This paper presents experimental findings derived from high velocity impact tests on woven-roving Glass
Fibre-Reinforced Polymers (GFRP) Type E-800 g/m² and Type C-600 g/m². The effects on specimen
thickness, projectile shape and gas gun pressure were investigated. As the gas gun pressure increases,
there is a proportional increase in the projectile kinetic energy, the projectile initial velocity, the maximum
force exerted on the specimens and in energy absorption upon impact. During the test, the shape of the
projectile, the target thickness and the gas gun pressure significantly affected the impact performance of
the GFRP. From the experiment, it was found that GFRP Type E-800 g/m² is stronger and more impact
resistant compared with GFRP Type C-600 g/m², due to the fact that E-glass materials have higher fibre
volume and density and overall better mechanical properties than C-glass fibres. Therefore, GFRP Type
E-800 g/m² composites should be considered for applications in load and impact bearing aircraft structures.
This study describes the adaptations of diatoms, Cylindrotheca fusiformis and other marine diatoms, in a new formulated enriched medium Tris-phosphate seawater (TP-SW). The medium was designed to maintain long-term cultures of wide-range marine diatoms in laboratory that produces high biomass of cultures. The diatoms were adapted and cultivated in the medium for 15 days and the number of cells was recorded daily. It was found that the number of cells declined after two weeks indicating death phase of the cells. This indicates that the TP-SW medium has supported the growth of diatoms during the period and can be used to cultivate diatoms in vitro. Studies on the TP-SW medium must be done to obtain optimal medium that can provide not only a conducive environment for the survival of diatoms but also high biomass production.
Having cooperation between multiple autonomous devices against one task is difficult due to each
device having their own decision management based on self-deterministic protocol. Within the selfdeterministic
protocol, a formation management task should be considered along another task in order
to provide cooperation and consideration between the operating autonomous devices. In this research,
a compound learning control system for formation management of multiple control agents is proposed
by managing coordination between multiple autonomous agents along with other tasks simultaneously
in an operation. A series of simulation based on an autonomous robot was conducted to evaluate the
effectiveness of learning through compound knowledge for providing consideration among achieving
goals or coordination configuration against partner robot. The proposed system was able to provide
consideration in coordination among operating partners in a task of achieving goal.
In recent years, digital cameras have become one of the tools used by the new generation due to their unique advantages in capturing and processing data and usage in many applications, such as crop growth, forest monitoring and archaeological investigation. The quality of images captured by digital cameras originate from accurate measurements which are allied to the digital internal camera parameters. Instability of geometric cameras require consideration to achieve good accuracy in measurement. Therefore, camera calibration becomes an important task to ensure the stability of all internal camera parameters. This research is aimed to assess the internal camera parameters of non-metric cameras. The quantitative method was adapted by this research, which required an experimental implementation achieve quality in data acquisition. Several camera parameters needed to be emphasised in regard to camera calibration, which consisted of focal length, offset main point, radial lens distortion, and distortion of tangent lenses. The offset main point represents the image centre coordinates while the distortion of tangent lenses ensures image quality during image acquisition. The study found that Nikon SLR D60 camera provided a higher accuracy as compared to DJI 4 pro and iPad mini 4 cameras. In conclusion, all non-metric cameras can be used for mapping but it will provide various accuracy levels.
Biocellulose (BC), produced by Acetobacter xylinum (0416), was carried out using three types of medium
composition under static surface culture. The media used in this experiment included CWHSM (Coconut
water in Hestrin-Schramm medium), CM (Complex medium) and HSM (Hestrin-Schramm medium).
CWHSM and CM used coconut water from agro-waste as the main source of sugar. The fermentation
was conducted for 12 days and the results of BC dry weight, cell entrapped, pH medium and productivity
were evaluated and compared. The results show that CWHSM is the most suitable medium for BC
production with a productivity of up to 0.044 g l
-1
day
-1
.
This paper reviewed the aspect of fatigue approaches and analysis in a fibre reinforced composite materials which have been done by researchers worldwide. The aim of this review is to provide a better picture on analytical approaches that are presently available for predicting fatigue life in composite materials. This review also proposes a new interpretation of available theories and identifies area in fatigue of natural fibre reinforced composite materials. Thus, it was concluded there are still very limited studies on fatigue analysis of natural fibre reinforced composite materials, especially using non-destructive technique (NDT) methods and a new mathematical modelling on fatigue should be formulated.
Rough neutrosophic multisets are an improved model of generalization pf neutrosophic multisets represented within the Pawlak’s boundary set of information: lower and upper approximation. The concepts of rough neutrosophic multisets can be easily extended to a relation, mainly since a relation is also a set, i.e. a subset of a Cartesian product. This paper establishes an axiomatic definition of rough neutrosophic multisets relation of Cartesian product over a universal set. Some of the operations and properties of rough neutrosophic multisets, such as max, min, the composition of two rough neutrosophic multisets relation and inverse rough neutrosophic multisets relation, are studied with a proven condition. An algorithm of rough neutrosophic multisets relation is also presented as a step followed to obtain the rough neutrosophic multisets relation. Successful analysis using rough neutrosophic multisets relation theory is represented by the illustrative example of expert opinion about automobile popularity. In conclusion, with a specified condition in uncertainty information, rough neutrosophic multiset relations are generalized in terms of the relation properties of a rough fuzzy relation, rough intuitionistic fuzzy relation, and rough neutrosophic relation over universal. Subsequently, their properties could also be examined.
