Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 104 in total

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  1. A thermoluminescent dosimetry postal dose inter-comparison of radiation therapy centres in Malaysia
    Rassiah P, Ng KH, DeWerd LA, Kunugi K
    Australas Phys Eng Sci Med, 2004 Mar;27(1):25-9.
    PMID: 15156705
    A thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) postal dose inter-comparison was carried out amongst radiotherapy centres in Malaysia. The aim of this TLD inter-comparison was to compare the uniformity involved in the measurement of absorbed dose among the participating centres. A set of 5 TLD chips placed within acrylic trays were mailed to all participating centres for irradiation to an absorbed dose to water of 2 Gy. Measurements were made for 6 MV and 60Co photon beams. Results show an agreement of +/- 5% for all but three radiotherapy centres. The ratios of the TLD readings to that of the reference centre are comparable with other national/regional dose inter-comparisons. The importance of a proper ongoing quality assurance program is essential in maintaining the consistency and uniformity of doses delivered.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis/instrumentation; Equipment Failure Analysis/methods; Equipment Failure Analysis/standards
  2. Failure analysis of stainless steel femur fixation plate
    Hussain PB, Mohammad M
    Med J Malaysia, 2004 May;59 Suppl B:180-1.
    PMID: 15468877
    Failure analysis was performed to investigate the failure of the femur fixation plate which was previously fixed on the femur of a girl. Radiography, metallography, fractography and mechanical testing were conducted in this study. The results show that the failure was due to the formation of notches on the femur plate. These notches act as stress raisers from where the cracks start to propagate. Finally fracture occurred on the femur plate and subsequently, the plate failed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis*
  3. From concept to patient--biomaterials solutions to medical problems
    Bonfield W
    Med J Malaysia, 2004 May;59 Suppl B:1.
    PMID: 15468788
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis*
  4. An indicator device for monitoring of room illuminance level in the radiological image viewing environment
    Azlan CA, Ng KH, Anandan S, Nizam MS
    Australas Phys Eng Sci Med, 2006 Sep;29(3):278-80.
    PMID: 17058591
    Illuminance level in the softcopy image viewing room is a very important factor to optimize productivity in radiological diagnosis. In today's radiological environment, the illuminance measurements are normally done during the quality control procedure and performed annually. Although the room is equipped with dimmer switches, radiologists are not able to decide the level of illuminance according to the standards. The aim of this study is to develop a simple real-time illuminance detector system to assist the radiologists in deciding an adequate illuminance level during radiological image viewing. The system indicates illuminance in a very simple visual form by using light emitting diodes. By employing the device in the viewing room, illuminance level can be monitored and adjusted effectively.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  5. Effect of fluidising velocity on the combustion of rice husk in a bench-scale fluidised bed combustor for the production of amorphous rice husk ash
    Rozainee M, Ngo SP, Salema AA, Tan KG, Ariffin M, Zainura ZN
    Bioresour Technol, 2008 Mar;99(4):703-13.
    PMID: 17379511
    This study was focused on investigating the optimum fluidising velocity during the combustion of rice husk in a bench-scale fluidised bed combustor (ID 210mm) to obtain low carbon ash in the amorphous form. When all other parameters are held constant, the optimum fluidizing velocity aids in almost complete combustion, thereby releasing the entrapped carbon for further conversion. This results in ash with consistently low carbon content (less than 2wt%). The range of fluidising velocities investigated was from as low as 1.5U(mf) to as high as 8U(mf). It was found that the optimum fluidising velocity was approximately 3.3U(mf) as the mixing of rice husk with the bed was good with a high degree of penetration into the sand bed. The resulting ash retained its amorphous form with low residual carbon content (at 2.88wt%) and minimal sand contamination as shown by the X-ray diffraction analysis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  6. Tunable range enhancement of Brillouin-erbium fiber laser utilizing Brillouin pump pre-amplification technique
    Al-Mansoori MH, Mahdi MA
    Opt Express, 2008 May 26;16(11):7649-54.
