Skala perkembangan kanak-kanak barat seringkali digunakan di Malaysia sebagai panduan utama ibu bapa dan golongan profesional dalam memantau perkembangan kanak-kanak kerana kurangnya data rujukan yang dilaporkan serta wujud anggapan bahawa perkembangan kanak-kanak di Malaysia setara dengan perkembangan kanak-kanak di negara Barat. Walau bagaimanapun, berdasarkan kajian-kajian lepas timbul keraguan mengenai kesesuaian skala perkembangan kanak-kanak barat menilai perkembangan komunikasi kanak-kanak di Malaysia. Oleh itu, kajian rintis ini bertujuan untuk membentuk data rujukan yang boleh dijadikan panduan bagi menilai perkembangan komunikasi kanak-kanak tahap bertatih di Malaysia. Kajian ini melibatkan pengadaptasian The Integrated Scales of Development (Cochlear Ltd. 2003) bagi kanak-kanak bertatih yang berusia 16 hingga 30 bulan yang terbahagi kepada tiga subskala berdasarkan umur iaitu subskala 16 hingga 18 bulan, 19 hingga 24 bulan dan 25 hingga 30 bulan. Penilaian kesahan dan kebolehpercayaan telah dilakukan ke atas skala yang diadaptasi. Berdasarkan penilaian kesahan, dua item telah digugurkan daripada subskala 16-18 bulan dan lapan item digugurkan daripada setiap subskala 19-24 bulan dan subskala 25-30 bulan. Ujian kebolehpercayaan alfa Cronbach telah dilakukan dan didapati hanya subskala 16-18 bulan mempunyai nilai kebolehpercayaan yang tinggi (a = 0.872), manakala kedua-dua subskala 19-24 bulan dan subskala 25-30 bulan mempunyai kebolehpercayaan yang rendah (a = 0.626 dan a = 0.628) masing-masing. Secara keseluruhannya, hasil adaptasi skala ini sesuai digunakan sebagai panduan bagi memantau perkembangan komunikasi kanak-kanak dan bukannya sebagai alat penilaian yang utama.
Covering as much as 25% to 35% of the development cost, software testing is an integral part of the software development lifecycle. Despite its importance, the current software testing practice is still based on highly manual processes from the generation of test cases (i.e. from specifications) up to the actual execution of the test. These manually generated tests are sometimes executed using ad hoc approaches, typically requiring the construction of a test driver for the particular application under test. In addition, test engineers are also under pressure to test increasing lines of code in order to meet market demands for more software functionalities. While there are significant proliferations of helpful testing tools or research prototypes in the market, much of them do not adequately provide the right level of abstraction and automation as required by test engineers. In order to facilitate and address some of the aforementioned issues, an automated testing tool was developed, called SFIT, based on Java® technology. This paper describes the development, implementation and evaluation of SFIT. Two case studies involving the robustness assessment of an adder module and a Linda-based distributed shared memory implementation are described in order to demonstrate the applicability of SFIT as a helpful automated testing tool.
There were critical limitations to dysphagia services in Malaysia with speech-language pathologists’ (SLPs) reported
lacking skills and confidence in managing the disorder. This study examined the impact of providing professional
development training in dysphagia management. Aims were to determine if: (1) delivery of a training series enhances
SLPs knowledge in dysphagia management, (2) knowledge translated into improved clinical skills and (3) clinicians’
perception of their knowledge, skills and confidence improved post-training. The study used a single cohort pre- and
post-test research design and involved nine Malaysian SLPs. Participants underwent assessment at pre- and immediately
post-training and again at one month post-training. At each assessment level, knowledge and skills were assessed via a
written examination and observational assessment of clinical performance respectively. Visual analogue scales were used
to measure clinician’s perceptions of knowledge, skills and confidence. The training model involved four consecutive;
4-hour week-end workshops with opportunity to apply new knowledge and develop networking in clinical practice in
the weekdays between each session. Significant (p < 0.05) improvements in knowledge and clinical skills were observed
immediately post- and at one month after training. Clinician’s perceptions of knowledge, skills and confidence were
also significantly higher immediately post- and at one month post-training. The current 4-week structured professional
development model was found to be effective in enhancing SLPs’ knowledge and skills in dysphagia management and
improving their perceptions and confidence. The findings highlight the benefits that can be achieved through well designed
professional development programs.
