Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 104 in total

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  1. Khan A, Ab Ghani S
    Biosens Bioelectron, 2012 Jan 15;31(1):433-8.
    PMID: 22154168 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2011.11.007
    The electrochemical biosensors based on poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and choline oxidase (ChO) enzymes were fabricated on carbon fibre (CF) substrate. The electropolymerized PoPD was used to reduce the interfering substances. The electrode assembly was completed by depositing functionalized carbon nano tubes (FCNTs) and Nafion (Naf). Amperometric detection of acetylcholine (ACh) and choline (Ch) were realized at an applied potential of +750 mV vs Ag/AgCl (saturated KCl). At pH 7.4, the final assembly, Naf-FCNTs/AChE-ChO((10:1))/PoPD/CF(Elip), was observed to have high sensitivity towards Ch (6.3±0.3 μA mM(-1)) and ACh (5.8±0.3 μA mM(-1)), linear range for Ch (K(M)=0.52±0.03 mM) and ACh (K(M)=0.59±0.07 mM), and for Ch the highest ascorbic acid blocking capacity (97.2±2 1mM AA). It had a response time of <5s and with 0.045 μM limit of detection. Studies on different ratio (ACh/Ch) revealed that 10:1, gave best overall response.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  2. Ahmad F, Yusof AP, Bainbridge M, Ab Ghani S
    Biosens Bioelectron, 2008 Jul 15;23(12):1862-8.
    PMID: 18440218 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2008.03.006
    The mechanisms involving insulin and anti-hypertensive drugs regulation for in vivo cerebral glucose metabolism are not well-understood. This might be due to lack of direct means of measuring cerebral glucose. It is known that the continuous delivery of glucose to the brain is critical for its normal metabolic function. In this study, we report the effect of insulin and anti-hypertensive drugs on glucose level in the striatum of rats. The rats were divided into two groups, i.e. hyperglycemia (14.8+/-0.3mM plasma glucose) and diabetic (10.8+/-0.2mM plasma glucose). A custom-built glucose microsensor was implanted at coordinates A/P 1.0 from bregma, M/L +2.5 and D/V -5.0 (from dura) in the striatum. The amperometric response obtained at +0.23 V vs. Ag|AgCl corresponded to the glucose level in striatum. By varying the concentrations of protaminc zinc insulin infused into the rats, striatum glucose level was found to remain constant throughout, i.e. 9.8+/-0.1 and 4.7+/-0.1mM for hyperglycemic rats and for diabetic rats, respectively. However, infusion of valsartan and felodipine has lowered the striatum glucose level significantly. These findings agreed with the hypothesis that suggested striatum glucose uptake do not depend on insulin but is clearly dependant on anti-hypertensive drugs administration.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  3. Pirouzi G, Abu Osman NA, Oshkour AA, Ali S, Gholizadeh H, Abas WA
    Sensors (Basel), 2014;14(9):16754-65.
    PMID: 25207872 DOI: 10.3390/s140916754
    The suspension system and socket fitting of artificial limbs have major roles and vital effects on the comfort, mobility, and satisfaction of amputees. This paper introduces a new pneumatic suspension system that overcomes the drawbacks of current suspension systems in donning and doffing, change in volume during daily activities, and pressure distribution in the socket-stump interface. An air pneumatic suspension system (APSS) for total-contact sockets was designed and developed. Pistoning and pressure distribution in the socket-stump interface were tested for the new APSS. More than 95% of the area between each prosthetic socket and liner was measured using a Tekscan F-Scan pressure measurement which has developed matrix-based pressure sensing systems. The variance in pressure around the stump was 8.76 kPa. APSS exhibits less pressure concentration around the stump, improved pressure distribution, easy donning and doffing, adjustability to remain fitted to the socket during daily activities, and more adaptability to the changes in stump volume. The volume changes were adjusted by utility of air pressure sensor. The vertical displacement point and reliability of suspension were assessed using a photographic method. The optimum pressure in every level of loading weight was 55 kPa, and the maximum displacement was 6 mm when 90 N of weight was loaded.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  4. Oshkour AA, Abu Osman NA, Yau YH, Tarlochan F, Abas WA
    Proc Inst Mech Eng H, 2013 Jan;227(1):3-17.
