Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infections. Cervical cancer is the third most common malignancy among the women worldwide. The primary tool for prevention of cervical cancer is through the HPV vaccination. Pre-clinical year medical students must have background knowledge about HPV vaccination as they become healthcare providers, who will play an important role in influencing patients’ decision to receive vaccination. If their knowledge on the HPV is low this will result in poor attitude towards its prevention. This study was aimed to determine the knowledge of HPV vaccine and cervical cancer as well as the acceptance of HPV vaccination among pre-clinical year medical students. A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among 83 pre-clinical year medical students in National Defence University of Malaysia (NDUM). A set of self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the respondents to gather the data. Although almost half of respondents (46.3%) did not know the exact indication for HPV vaccination Most of them perceived that HPV vaccine can protect against the cervical cancer (64.4%) and it is as important as Hepatitis B or Haemophilus influenzae vaccines in Malaysia (54.9%). Substantial proportion of the respondents (47.6%) disagreed that HPV vaccination will diminish the need for annual Pap smear testing. The findings of this study show that being a pre-clinical year student does not warrant good knowledge and prevention of HPV infection. There is a need to obtain more information about HPV vaccination effects on cervical cancer in their medical school teaching and from the social media.
This paper represents an effective method to enhance colour correction for tongue diagnosis. Colour Correction means exactly that, correcting the colour in image in the post production process. If the task of correcting an image is not in the workflow, it may be missing out on how great the image could look. It is one of the tasks of being a director of photography to get the best image to the colourist that can be. Understanding the camera’s limitation and using that knowledge on set is the first step in getting images that are much easier to correct later in the production workflow. Cameras record three colour responses of Red, Green and Blue (RGB) that are device dependent. In this work, preliminary research on tongue colour correction using polynomial regression algorithm has been implemented on Munsell colour checker for future tongue colour correction and diagnosis. The attained RGB colour space from Munsell Checker image converted to Lab colour space which is device independent colour space based on human visual system that is perceptually uniform. Then, several degrees of polynomial regression method are employed to provide comparative analysis on colour reproduction index to produce good quality of image after colour correction procedure. The experimental outcomes on colour checker show the colour difference is equal to 3.3289, ∆E*ab=3.3289 which is acceptable in digital image colour reproducibility.
Suzaimah Ramli, Tuan Khalisah Tan Zizi @ Tuan Zizi, Norulzahrah Mohd Zainudin, Nor Asiakin Hasbullah, Norshariah Abdul Wahab, Noor Afiza Mat Razali, et al.
Thermal imaging technology can be used to detect aggressive levels in humans based on the radiated heat from their face and body. Previous researches have proposed an approach to figure out human aggressive movements using HornSchunck optical flow algorithm in order to find the flow vector for all video frames but still not strong enough to confirm and verify the existence of an aggressive movement. In this work, we propose an approach by using thermal videos for frontal views of the human body which is face view. Then, video frames are collected using thermal camera and further extracted into thermal images. We use thermal imaging to monitor the face including prefrontal and periorbital region’s thermal variations and test whether it can offer a discriminative signature for detecting aggressiveness. We start by presenting an overview of 3400 thermal images extracted from 50 participants. The results obtained is promising where aggressive and non-aggressive features can be detected by using color-based approach.
In Oriental Medicine, the examination of tongue body contributes to rich information in diagnosing some diseases. The practitioners use tongue body colour and other relevant features to predict the patient’s conditions and disease-oriented state. To reduce the ambiguity and other limitation caused by environment, an automatic tongue acquisition system has been introduced recently to assist the medical practitioner in daily clinical practices. However, most of these acquisition systems are not equipped with the intelligent decision support system to diagnose certain diseases using informative tongue bio-markers. In this paper, automatic tongue diagnosis prototype on Raspberry-pi is proposed to reduce human labour and to promote portability. To integrate with Internet of Things (IOT) technology, tongue image processing analysis including segmentation and colour classification techniques using k-means and Support Vector Machine (SVM) is executed on Raspberry-Pi that is equipped with High Definition (HD) camera via MATLAB Coder platform. This high definition camera will capture the real time image of a patient’s tongue to be segmented and analysed further. It is expected to provide health information that can be used as a pre-diagnosis system based on Oriental Medicine perspectives.
Wireless Sensor Technologies (WST) is entering a new phase. Recent advances offer vast opportunities for research and development. On top of that, this is the consequence of the decreasing costs of ownership, the increase of smaller sensing devices in engineering and the achievements in radio frequency technology and digital circuits. The aim of this research was to combine the Wireless Sensor Network with ZigBee technology. It is expected to develop Haze Smart Greenhouse to control the temperature and humidity via remote automation. In addition, a GUI interface will be built to ease in controlling and managing the prototype through computer via wired and wireless technology. This Haze Smart Greenhouse prototype will be proposed to be developed and tested with operational via remote automation.