Production Sharing Contract (PSC) is one of the petroleum agreements mode that
are being utilized in many parts of the world in enabling exploration, development
and production of the petroleum resources at the respective locations. It was first
introduced in Indonesia in 1966, and followed by Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and
Brunei. One of interesting aspects of PSC management is the operatorship
transferhandling when a PSC is nearing its expiry. When the time come, the
current PSC contractor as operator has the option to relinquish it to the host
authority to be handed over to other operator, farm it out to the other PSC
contractor to reduce the risk exposure or continue operating under a new PSC
terms. The most challenging will be to relinquish the operatorship to another
operator whereby several complexities will need to be adequately addressed to
ensure benefit preservation to the host authority, incoming operator and
outgoing operator. Therefore there is a need to adhere to key factors or enablers
to administer the operatorship transfer exercise if it occurs in the near future. The
key enablers would be able to address the operatorship transfer exercise
effectively with the objective to alleviate complications to the host authority,
outgoing operator and incoming operator. With the emphasized in the PETRONAS
Procedure & Guideline for Upstream Activities together with three case studies,
this paper proposed several key enablers to be considered for a PSC successful
operatorship transfer which is human resources, data management, asset
reliability and integrity management, supply chain management and good
relationship between parties. With identified key factors, it is hoped that any PSC
operatorship transfer will be able to be managed smoothly and will ensure
benefits to all parties concerned.
Computer vision is applied in many software and devices. The detection and
reconstruction of the human skeletal structure is one of area of interest, where the
camera will identify the human parts and construct the joints of the person standing in
front. Three-dimensional pose estimation is solved using various learning approaches,
such as Support Vector Machines and Gaussian processes. However, difficulties in
cluttered scenarios are encountered, and require additional input data, such as
silhouettes, or controlled camera settings. The paper focused on estimating the threedimensional
pose of a person without requiring background information, which is
robust to camera variations. Each of the joint has three-dimensional space position and
matrix orientation with respect to the sensor. Matlab Simulink was utilized to provide
communication tools with depth camera using Kinect device for skeletal detection.
Results on the skeletal detection using Kinect sensor is analysed in measuring the
abilities to detect skeletal structure accurately, and it is shown that the system is able
to detect human skeletal performing non-complex basic motions in daily life.
This paper aim is to design an education kit for wastewater system that can maintain
the standard parameters of neutralized wastewater by maintaining the suitable pH
(Potential Hydronium) level and temperature of the wastewater from industry by using
fuzzy controller. This study is capable to control the unwanted bacteria by automatic
regulatory and monitoring the temperature, pH and water level. Fuzzy logic method is
use to control and monitor pH level as well as the temperature during clarifying process
because pH control process is a complex physical-chemistry process of strong
individuality of time-varying and non-linearity properties. Pumps used in the prototype
need to be controlled precisely to enable either acid or base to be pumped into mix
tank of the wastewater treatment. The control and monitoring system, which has been
designed through LabVIEW front panel will ease end user in inspection of the
parameters involve in wastewater treatment. The entire system output could be
observed remotely in Data Dashboard application in smartphone or tablet. The GUI
was designed and interfaced with the prototype constructed to carry out the process
of controlling and monitoring the required parameters. Few tests were conducted
repetitively to analyse the performance of the system parameters. It was found that
the controlled set point fixed within the range of pH 7.6-8.4, temperature 25-29.44
Celsius and water level of 20cm in this research that was effectively achieved in the
entire test conducted. In addition, the wastewater system accuracy and performance
is 96.72% and 90.22% respectively.