    PMID: 18545472
    We demonstrate an enhanced multiwavelength L-band Brillouin-erbium fiber laser (BEFL), in which the Brillouin pump is pre-amplified before entering the single-mode fiber. The Brillouin pump pre-amplification provided by the Erbium-doped fiber has created higher intensity of Brillouin Stokes line generated in the single-mode fiber that leads to the homogenous gain saturation. Thus the built-up of self-lasing cavity modes is suppressed in a wider wavelength range. In contrary to the conventional linear-cavity BEFL, the number of output channels is enhanced within the same tuning range.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  7. The characteristics of Fuji IP Cassette Type PII and application for radiation oncology quality assurance tests and portal imaging
    Soh HS, Ung NM, Ng KH
    Australas Phys Eng Sci Med, 2008 Jun;31(2):146-50.
    PMID: 18697706
    The advancement of digital imaging has prompted more medical institutions to go filmless. The computed radiography (CR) system is becoming an important tool not only in diagnostic imaging, but also in radiation oncology. A new CR system that was specially designed for the use in radiation oncology, Fuji IP cassette type PII has been introduced to the market in the middle of year 2006. This project aimed to study some basic physical characteristics of this new type of cassette and explore its application for performing quality assurance (QA) tests and portal imaging in radiotherapy. All the images were read by FCR 5000 Plus reader. The image was found to reach its saturation value of 1023 (due to the image was stored in 10 bits data) by depending on the sensitivity value being adjusted. The uniformity test gave the result of 0.12%. The cassette was used to perform the QA tests which were previously performed using film. All the results met the specification as stated in AAPM Task Group 40. The comparison for the portal images of PortalVision contrast-detail phantom showed that the spatial resolution of the images obtained by CR system (Fujifilm Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) were better than the EPID (Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, USA) and film system (Eastman Kodak Co., New York, USA). The IP cassette type PII was found to be suitable as an alternative QA test tool and portal imaging in radiotherapy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  8. The application of glucose biosensor in studying the effects of insulin and anti-hypertensive drugs towards glucose level in brain striatum
    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
  9. Brillouin-Erbium fiber laser with enhanced feedback coupling using common Erbium gain section
    Samsuri NM, Zamzuri AK, Al-Mansoori MH, Ahmad A, Mahdi MA
    Opt Express, 2008 Oct 13;16(21):16475-80.
    PMID: 18852754
    We demonstrate an enhanced architecture of Brillouin-Erbium fiber laser utilizing the reverse-S-shaped fiber section as the coupling mechanism. The enhancement is made by locating a common section of Erbium-doped fiber next to the single-mode fiber to amplify the Brillouin pumps and the oscillating Stokes lines. The requirement of having two Erbium gain sections to enhance the multiple Brillouin Stokes lines generation is neglected by the proposed fiber laser structure. The mode competitions arise from the self-lasing cavity modes of the fiber laser are efficiently suppressed by the stronger pre-amplified Brillouin pump power before entering the single mode fiber section. The maximum output power of 20 mW is obtained from the proposed fiber laser with 10 laser lines that equally separated by 0.089 nm spacing.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  10. Fast prototype of a wireless cardiac rhythm interpretive instrument
    Wong KI, Ho MM
    Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc, 2008;2008:502-5.
    PMID: 19162703 DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.2008.4649200
    Extended patient monitoring has become increasingly important for detection of cardiac conditions, such as irregularities in the rhythms of the heart, while patient is practicing normal daily activity. This paper presents a design of a single lead wireless cardiac rhythm interpretive instrument that capable of capture the electrocardiogram (ECG) in digital format and transmitted to a remote base-station (i.e. PC) for storage and further interpretation. The design has achieved high quality of ECG and free of interference in the presence of motion.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  11. Malaysian participation in the IAEA/WHO postal TLD and postal ionisation chamber intercomparison programmes: analysis of results obtained during 1985-2008
    Samat SB, Evans CJ, Kadni T, Dolah MT
    Radiat Prot Dosimetry, 2009 Feb;133(3):186-91.