    PMID: 23516951
    This study aimed to develop a three-dimensional finite element model of a functionally graded femoral prosthesis. The model consisted of a femoral prosthesis created from functionally graded materials (FGMs), cement, and femur. The hip prosthesis was composed of FGMs made of titanium alloy, chrome-cobalt, and hydroxyapatite at volume fraction gradient exponents of 0, 1, and 5, respectively. The stress was measured on the femoral prosthesis, cement, and femur. Stress on the neck of the femoral prosthesis was not sensitive to the properties of the constituent material. However, stress on the stem and cement decreased proportionally as the volume fraction gradient exponent of the FGM increased. Meanwhile, stress became uniform on the cement mantle layer. In addition, stress on the femur in the proximal part increased and a high surface area of the femoral part was involved in absorbing the stress. As such, the stress-shielding area decreased. The results obtained in this study are significant in the design and longevity of new prosthetic devices because FGMs offer the potential to achieve stress distribution that more closely resembles that of the natural bone in the femur.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  5. Baharuddin MY, Salleh ShH, Hamedi M, Zulkifly AH, Lee MH, Mohd Noor A, et al.
    Biomed Res Int, 2014;2014:478248.
    PMID: 24800230 DOI: 10.1155/2014/478248
    Stress shielding and micromotion are two major issues which determine the success of newly designed cementless femoral stems. The correlation of experimental validation with finite element analysis (FEA) is commonly used to evaluate the stress distribution and fixation stability of the stem within the femoral canal. This paper focused on the applications of feature extraction and pattern recognition using support vector machine (SVM) to determine the primary stability of the implant. We measured strain with triaxial rosette at the metaphyseal region and micromotion with linear variable direct transducer proximally and distally using composite femora. The root mean squares technique is used to feed the classifier which provides maximum likelihood estimation of amplitude, and radial basis function is used as the kernel parameter which mapped the datasets into separable hyperplanes. The results showed 100% pattern recognition accuracy using SVM for both strain and micromotion. This indicates that DSP could be applied in determining the femoral stem primary stability with high pattern recognition accuracy in biomechanical testing.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis/methods
  6. Dayangku Norsuhazenah PS, Baki MM, Mohamad Yunus MR, Sabir Husin Athar PP, Abdullah S
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 2010 Jul;39(7):565-4.
    PMID: 20697675
    INTRODUCTION: In laryngectomised patients, tracheoesophageal speech is the gold standard for voice rehabilitation. This study evaluated complications related to the tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) and the success rate in voice prosthesis after total laryngectomy at our institution over a 10-year period.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 22 TEPs was performed between January 1998 and December 2008. The timing of TEP, type of voice prosthesis, surgical and prosthesis-related complications, and TEP closure were noted.

    RESULTS: Eighteen percent of the patients underwent primary and 82% secondary TEP. Our patients were predominantly males (95.4%) of Chinese descent with a mean age of 62.1 years. The types of voice prostheses used were ProvoxTM (n = 15), Voicemasters (n = 6), and Blom-Singer (n = 1). Prosthesis- related complications occurred in 77.3%. Notable complications were leakage (82.5%), prosthesis displacement (41.2%), intractable aspiration (29.4%), and aspiration of prosthesis (23.5%). The most common surgical-related complication was tracheostomal stenosis. An array of interventions comprising resizing or changing prosthesis type, nasogastric catheter insertion, stomaplasty, purse string suturing, and bronchoscopic removal of bronchial aspirated prosthesis were implemented to address encountered complications. In a mean follow-up of 34.8 months, 68.2% of patients achieved functional tracheoesophageal speech (75% of primary TEP and 67% of secondary TEP). There were 7 TEP closures indicated by persistent leakage, recurrent dislodgement, phonatory failure and, in 1 patient, persistent pain.

    CONCLUSIONS: TEP has become an integral part in the rehabilitation of a laryngectomee. However, management of the frequent complications related to TEP requires specific efforts and specialistic commitments in order to treat them.

    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis*
  7. Madfa AA, Kadir MR, Kashani J, Saidin S, Sulaiman E, Marhazlinda J, et al.
    Med Eng Phys, 2014 Jul;36(7):962-7.