Mobile Guide technologies in public spaces, particularly museum are not new and have changed the way visitors’ access information during their visit. Smartphone applications (apps) are increasingly popular because it can be accessed before, during and after the museum visits. This has impacted the way exhibitions are designed and the resulting visitor experience. Therefore, it is important to measure what effect the use of smartphone technology has on visitor experience. An “in the wild” study was conducted to investigate visitor experience in Islamic Art museum, both with and without Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) Mobile Guide (smartphone apps). A total of 55 participants took part in the study. The Museum Experience Scale (MES) was used to measure visitor experience, whilst the Multimedia Guide Scale (MMGS) was used to measure visitors’ experiences with the IAMM Mobile Guide. Results showed that scores on all components of MES suggested a positive experience at the IAMM with the component of meaningful experience being the highest score, followed by the component of knowledge and learning. Scores on the MMGS also showed a positive experience in using the mobile guide with learnability and control scored the highest, followed by general usability.
This paper details a study conducted to evaluate the performance of cold in-place recycling (CIPR) using polymer modified asphalt emulsion (PMAE). The asphalt emulsion was modified using natural rubber latex (NRL). Four proportions of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) which are 0%, 25%, 50% and 75% were mixed with natural aggregates and modified asphalt emulsion using natural rubber latex (NRL). The results showed that the optimum modified asphalt emulsion for each proportion of RAP decreased due to the increase in RAP content. Results obtained from Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS) and Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS) test for the mixes complied with the requirements of the Road Engineering Association of Malaysia (REAM) specifications. The unsoaked and soaked ITS values obtained were 0.2 MPa and 0.15 MPa respectively, and the minimum compressive strength of CIPR mix obtained was 0.7 MPa. Based on the evaluation of performance for the four RAP proportions, it was determined that 50% of RAP gave the best combination of the CIPR mixture.
This paper investigates the effect of acid and silane treatment of Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) on wear properties of epoxy polymer composite. The wear test done was based on ASTM D3389 standard using the Abrasive Wear Tester (TR 600). Characterisation analysis was also done using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) in order to study the dispersion of the CNT inside the epoxy matrix. When untreated CNT was added to the epoxy with amounts of 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 wt%, the wear rates did not improve except for 0.5 wt% CNT filled epoxy. This was due to the lack of dispersion which causes larger chunks of material being dug out, thus contributing to a higher mass loss and wear rate. When treated with acid and silane, 0.75 wt% and 1.0 wt% CNT filled epoxy composites showed improvement. The TEM images of 0.5 wt%, 0.75 wt% and 1.0 wt% PCNT filled epoxy supported the claim of the lack of dispersion of PCNT inside the epoxy.
In an earlier study, a three-fingered robot hand was developed for assembly work. Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control was used to control the position of a DC micromotor measured by an encoder. However, PID control alone could not cater the nonlinearities due to friction of gears and varying loads applied to the finger. Therefore, in order to develop an intelligent control algorithm in future, the effects of varying PID gains need to be investigated to distinguish the optimal value that could produce the best transient response performance. This paper discusses the effect of varying PID gains on position transient response of the joint motor of robot hand through real-time experiments. Several ranges of KP, KI and KD were identified based on the required transient response parameters such as percentage overshoot (%OS), settling time (TS) of within 2%, steady state error (SSE) and rise time (TR). The gains are tuned across the range by a fixed interval with the tuning order starting from KP, KI and KD. It can be observed that the suitable ranges of PID are 0.3 to 0.5 for KP, 1.15 to 1.45 for KI and 0.10 to 0.14 for KD. Meanwhile, the optimum value of 0.4, 1.45 and 0.10 for KP, KI and KD respectively is found to produce 0 of % OS, 5.09 sec of TS and 2.48 sec of TR. Hence, the gains can be applied to the development of an improved position control using intelligent method for the robot hand in future works.
