pathogenesis of
GBM through several pathways such as proliferation and invasion, metabolism and angiogenesis.
In conclusion, PGM in combination with the AmpliSeq Cancer Panel could be utilised as a potential
molecular diagnostic tool not only for glioma but also for other cancers.
Punishment of non-cooperators-free riders-can lead to high cooperation in public goods games (PGG). However, second-order free riders, who do not pay punishment costs, reduce the effectiveness of punishment. Here we introduce a "leader support system," in which one group leader can freely punish group followers using capital pooled through the support of group followers. In our experiment, participants engage in three stages repeatedly: a PGG stage in which followers decide to cooperate for their group; a support stage in which followers decide whether to support the leader; and a punishment stage in which the leader can punish any follower. We compare a support-present condition with a no-support condition, in which there is an external source for the leader's punishment. The results show that punishment occurs more frequently in the support-present condition than the no-support condition. Within the former, both higher cooperation and higher support for a leader are achieved under linkage-type leaders-who punish both non-cooperators and non-supporters. In addition, linkage-type leaders themselves earn higher profits than other leader types because they withdraw more support. This means that leaders who effectively punish followers could increase their own benefits and the second-order free rider problem would be solved.
MeSH terms: Game Theory; Interpersonal Relations; Leadership; Punishment
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of feeding different levels of whole linseed, as a source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), on ruminal fatty acid composition and microbial population in the goat. Twenty-four crossbred Boer goats were assigned to 3 dietary treatments: L0 (control), L10 and L20 containing 0, 10%, or 20% whole linseed, respectively. The ruminal pH and concentration of total volatile fatty acids (VFA) were not affected by dietary treatments. The feeding of L10 and L20 diets produced higher (P
Mikania micrantha Kunth (Asteraceae) is a perennial creeping vine that can be found in South and North America, Africa, Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia, including Southern China and Malaysia. Previous studies have reported that this plant possesses several pharmacological properties which can be used to prevent and cure several diseases. Phytochemicals found from various parts of M. micrantha have been linked to beneficial medicinal properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumour, anti-inflammatory, anti-stress, and also anti-diabetic activities. The primary aim of this paper is to review available scientific information on the nutritional, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of M. micrantha to provide baseline information for future studies.
Clean water is very important for health and well-being of humans and ecosystem. However, over the year, a billion tons of industrial waste, fertilizers and chemical waste were dumped untreated into water bodies, such as rivers, lake and oceans contributing towards water pollution, then threatening human health and ecosystem. Hence, the need for clean water has urged scientists to research and find solutions for improving water quality. Application of nanoparticles in wastewater treatment improves the environmental quality by elimination of harmful pollutants in wastewater. Magnetite is one of the nanoparticles used in wastewater treatment because of its specific large surface area, high reactivity in adsorption and recoverable from treated water via magnetic separation technology. Preparation method of magnetite nanoparticles is the important key to its adsorption efficiency.
MeSH terms: Adsorption; Fertilizers; Humans; Industrial Waste; Water; Water Pollution; Ecosystem; Water Purification; Rivers; Ferrosoferric Oxide; Magnetite Nanoparticles; Lakes; Water Quality; Waste Water
The urban transit network design problem (UTNDP) involves the development of a transit route set and associated schedules for an urban public transit system. The design of efficient public transit systems is widely considered as a viable option for the economic, social, and physical structure of an urban setting. This paper reviews four well-known population-based metaheuristics that have been employed and deemed potentially viable for tackling the UTNDP. The aim is to give a thorough review of the algorithms and identify the gaps for future research directions.
Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni in the Asteraceae family is commercially valuable and cultivated throughout the world due to the great demand for its steviol glycosides (SGs) contents particularly rebaudioside A. Previous studies confirmed that maximal content of SGs in stevia was achieved at or just before flowering, and delayed flowering with long days provide longer duration for steviol glycosides accumulation. However, there is no suitable stevia variety to be cultivated in Malaysia due to her short day length. Mutation induction, including gamma irradiation, had been shown to be useful for generating genetic variations as well as developing new plant varieties from which desired mutants were successfully selected. The use of mutagens, both physical and chemical, has helped in creating mutants that expressed the selected desirable traits. This paper presents some selected essential data available in extant scientific studies on stevia with the focus on application of gamma irradiation on stevia. Both established achievements and recent publications of gamma radiation on stevia were reviewed. Emphasis is on the exceptional potential of stevia through induced mutation approach especially by using gamma rays.