    PMID: 24834856 DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2014.03.018
    Different dental post designs and materials affect the stability of restoration of a tooth. This study aimed to analyse and compare the stability of two shapes of dental posts (parallel-sided and tapered) made of five different materials (titanium, zirconia, carbon fibre and glass fibre) by investigating their stress transfer through the finite element (FE) method. Ten three-dimensional (3D) FE models of a maxillary central incisor restored with two different designs and five different materials were constructed. An oblique loading of 100 N was applied to each 3D model. Analyses along the centre of the post, the crown-cement/core and the post-cement/dentine interfaces were computed, and the means were calculated. One-way ANOVAs followed by post hoc tests were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the post materials and designs (p=0.05). For post designs, the tapered posts introduced significantly higher stress compared with the parallel-sided post (p<0.05), especially along the centre of the post. Of the materials, the highest level of stress was found for stainless steel, followed by zirconia, titanium, glass fibre and carbon fibre posts (p<0.05). The carbon and glass fibre posts reduced the stress distribution at the middle and apical part of the posts compared with the stainless steel, zirconia and titanium posts. The opposite results were observed at the crown-cement/core interface.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  8. Mahdi MA, Sheih SJ, Adikan FR
    Opt Express, 2009 Jun 08;17(12):10069-75.
    PMID: 19506658
    We demonstrate a simplified algorithm to manifest the contribution of amplified spontaneous emission in variable gain-flattened Erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). The detected signal power at the input and output ports of EDFA comprises of both signal and noise. The generated amplified spontaneous emission from EDFA cannot be differentiated by photodetector which leads to underestimation of the targeted gain value. This gain penalty must be taken into consideration in order to obtain the accurate gain level. By taking the average gain penalty within the dynamic gain range, the targeted output power is set higher than the desired level. Thus, the errors are significantly reduced to less than 0.15 dB from 15 dB to 30 dB desired gain values.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  9. Al-Fakih EA, Osman NA, Eshraghi A, Adikan FR
    Sensors (Basel), 2013 Aug 12;13(8):10348-57.
    PMID: 23941909 DOI: 10.3390/s130810348
    This study presents the first investigation into the capability of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors to measure interface pressure between the stump and the prosthetic sockets of a trans-tibial amputee. FBG element(s) were recoated with and embedded in a thin layer of epoxy material to form a sensing pad, which was in turn embedded in a silicone polymer material to form a pressure sensor. The sensor was tested in real time by inserting a heavy-duty balloon into the socket and inflating it by using an air compressor. This test was conducted to examine the sensitivity and repeatability of the sensor when subjected to pressure from the stump of the trans-tibial amputee and to mimic the actual environment of the amputee's Patellar Tendon (PT) bar. The sensor exhibited a sensitivity of 127 pm/N and a maximum FSO hysteresis of around ~0.09 in real-time operation. Very good reliability was achieved when the sensor was utilized for in situ measurements. This study may lead to smart FBG-based amputee stump/socket structures for pressure monitoring in amputee socket systems, which will result in better-designed prosthetic sockets that ensure improved patient satisfaction.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  10. Othman N, Kamarudin SK, Takriff MS, Rosli MI, Engku Chik EM, Adnan MA
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:242658.
    PMID: 24741344 DOI: 10.1155/2014/242658
    Radiotracer experiments are carried out in order to determine the mean residence time (MRT) as well as percentage of dead zone, V dead (%), in an integrated mixer consisting of Rushton and pitched blade turbine (PBT). Conventionally, optimization was performed by varying one parameter and others were held constant (OFAT) which lead to enormous number of experiments. Thus, in this study, a 4-factor 3-level Taguchi L9 orthogonal array was introduced to obtain an accurate optimization of mixing efficiency with minimal number of experiments. This paper describes the optimal conditions of four process parameters, namely, impeller speed, impeller clearance, type of impeller, and sampling time, in obtaining MRT and V dead (%) using radiotracer experiments. The optimum conditions for the experiments were 100 rpm impeller speed, 50 mm impeller clearance, Type A mixer, and 900 s sampling time to reach optimization.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis/methods*
  11. Lim JW, Lim PE, Seng CE, Adnan R
    Bioresour Technol, 2013 Feb;129:485-94.