Pemetaan dengan menggunakan kaedah pantulan bunyi telah menemukan satu permukaan lantai laut yang unik dengan ciri morfologi yang pelbagai bermula dari kawasan pesisir laut cetek Delta Sungai Kelantan hingga ke pelantar benua Laut China Selatan. Morfologi lantai laut menunjukkan peningkatan sehingga 38 m ke arah pelantar benua. Empat rentasan lantai laut menunjukkan kemiringan yang kurang daripada 1° dengan nilai antara 0.05° dan 0.57°, menunjukkan penurunan yang sekata sehingga pelantar benua. Suatu tindakan mekanisme pencetus telah menyebabkan fenomena lompatan hidraulik berlaku dan membentuk ketakseragaman morfologi lantai laut dan menghasilkan satu lohong hitam sedalam 26 m dari lantai laut sekitarnya dan pembentukan satu beting pasir yang mempunyai ketinggian sehingga 8 m dari permukaan laut dengan keluasan sekitar 9 km2. Penentuan fenomena yang terhasil dikukuhkan dengan penemuan empat kontur tertutup yang dikenal pasti sebagai kaviti kecil di tiga kawasan yang berbeza. Kesemua fitur dan perubahan morfologi yang berlaku di kawasan lantai laut ini terhasil daripada jatuhan air dari mulut Sungai Kelantan yang berterusan dengan kadar kelajuan berbeza bergantung kepada pelepasan air dan musim monsun.
Band ratio combination has been proven to be one of the most useful image processing methods for lithological
discrimination, as discussed by many researchers in the past. In this study, bands from Landsat 5 TM were used to generate
different ratio combinations to discriminate the different lithologies of two islands located at the southern end of the
Langkawi archipelago, specifically the Dayang Bunting and Tuba Islands. Both islands comprise similar lithological
units – namely, limestone/marble (Permian & Silurian-Ordovician), granite and alluvium. There are two rock formations
that are limestone/marble dominated. The first is known as the Chuping Formation, which consists of limestone/marble
and the other is the Setul Formation, which consists of not only limestone/marble but also of two detrital intervals.
Different ratio combinations obtained from past researchers and that was produced from this study were tested on the
image of the Dayang Bunting and Tuba Islands to identify the best ratio combinations that were able to discriminate the
different lithologies for both islands. A total of 28 combinations were performed to examine which combinations are the
most effective. From the 28 combinations, three were identified as the most suitable; 4/3 5/2 3/1, 5/3 4/3 4/1 and 4/2 5/3
4/3 in the RGB sequence. These combinations enhanced the spectral differences of each lithology unit so that it can be
distinguished easily. Apart from the difference in the spectral response, the texture of the lithologies was also enhanced
to assist in discriminating the different units.
This study aimed compares the reliability of subjectively graded real-image pterygium based on its translucence appearance between experienced clinicians. Thirty (30) primary pterygium images from 30 pterygium patients were captured in a standardized magnification, illumination and formatting setting as previously described. All images were projected using PowerPoint presentation™ on liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor with standard resolution. Two experienced clinicians act as a grader and grade all images based on reference images provided. For reliability testing, intra-grader assessment was repeated twice with different sequence at least a month apart between each session. Both clinicians were given a set of 30 randomized pterygium images for all sessions. Reliability testing were evaluated using paired T-test and independent T-test. Descriptive analysis revealed observer 1 obtained mean grade of 2.33 (SD = 0.758) and 2.30 (SD = 0.837) for session 1 and 2 respectively. Observer 2 obtained 2.30 (SD = 0.702) and 2.17 (SD = 0.791) for session 1 and 2 respectively. Paired T-test results showed the difference for both observers were not statistically significant for both observer 1 and 2 (P = 0.662 and P = 0.293) respectively. Reproducibility testing using Independent T-test results showed the difference between observers was not statistically significant (P = 0.769). Subjectively graded pterygium clinical grading based on its translucence appearance was repeatable and reproducible. These findings could serve as basis for future work on to evaluate performance of pterygium clinical grading based on its morphology with different level of experience and larger number of samples.