    PMID: 19299478 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncp035
    During the years 1985-2008, the Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory of Malaysia (SSDL Malaysia) has participated 37 times in the IAEA/WHO intercomparison programmes. This paper reports an analysis of the intercomparison data and demonstrates that the quality of the SSDL calibration service is well within the limits required by IAEA.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  12. Analysis of coupling efficiency on hemispherical fiber lens by method of lines
    Lambak Z, Abdul Rahman F, Mokhtar MR, Tengku IA
    Opt Express, 2009 Feb 16;17(4):2926-37.
    PMID: 19219196
    The method of lines (MoL) has been developed to study coupling efficiency on hemispherical lens. In this paper, the physical shape of the lens is approximated by cascading a number of straight waveguide segments. The perfectly matched layer (PML) is applied as an absorber for the MoL to reduce numerical reflection in the simulation region. Analysis is done by calculating coupling efficiency at the plane of integration where the coupling efficiency is an overlap integral between laser diode field and fiber field. The result of coupling efficiency in this analysis is compared to the experiment and ABCD matrix. It is found that MoL gives good result accuracy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis/methods*
  13. Seamless tuning range based-on available gain bandwidth in multiwavelength Brillouin fiber laser
    Ajiya M, Mahdi MA, Al-Mansoori MH, Hitam S, Mokhtar M
    Opt Express, 2009 Apr 13;17(8):5944-52.
    PMID: 19365413
    We experimentally demonstrate a simple widely tunable multiwavelength Brillouin/Erbium fiber laser that can be tuned over the entire C-band, thereby greatly improving the tuning range limitation faced by the previous Brillouin-erbium fiber laser architectures. Tuning range of 39 nm from 1527 nm to 1566 nm, which is only limited by the amplification bandwidth of the erbium gain was successfully achieved. At Brillouin pump wavelength of 1550 nm and 1480 nm laser pump and Brillouin pump powers of 130 mW and 2 mW respectively, all the generated output channels have peak power above 0 dBm, with the first output channel having a peak power of 8.52 dBm. The experimental set up that consists of only 4 optical components, is simple, devoid of the complex structure employed previously to enhance the tunability and feedback mechanism normally associated with multiwavelength Brillouin-erbium fiber laser sources. The generated output channels are stable, rigidly separated by 10 GHz (0.08 nm).
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  14. Simplified ASE correction algorithm for variable gain-flattened erbium-doped fiber amplifier
    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
  15. Stent dislodgement in left anterior descending coronary artery and successful deployment with two parallel wires and a small balloon
    Ngow H
    Kardiol Pol, 2009 Sep;67(9):1040-2 discussion 1043.
    PMID: 19838965
    Coronary artery stent dislodgement during angioplasty is a rare complication. Stent dislodgement was more frequent in the past when stents were manually crimped onto the balloon. Newer and improved balloon-mounted stents with better radio-opacity have reduced the incidence of stent dislodgement but do not completely eliminate it. We report a case of balloon-mounted stent dislodgement in the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery prior to deployment. This patient however was successfully treated with re-wiring of the artery with two parallel wires and the stent's reposition prior to deployment with the help of a small balloon.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  16. Simulation of motorcycle crashes with w-beam guardrail: injury patterns and analysis
    Ibitoye AB, Hamouda AM, Wong SV, Umar RS
    Proc Inst Mech Eng H, 2009 Nov;223(8):1033-40.
    PMID: 20092099
    This study uses computer simulations to study the impact of a motorcycle with the conventional w-beam guardrail. A three-dimensional computer simulation of a scaled hybrid III 50th-percentile male dummy mounted on a motorcycle and colliding with a w-beam guardrail is carried out. A multi-body model of the motorcycle and finite element model of the guardrail are developed using commercially available software. The simulation model is validated with a physical crash test conducted with same initial impact configurations. Impacts at speeds of 32, 48, and 60 km/h at an impact angle at 45 degrees are considered. The predicted forces and accelerations are compared with the biomechanical limits for each body part and the risk of injury to the rider are evaluated. Speed was found to have a significant influence on the level of injury to the head, neck, chest, and femur. A significant reduction of the severity of injuries was found when the impact speed was reduced from 60 to 32km/h. The accelerations experienced by the head and chest are found to be higher than safe levels for impact speeds of 48 and 60 km/h. The biomechanical limit for the right femur is exceeded at all three considered impact speeds. Neck injuries are also a concern, with the predicted tension values and neck bending extent being higher than the biomechanical limit for the 60 km/h impact speed. In light of these results, it is suggested that the design of guardrails should be reviewed with a focus on the safety of motorcyclists.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  17. Low energy, low latency and high speed array divider circuit using a shannon theorem based adder cell
    Senthilpari C, Diwakar K, Singh AK
    Recent Pat Nanotechnol, 2009;3(1):61-72.