    PMID: 23266850 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.11.111
    Moving bed sequencing batch reactors (MBSBRs) packed with 8% (v/v) of 8-, 27- and 64-mL polyurethane (PU) foam cubes, respectively, were investigated for simultaneous 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and nitrogen removal at increasing 4-CP concentration. When the 4-CP concentration exceeded 300 mg L(-1), the MBSBR with 27-mL foam cubes was observed to outperform the other MBSBRs in removing 4-CP and nitrogen. The reasons were: (1) there were more biomass in inner layer of the 27-mL cubes, compared to that of the 8-mL cubes, which was more shielded from the inhibitory effect of 4-CP and (2) the 27-mL cubes were more mobile than the 64-mL cubes. Although increasing 4-CP concentration to 600 mg L(-1) resulted in incomplete removal of 4-CP in the MBSBRs, results of the batch reactor with 27-mL foam cubes showed that complete 4-CP removal within the REACT period could be achieved by increasing the packing volume to 20%.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  12. Yang HZ, Lim KS, Qiao XG, Chong WY, Cheong YK, Lim WH, et al.
    Opt Express, 2013 Jun 17;21(12):14808-15.
    PMID: 23787668 DOI: 10.1364/OE.21.014808
    We present a new theoretical model for the broadband reflection spectra of etched FBGs which includes the effects of axial contraction and stress-induced index change. The reflection spectra of the etched FBGs with several different taper profiles are simulated based on the proposed model. In our observation, decaying exponential profile produces a broadband reflection spectrum with good uniformity over the range of 1540-1560 nm. An etched FBG with similar taper profile is fabricated and the experimental result shows good agreement with the theoretical model.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  13. Rahman HA, Che Ani AI, Harun SW, Yasin M, Apsari R, Ahmad H
    J Biomed Opt, 2012 Jul;17(7):071308.
    PMID: 22894469 DOI: 10.1117/1.JBO.17.7.071308
    The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of intensity modulated fiber optic displacement sensor scanning system for the imaging of dental cavity. Here, we discuss our preliminary results in the imaging of cavities on various teeth surfaces, as well as measurement of the diameter of the cavities which are represented by drilled holes on the teeth surfaces. Based on the analysis of displacement measurement, the sensitivities and linear range for the molar, canine, hybrid composite resin, and acrylic surfaces are obtained at 0.09667 mV/mm and 0.45 mm; 0.775 mV/mm and 0.4 mm; 0.5109 mV/mm and 0.5 mm; and 0.25 mV/mm and 0.5 mm, respectively, with a good linearity of more than 99%. The results also show a clear distinction between the cavity and surrounding tooth region. The stability, simplicity of design, and low cost of fabrication make it suitable for restorative dentistry.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  14. Lim KS, Yang HZ, Chong WY, Cheong YK, Lim CH, Ali NM, et al.
    Opt Express, 2013 Feb 11;21(3):2551-62.
    PMID: 23481713 DOI: 10.1364/OE.21.002551
    When an optical fiber is dipped in an etching solution, the internal stress profile in the fiber varies with the fiber diameter. We observed a physical contraction as much as 0.2% in the fiber axial dimension when the fiber was reduced from its original diameter to ~6 µm through analysis using high resolution microscope images of the grating period of an etched FBG at different fiber diameters. This axial contraction is related to the varying axial stress profile in the fiber when the fiber diameter is reduced. On top of that, the refractive index of fiber core increases with reducing fiber diameter due to stress-optic effect. The calculated index increment is as much as 1.8 × 10(-3) at the center of fiber core after the diameter is reduced down to ~6 µm. In comparison with the conventional model that assumes constant grating period and neglects the variation in stress-induced index change in fiber core, our proposed model indicates a discrepancy as much as 3nm in Bragg wavelength at a fiber diameter of ~6 µm.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  15. Rosli AN, Bakar MA, Manan NS, Woi PM, Lee VS, Zain SM, et al.
    Sensors (Basel), 2013;13(10):13835-60.
    PMID: 24129020 DOI: 10.3390/s131013835
    Combined computational and experimental strategies for the systematic design of chemical sensor arrays using carbonitrile neutral receptors are presented. Binding energies of acetonitrile, n-pentylcarbonitrile and malononitrile with Ca(II), Mg(II), Be(II) and H⁺ have been investigated with the B3LYP, G3, CBS-QB3, G4 and MQZVP methods, showing a general trend H⁺ > Be(II) > Mg(II) > Ca(II). Hydrogen bonding, donor-acceptor and cation-lone pair electron simple models were employed in evaluating the performance of computational methods. Mg(II) is bound to acetonitrile in water by 12.5 kcal/mol, and in the gas phase the receptor is more strongly bound by 33.3 kcal/mol to Mg(II) compared to Ca(II). Interaction of bound cations with carbonitrile reduces the energies of the MOs involved in the proposed σ-p conjugated network. The planar malononitrile-Be(II) complex possibly involves a π-network with a cationic methylene carbon. Fabricated potentiometric chemical sensors show distinct signal patterns that can be exploited in sensor array applications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  16. Hashim S, Ibrahim SA, Che Omar SS, Alajerami YS, Saripan MI, Noor NM, et al.