The Early Permian to Late Triassic limestone of Chuping Formation in Bukit Tungku Lembu consists of six microfacies
and exhibits various types of diagenetic products, reflecting it’s complicated diagenetic history. Out of 89 samples
collected for petrographic studies, six major microfacies have been identified, namely brecciated limestone, dolomites,
mudstones, wackestones, packstones and grainstones. Four major diagenetic processes comprising micritization,
cementation, compaction and dolomitization have also been identified. Micritization occurs as the first phase diagenesis
after the sediments were deposited on the sea floor, followed by cementation in the marine environment and also in
meteoric environments when the shallow marine carbonate at some points in time was subjected to subaerial exposure.
Early burial were indicated by fractures and deformation as well as destruction of grains whole structure. Increasing
pressure during deeper burial has produced dissolution seams and stylolites. Dolomitization also occurred in the deeper
burial environments
Enzim RNA-bergantung RNA polimerase adalah sasaran dadah yang menarik untuk mengubati jangkitan denggi. Analog
nukleosida menyerupai substrat asal enzim polimerase. Ia bertindak sebagai perencat atau substrat kepada enzim ini lalu
menyebabkan penamatan pramatang bebenang DNA/RNA atau penghasilan DNA/RNA yang rosak. Ini akan menghentikan
proses replikasi virus. Kajian dok molekul untuk mengenal pasti interaksi molekular antara enzim dan ligannya telah
dilakukan berdasarkan maklumat yang diperoleh berkenaan struktur kristal domain RdRp. Tapak pengikat-ligan domain
RdRp yang terdiri daripada sisa asid amino Asn492, Asn405, Lys401, Thr605 dan Gly601 telah dikenal pasti setelah
pengedokan analog nukleosida yang boleh didapati secara komersial dijalankan. Pengedokan analog nukleosida yang
menyerupai substrat asal RdRp ke dalam tapak pengikat menunjukkan mod pengikat-ligan dengan ikatan hidrogen,
aromatik-π dan interaksi cas adalah interaksi utama yang terlibat. Kajian ini juga memberi maklumat berkenaan
farmakofor analog nukleosida yang boleh digunakan dalam reka-bentuk dadah berasaskan struktur terhadap sasaran
penting ini.
Pencirian butiran kuarza berskala mikro dengan menggunakan mikroskop pengimbas elektron (SEM) menemukan beberapa jenis kuarza yang mempunyai tekstur dan morfologi butiran kuarza berbeza. Penggunaan kaedah ini telah berjaya mengenal pasti enam jenis butiran kuarza iaitu kuarza jenis A, B, C, D, E dan F. Pengelasan dibuat berdasarkan tekstur dan morfologi butiran yang menggambarkan sejarah pengangkutan (proses mekanik) dan pengendapan yang telah dilalui oleh butiran kuarza tersebut. Keenam-enam jenis kuarza tersebut diterbitkan oleh dua faktor geologi iaitu genetik butiran kuarza dan proses mekanik semasa pengangkutan. Hasil daripada pembahagian faktor ini, dua wilayah taburan jenis butiran kuarza telah dikenal pasti iaitu wilayah I dan wilayah II. Wilayah I mencirikan kuarza yang mengalami proses mekanik lemah sehingga sederhana dan dikenal pasti sebagai sedimen Resen yang diangkut melalui Sungai Kelantan sebelum dienapkan ke dalam kawasan lembangan Laut China Selatan. Sedimen Resen ini menunjukkan tekstur permukaan yang tidak kasar dicirikan oleh tanda V berdiameter < 2 μm atau tiada dan berbentuk bulat hingga bersegi. Manakala, wilayah II pula mempunyai butiran kuarza yang telah mengalami proses mekanik yang sederhana tinggi sehingga sangat tinggi. Sedimen yang dicerap di wilayah II ini merupakan campuran sedimen Resen dan sedimen baki yang terdiri daripada sedimen sub-arkos lautan yang telah dienapkan sejak 5000 tahun lampau. Sedimen sub-arkos lautan ini mengalami beberapa kali proses mekanik yang menghasilkan tekstur yang kasar, tanda V <2 μm hingga >2 μm dan lelasan yang tinggi pada permukaan kuarza dan morfologi yang bulat hingga hampir sfera.