    PMID: 19149756
    The paper discuss the design of 1-bit full adder circuit using Shannon theorem. This proposed full adder circuit is used as one of the circuit component for implementation of Non- Restoring and Restoring divider circuits. The proposed adder and divider schematics are designed by using DSCH2 CAD tool and their layouts are generated by Microwind 3 VLSI CAD tool. The divider circuits are designed by using standard CMOS 0.35 microm feature size and corresponding power supply 3.5 V. The parameters analyses are carried out by BSIM 4 analysis. We have compared the simulated results of the Shannon based divider circuit with CPL and CMOS adder cell based divider circuits. We have further compared the results with published results and observed that the proposed adder cell based divider circuit dissipates lower power, gives faster response, lower latency, low EPI and high throughput.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  18. Complications following tracheoesophageal puncture: a tertiary hospital experience
    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*
  19. Application of membrane-coupled sequencing batch reactor for oilfield produced water recycle and beneficial re-use
    Fakhru'l-Razi A, Pendashteh A, Abidin ZZ, Abdullah LC, Biak DR, Madaeni SS
    Bioresour Technol, 2010 Sep;101(18):6942-9.
    PMID: 20434905 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.04.005
    Oil and gas field wastewater or produced water is a significant waste stream in the oil and gas industries. In this study, the performance of a membrane sequencing batch reactor (MSBR) and membrane sequencing batch reactor/reverse osmosis (MSBR/RO) process treating produced wastewater were investigated and compared. The MSBR was operated in different hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 8, 20 and 44 h. Operation results showed that for a HRT of 20 h, the combined process effluent chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC) and oil and grease (O&G) removal efficiencies were 90.9%, 92% and 91.5%, respectively. The MSBR effluent concentration levels met the required standard for oil well re-injection. The RO treatment reduced the salt and organic contents to acceptable levels for irrigation and different industrial re-use. Foulant biopsy demonstrated that the fouling on the membrane surface was mainly due to inorganic (salts) and organic (microorganisms and their products, hydrocarbon constituents) matters.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
  20. Fulltext Validation of a static Franz diffusion cell system for in vitro permeation studies
    Ng SF, Rouse JJ, Sanderson FD, Meidan V, Eccleston GM
    AAPS PharmSciTech, 2010 Sep;11(3):1432-41.
    PMID: 20842539 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-010-9522-9
    Over the years, in vitro Franz diffusion experiments have evolved into one of the most important methods for researching transdermal drug administration. Unfortunately, this type of testing often yields permeation data that suffer from poor reproducibility. Moreover, this feature frequently occurs when synthetic membranes are used as barriers, in which case biological tissue-associated variability has been removed as an artefact of total variation. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the influence of a full-validation protocol on the performance of a tailor-made array of Franz diffusion cells (GlaxoSmithKline, Harlow, UK) available in our laboratory. To this end, ibuprofen was used as a model hydrophobic drug while synthetic membranes were used as barriers. The parameters investigated included Franz cell dimensions, stirring conditions, membrane type, membrane treatment, temperature regulation and sampling frequency. It was determined that validation dramatically reduced derived data variability as the coefficient of variation for steady-state ibuprofen permeation from a gel formulation was reduced from 25.7% to 5.3% (n = 6). Thus, validation and refinement of the protocol combined with improved operator training can greatly enhance reproducibility in Franz cell experimentation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Equipment Failure Analysis
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