    Appl Radiat Isot, 2014 Aug;90:258-60.
    PMID: 24858954 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2014.04.016
    Radiation effects of photon irradiation in pure Photonic Crystal Fibres (PCF) and Flat fibres (FF) are still much less investigated in thermoluminescense dosimetry (TLD). We have reported the TL response of PCF and FF subjected to 6 MV photon irradiation. The proposed dosimeter shows good linearity at doses ranging from 1 to 4 Gy. The small size of these detectors points to its use as a dosimeter at megavoltage energies, where better tissue-equivalence and the Bragg-Gray cavity theory prevails.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  17. Abubakar Z, Salema AA, Ani FN
    Bioresour Technol, 2013 Jan;128:578-85.
    PMID: 23211483 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.10.084
    A new technique to pyrolyse biomass in microwave (MW) system is presented in this paper to solve the problem of bio-oil deposition. Pyrolysis of oil palm shell (OPS) biomass was conducted in 800 W and 2.45 GHz frequency MW system using an activated carbon as a MW absorber. The temperature profile, product yield and the properties of the products were found to depend on the stirrer speed and MW absorber percentage. The highest bio-oil yield of 28 wt.% was obtained at 25% MW absorber and 50 rpm stirrer speed. Bio-char showed highest calorific value of the 29.5 MJ/kg at 50% MW absorber and 100 rpm stirrer speed. Bio-oil from this study was rich in phenol with highest detected as 85 area% from the GC-MS results. Thus, OPS bio-oil can become potential alternative to petroleum-based chemicals in various phenolic based applications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  18. Chong SS, Aziz AR, Harun SW, Arof H
    Sensors (Basel), 2014;14(9):15836-48.
    PMID: 25166498 DOI: 10.3390/s140915836
    In this study, the construction and test of tapered plastic optical fiber (POF) sensors, based on an intensity modulation approach are described. Tapered fiber sensors with different diameters of 0.65 mm, 0.45 mm, and 0.35 mm, were used to measure various concentrations of Remazol black B (RBB) dye aqueous solutions at room temperature. The concentrations of the RBB solutions were varied from 0 ppm to 70 ppm. In addition, the effect of varying the temperature of the RBB solution was also investigated. In this case, the output of the sensor was measured at four different temperatures of 27 °C, 30 °C, 35 °C, and 40 °C, while its concentration was fixed at 50 ppm and 100 ppm. The experimental results show that the tapered POF with d = 0.45 mm achieves the best performance with a reasonably good sensitivity of 61 × 10(-4) and a linearity of more than 99%. It also maintains a sufficient and stable signal when heat was applied to the solution with a linearity of more than 97%. Since the transmitted intensity is dependent on both the concentration and temperature of the analyte, multiple linear regression analysis was performed to combine the two independent variables into a single equation. The resulting equation was then validated experimentally and the best agreement between the calculated and experimental results was achieved by the sensor with d = 0.45 mm, where the minimum discrepancy is less than 5%. The authors conclude that POF-based sensors are suitable for RBB dye concentration sensing and, with refinement in fabrication, better results could be achieved. Their low fabrication cost, simple configuration, accuracy, and high sensitivity would attract many potential applications in chemical and biological sensing.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  19. Gholizadeh H, Osman NA, Kamyab M, Eshraghi A, Abas WA, Azam MN
    Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon), 2012 Jan;27(1):34-9.
    PMID: 21794965 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2011.07.004
    The method of attachment of prosthesis to the residual limb (suspension) and socket fitting is a critical issue in the process of providing an amputee with prosthesis. Different suspension methods try to minimize the pistoning movement inside the socket. The Seal-In(®) X5 and Dermo(®) Liner by Ossur are new suspension liners that intend to reduce pistoning between the socket and liner. Since the effects of these new liners on suspension are unclear, the objective of this study was to compare the pistoning effect of Seal-In(®) X5 and Dermo(®) Liner by using Vicon Motion System.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  20. Bonfield W
    Med J Malaysia, 2004 May;59 Suppl B:1.
    PMID: 15468788
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis*
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