This review summarizes the evolution that has been made for organophosphates (OPs) detection technique using conventional technique (lab-based) and compact technique (colorimetric and electrochemical). Right after introduction section, a first section covers the types, chemical structure and risks of OPs. Methods for detection using conventional and compact technique were discussed next. An additional section covers the limitation of conventional detection technique and advantages of compact detection technique are addressed. Several Tables are presented that give an overview on the OPs detection using conventional and compact detection technique. A concluding section addresses a brief idea on the detection method available nowadays.
Skyscrapers have been constructed all over the world because of the social demand for more iconic building, including excellent aerodynamic performance and architectural aesthetic reasons. However, the increasing high-rise buildings in densely built-up cities created low velocity air flow caused by the phenomena of flow separation at pedestrian level and also exerts drag force on the building walls that may affect the occupants’ and pedestrians’ comfort. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the drag force and pedestrian level wind condition of 15 skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur of various designs and shapes by using Solidworks Flow Simulation. The effect of the height of surrounding buildings were also investigated. From the results, the bamboo shape of the Telekom tower shows the lowest drag coefficient by 0.1056 compared to others and the ratio of surrounding building height to skyscraper of 0.83 shows the smallest drag.
Room temperature carbon nanotubes (CNT)-based gas sensor was utilised in detection of methane, CH4 gas. The CNT was functionalized with amide group via Fischer esterification process and labelled as CNT-Amide. Silicon dioxide, SiO2 substrate with interdigitated prepatterned gold electrodes were employed as transducers and drop casting technique was used to deposit the multi walled-CNT samples. The electrical properties of the functionalized CNT samples in the exposure of CH4 gas are studied by recorded the changes of resistance using digital multimeter. Concentration of CH4 gas was varied from 1250 ppm to 10 000 ppm. The changes of electrical resistance of CNT-Amide increases with the concentration of tested gas. Sensor response of functionalized CNT are improved more than 10% as compared to pristine CNT. The sensitivity of CNT-Amide also better than CNT-Carboxyl due to the presence of nitrogen element in amide functional group which chemically active to react with CH4 gas. Additionally, fast response of CNT-Amide towards CH4 gas suggested that the functional group enhanced the rate of gas adsorption on sensing layer.
Multi walled-carbon nanotubes (CNT) functionalized with ester was used for detecting methane, CH4 gas at room temperature. Quartz substrate with interdigitated prepatterned gold electrodes was employed as transducers and drop casting method was used to deposit the CNT samples. The electrical properties of the functionalized CNT samples in the presence of CH4 gas were studied and the changes of resistance were recorded using digital multimeter. Concentration of CH4 gas was varied from 0.125 % to 1.0 %. The resistance variation of functionalized CNT increased with the concentration of tested gas. Sensor response of functionalized CNT was improved more than 10 % as compared to pristine CNT. CNT-Ester gives the higher sensitivity due to the presence of ester functional group which act as active site to react with CH4 gas. The fast response of functionalized CNT towards CH4 gas suggested that the functional group enhanced the rate of gas adsorption on sensing layer
Separation and sorting of microparticles have set foot in critical diagnostics, advanced chemical and biomedical assessment. By utilizing specific characteristics for sorting, various techniques have been developed and optimized. Evanescent field optical trapping of microparticles is one of the emerging technologies to sort and separate in a non-mechanical and non-destructively several particles simultaneously. This paper describes the studies carried out, both theoretically and experimentally, to optimize the propulsion of polymer particles on copper ion-exchanged channel waveguides, to ultimately allow for the trapping and separation of mammalian adipose tissue derived stem cells (AT-SCs) according to their size and refractive index. The propulsion of polymer particles was observed to increase with the supplied input power and with laser polarization at transverse electric (TE) mode. The propulsion of particles was demonstrated to peak on a 4μm channel width of a 1μm thick copper ion-exchanged waveguide. The work carried out provides the optimal optical and waveguide parameters to be exploited for trapping and sorting AT-SCs on copper ion-exchanged waveguides
Metal oxide particles have been studied by many researchers as potential catalysts for the production of biofuel. However, better understanding of catalysts preparation and characterisation are essential. A series of solid metal oxide catalysts were synthesised by chemical precipitation method using metal salt precursor such as magnesium nitrate hexahydrate, (Mg(NO3)2.6H2O), copper (II) nitrate tryhidrate (Cu(NO3)2.3H2O) and nickel nitrate hexahydrate, (Ni(NO3)2.6H2O ). The synthesised catalysts before and after calcination were further characterised using Thermal Gravity Analysis (TGA), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 physisorption and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis. Higher catalytic activity and higher production of biofuel may benefits from this higher surface area metal oxide catalysts synthesis by precipitation method in this work
An average number of books for a normal library is around 10,000. Finding books in a library is a cumbersome process and time consuming especially in a huge library. Besides, the cost to embed RFID tag on each book is too expensive. To overcome the problem, this paper proposed a solution for finding location of library books. The solution is using i) a smartphone application to navigate location of book, and ii) LED Blinker with Beacon Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology on bookshelf. The case study for this research is Library of Jeneral Tun Ibrahim at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) Library. This study also produces a new framework for finding books in libraries. The framework is a proof of concept that can be applied in the smart library system to assists library patrons in finding locations of books.