Tilapia is a popular freshwater fish and among the important cultured fish grown worldwide. In this study, fish protein
hydrolysate was produced from tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) by-product (TB) and tilapia muscle (TM) through enzymatic
hydrolysis using alcalase. The TB and TM protein hydrolysates were evaluated for its characteristics in terms of angiotensin
I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition activity, peptide size distribution, and functional properties. Hydrolysis for 1 h for
TB and TM successfully produced low molecular weight peptides (<14.2kDa) with the highest ACE inhibitory activities.
The findings also demonstrated that both samples have high nitrogen solubility (>80% at pH2-9) and good emulsifying,
water and oil holding capacities. The study indicated that tilapia protein hydrolysates have the potential to be used as
functional food products.
Introduction: The interpretations of printed panoramic radiographs film frequently depend on personal judgements analysis by observers. The findings correlations between more than two observers must consider statistical tool which can determine that sometimes the observers will agree or disagree merely by chance. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) generally measures the degree of similarity among individuals within a cluster. Kappa statistic is the most frequently applied statistical analysis for this reason. This study aims to determine the validity of utilising printed panoramic radiographs for assessing dental anomalies and inter-examiner reliability in detecting dental anomalies observed within the panoramic radiographs. Methods: Twenty samples of printed versions of orthopantomogram (OPG) were arbitrarily selected from the AMDI Dental Clinic. Radiographic analyses were conducted twice, Trial 1 and Trial 2, with two-week intervals in between. Ten (10) printed OPG films were used in each session. During both assessments, incidence of dental anomalies was determined. All twenty OPGs were examined and analysed by the principal investigator and two independent examiners according to the inclusion and exclusion criterias. The data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 23. Results: The results of ICC for Trials 1 and 2 were 0.961 and 0.984, respectively. Conclusion: The outcomes demonstrated that the printed OPG films can be used to detect dental anomalies and inter-examiner dependability was in very good assertion for both trials, hence printed OPG films that satisfy the inclusion and exclusion criterias can be utilised for assessing dental anomalies as shown by the reliable ICC values in this study.
Fish protein hydrolysate was recovered from tilapia by-product (TB) through enzymatic hydrolysis using alcalase enzyme. Hydrolysis reaction of TB was monitored according to the degree of hydrolysis (DH) by employing O-phtaldialdehyde (OPA) method. Optimization process for obtaining high yield of TB protein hydrolysate was performed using response surface methodology (RSM) by optimizing a combination of four independent variables namely, pH (6.5-8.5), temperature (55-70oC), substrate concentration (10-17.5% w/v), and enzyme concentration (1.5-3.5% w/w) with (DH) as a response. The optimum enzymatic hydrolysis conditions were obtained at pH 7.5, temperature of 60oC, substrate concentration of 15% (w/v) and 2.5% (w/w) of enzyme concentration and yielded about 20.20% of DH after hydrolyzing for 120 min. RSM generated model predicted that 20.42% of DH could be achieved at these conditions and this model was valid based on the DH value obtained from the experimental study (20.31%) which was quite similar with the predicted value. High yield of DH obtained from the optimization process could produce fish protein hydrolysate with good nutritional and functional properties.
Adnexal masses are growths that form near the uterus; the majority being ovarian tumours. Although
there is no established population-screening tool for detecting ovarian cancer, ultrasound and contrastenhanced
computed tomography (CECT) are useful imaging tools in the management of adnexal masses.
Our study aimed to determine the characteristics of malignant adnexal masses on CECT scan and to
describe common pitfalls in diagnosis of ovarian cancer when interpreting images. We also determined the
sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing ovarian cancer using CECT. A retrospective study was conducted
in Hospital Serdang using data from all patients who underwent CECT scan and detected with adnexal
masses, and had histopathological examination correlation from January 2013 until January 2015. Out of
the 64 cases analysed; the majority of malignant lesions were serous carcinoma of the ovary (40%). The
CECT scan characteristics, tumour consistency of mixed type, presence of wall enhancement, septations,
ascites and peritoneal nodule/omental caking were significantly associated with ovarian malignancy
(p