Multifunctional nanocarriers harbouring specific targeting moieties and with pH-responsive properties offer great potential for targeted cancer therapy. Several synthetic drug carriers have been studied extensively as drug delivery systems but not much information is available on the application of virus-like nanoparticles (VLNPs) as multifunctional nanocarriers. Here, we describe the development of pH-responsive VLNPs, based on truncated hepatitis B virus core antigen (tHBcAg), displaying folic acid (FA) for controlled drug delivery. FA was conjugated to a pentadecapeptide containing nanoglue bound on tHBcAg nanoparticles to increase the specificity and efficacy of the drug delivery system. The tHBcAg nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) demonstrated a sustained drug release profile in vitro under tumour tissue conditions in a controlled manner and improved the uptake of DOX in colorectal cancer cells, leading to enhanced antitumour effects. This study demonstrated that DOX-PAA can be packaged into VLNPs without any modification of the DOX molecules, preserving the pharmacological activity of the loaded DOX. The nanoglue can easily be used to display a tumour-targeting molecule on the exterior surface of VLNPs and can bypass the laborious and time-consuming genetic engineering approaches.
AIM: To see the causative factors, associations and outcomes of posterior capsule rupture (PCR). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was done of all patients with PCR from 2007 to 2014 in Melaka Hospital. Associations between ocular comorbidities, lens related complications, surgeon grade, type of cataract surgery, whether done alone or in combination, with the occurrences of PCR were studied. The final visual outcome of cases with PCR was studied. RESULTS: PCR was the commonest intraoperative complication (n=623, 4.8%) among 12 846 patients. Ocular comorbidities and status of the lens did not cause PCR. Experience and seniority of surgeons were significantly associated with PCR. Medical officers had more PCRs than gazetting specialists (P=0.0000), who inturn had more PCRs than specialists (P=0.000). Each type of cataract surgery done was also significantly associated with PCR-phacoemulsification (phaco), phaco convert to extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE) (P=0.000), lens aspiration (P=0.020), and ECCE (P=0.003). Specialists got good outcomes compared to trainees without PCR occurring (P=0.001) and also with PCR occurring (P=0.013). However, no difference was observed in the occurrence of PCR in complicated cases between specialists and trainees. Vision was compromised mainly by astigmatism following PCR. Impaired vision (P=0.000) and poor vision (P=0.000) were more than good vision. Poor vision was more in PCR compared to other complications.(P=0.000). CONCLUSION: PCR occurs in all types of cataract surgeries and is the main intraoperative complication causing poor vision. Good outcomes were significantly more when specialists got PCR compared to trainees. Junior surgeons should practice in wet labs and be given more cases. Copyright 2016 by the IJO Press.
Facility Layout Problem (FLP) is a NP-hard problem concerned with the arrangement of facilities as to minimize the distance travelled between all pairs of facilities. Many exact and approximate approaches have been proposed with an extensive applicability to deal with this problem. This paper studies the fundamentals of some well-known heuristics and metaheuristics used in solving the FLPs. It is hoped that this paper will trigger researchers for in-depth studies in FLPs looking into more specific interest such as equal or unequal FLPs.
MeSH terms: Heuristics; Research; Research Personnel; Socioeconomic Factors; Precipitating Factors
It is claimed by the media that the expansion of Instant Messaging (IM) in recent years affected the quality of formal writing and there are intrusions into such writings (Grace, Kemp, Martin, & Parrila, 2015). The current study examined six articles published in scientific journals in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015 on textism (e.g. gr8 for “great”) to see if there have been any changes in the results of the studies on the quality of writing under the influence of textism in native and non- native groups during the last 6 years. The population in all three studies has been young adults between 18 to 29 years old, male and female. The studies are done through writing tests in academic institutions and schools. Synchronization of the findings over time is important as it can show that if, with the expansion of social media and increasing number of messaging applications, there has been any significant increase in the textism intrusion or not. The content analysis and statistical comparison are used as the methods to compare the studies’ results and to form an armchair study to validate the effects of the textism on formal writing. Based on the chronological and synthesized results, it was found ultimately that in the native group there is not any significant difference between the results over the synchronized time and the media claims are not true, while the non-native learners of English have shown negative intrusions.