Epoxidized fatty hydrazides (EFHs) which have amine, amide and epoxide functional groups in their molecules are a versatile starting material for synthesizing of many industrially important compounds. In this report we describe the results of our preliminary study of synthesizing these compounds using a chemical reaction of epoxidized palm olein (EPO) and hydrazine monohydrate. The products were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique and CHN elemental analyser. The optimum reaction conditions for the hydrazide preparation were investigated by studying effect of each important reaction parameters on the product yields. The study shows that the optimum conditions to produce EFHs were using EPO to hydrazine monohydrate (mol ratio of 1 to 12), n-hexane as the solvent and at the temperature of 69 ̊C.
Advanced technology in petrochemical-based polymer has brought many benefits to mankind. However, the use of nonbiodegradable plastics materials for disposable application such as food packaging and house whole appliances are significantly disturbing and damaging the earth ecosystem. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable plastic that is brittle. Because of this nature, PLA has a limitation in its usage. The common way to improve the toughness of PLA is via adding plasticizer. This review will provide brief account on recent developments in the synthesis of lactic acid (monomer of PLA) through biological route, PLA synthesis, unique material properties of PLA and modification of those by making copolymers and composites PLA absorption and degradation
The analysis of relation between student performance and other variables in education setting is often useful in identifying influential factors on performance. Consequently, the need for adopting an effective tool to process these big data has risen. The analysis of big data will transform passive data into useful information. Data mining is referred to an analytic process designed that discovers data patterns and relationships between datasets. In this study, clustering is used to cluster student grade datasets to generate trend line clusters. The aim of the study is to assist lecturers and academic advisors to recognize the progress of their students.
This article targets all who are committed to the care of young children. Commencing with the clinical history and physical examination, the fundamentals of preventive child health offered in a well-baby clinic are highlighted. In this important clinic, the monitoring of core health components such as nutrition, growth, development and vaccination as pillars of preventive health services augments the health status of both a community and a nation. It is here that much needed information on infant nutrition in the first eighteen months of life, exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding, early growth and development, together with the provision of immunisation, is delivered. Health care provision is further strengthened by integrating knowledge with progressive dynamics of health services in line with the government’s health objectives such that communities are empowered with crucial information on preventive health. Significance to local scenarios, pertinent to parents and of importance to preventive health, with community relevance, is touched upon. In this way, it may be opportune to attempt innovative parental counsel on contextually related issues linked to the everyday care of children, whenever necessary. Of interest and given the focus of this journal, specific health concerns apropos to a military scenario, may well be further deliberated on and developed
The purpose of the study is to determine the optimal condition for mixing factors of natural cellulose or epoxy composite by using response surface method. Three mixing factors selected for the study were degassing agent content, stirring time, and sonication time. As a response, the fracture toughness of the composites was determined by using single edge notch bending test. The level of each factor was selected at 3 conditions which were low, medium, and high. The analysis of variance showed degassing agent content and sonication time were the most significant factors affecting the fracture toughness of the composite. The optimal conditions for mixing factors were 1.34 wt% degassing agent content, 5 minutes for stirring time, and 60 minutes for sonication time. The predicted fracture toughness was 1.6836 MPa.m0.5 with a desirability value of one. Three validation experiments were conducted to test the generated mathematical model and results showed the percentage difference was in the range of 6% to 15%.
Solar panel is one of the renewable energy that can reduce the environmental pollution and have a wide potential of application. The exact solar prediction module will give a big impact on the management of solar power plants and the design of solar energy systems. This paper attempts to find the best Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based logsig transfer function and various training algorithm that can be used to calculate the temperature module (Tm) in Malaysia. This can be done by simulating the collected data of four weather variables which are the ambient temperature (Ta), local wind speed (Vw), solar radiation flux (Gt) and the relative humidity (Rh) into the Neural Network Tool in MATLAB. Three different ANN transfer function and 14 types of training were compared to choose the best method. Finally, an equation for the ANN model will be generated in order to calculate the temperature module based on ambient temperature, local wind speed, solar radiation and relative humidity variables.