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
Human platelets are anucleate cells that lack in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), thus hampering genomic study on them. However, the presence of their own messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) transcript allows functional study via the transcriptome approach. Transcriptome not only allows profiling of platelet but also aids in studying gene regulation in virus infections and other diseases that have an impact on platelets. Some viruses are known to affect the platelet either by causing a reduction or destruction. Dengue virus is one of the most postulated virus having such effect and frequently linked to platelet reduction. The transcriptome approach has a pivotal role in providing a deeper insight to link certain diseases and their effect on platelets. This review critically discusses role of platelet in dengue and other viral diseases of public health relevance, with a specific focus on the methods currently used in platelet transcriptome profiling.
Respiratory metabolism of the larvae of Malaysian horseshoe crab Tachypleus gigas (Müller) was studied under different salinities, pH, and temperature. The trend in oxygen consumption was uniform at all salinities, ranging from 10-40 ppt, indicating insignificant influence on the oxygen consumption by the larvae. Similarly, the correlation coefficient values showed that the relationship between oxygen consumption and salinity was not significant (P > 0.05; r = 0.245). During the first three hours, the oxygen consumption was 8.89, 10.72, 17.4, and 12.06% at 10, 20, 30, and 40 ppt salinities, respectively. Meanwhile, the maximum oxygen consumption was recorded after 12 hrs, i.e. at salinity 20 ppt. A sudden drop in oxygen consumption was recorded during 3-6 hours of the experiment. This was followed by a gradual increase in the consumption of oxygen up to 12 hours of experiment. A similar trend in the oxygen consumption was observed in different pH levels, ranging from 5 to 9. At pH 6 and 9, during the first six hour, a moderate consumption of oxygen was observed. However, at pH 6, 7 and 8, the rates of oxygen consumption were found to be relatively greater after six hours, indicating unfavourable conditions. The data were statistically tested and it was found that a high degree of correlations existed between pH and oxygen consumption (r = 0.97). The analysis of covariance showed a significant relationship between oxygen consumption and pH (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, minimal variation in oxygen consumption was recorded between 30 and 40oC, with a
gradual decrease in dissolved oxygen concentration up to 12 hours of experimental time. At 50oC,
almost all dissolved oxygen was consumed by the larvae. The rate of oxygen consumption between
30 and 40oC was low during the first 9 hours of the experiment but it was significantly increased at later hours. A sudden increase in the oxygen consumption was recorded at 50oC, suggesting that it
might be the most unfavourable temperature condition. Meanwhile, a significant relationship was
observed between temperature and oxygen consumption (P < 0.05; r = 0.98).
The global Tuberculosis epidemic (TB) poses a significant public health threat. While the consequences of TB treatment interruption are indisputable, the knowledge about the timing and prognostic factors of TB treatment interruption is fundamental. Despite a considerable amount of evaluation, the timing and prognostic factors of TB treatment interruption have been inconsistently identified from one study to another. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the evidence obtained from published literature on the timing and prognostic factors of TB treatment interruption at different points of the treatment course. In this review, three databases namely Pubmed, Scopus, and Science Direct were used to identify articles published from January 2003 to February 2018. This was based on the inclusion criteria and keywords including ‘default’, ‘survival time’, ‘tuberculosis’, and ‘treatment interruption’. The nine selected studies were prospective and retrospective cohort studies conducted in developing countries. The diversity of the study’s participants and TB treatment interruption definition were allowed, thus delineating a heterogeneous finding. This review suggests that the interruption predominantly occurred during the maintenance phase of treatment course. Despite the finding, a considerable gap in understanding the prognostic factors at different time points of TB treatment interruption was elicited. The heterogeneity across the studies may limit the inferences and warrant further evaluation. In essence, the time-related information should be integrated into framing impactful public health strategy, while a vigorous attempt on the evaluation of the cognitive, behavioural and psychosocial aspects may be beneficial.
The information on the combustion properties of local timber is crucial in Malaysia as the archival material related to this subject matter is found to be very limited in scope and incomplete. The heat release rate (HRR) is the most precious variable of combustion properties as it provides the key to understand and quantify the hazard in fires. Thus, this work is to verify the reliability of the HRR obtained from cone calorimeter tests conducted upon six Malaysian wood species: Shorea laevis, Vatica rassak, Koompassia malaccensis, Heritiera, Shorea parvifolia and Cratoxylum arborescens. The single factor one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to investigate statistically significant differences between the means of the HRR dataset of each species during the combustion tests at three different heat fluxes. Later, the confidence interval estimation was occupied to determine the range around the HRR dataset, where the means of the data was likely to be found. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) test was also implemented to assess the reliability of the heat release rate data obtained from the cone calorimeter test. From the surveillance, the P-values of all the six species were higher than α = 0.05, insinuating that the difference between the means of the dataset was not statistically significant. The confidence interval values consisting of the upper bound and lower bound limits indicate that the certainty that these ranges contain the true mean of the heat release rate dataset is 95%. Finally, the fact that heat release data received from the cone calorimeter test were highly reliable to statistically calculate the variation in measurements taken by a single instrument under the same condition confirmed by the ICC’s values of 0.82 to 0.99 that reflect good to excellent correlations.
Timber is one of the most sustainable and renewable raw materials available. Globally, it has been increasingly used for the manufacture of home and workplace furniture. Timber products are known to have ignition resistance and a low heat release rate. These characteristics delay burning and maintain the structural durability of a product, protecting both the occupants and their properties in a fire. Timber, however, experiences thermal degradation during combustion, yielding smoke, heat, toxic gases, and char when burned. To understand the fire conduct of timber, extensive knowledge in its process of decomposition is essential. This paper, therefore, reviewed the methods of flammability tests widely employed to investigate the reaction of timber and timber-based product to fire, namely cone calorimeter test, room-corner test, limiting oxygen index (LOI) test, furnace test, and single burning item test (SBI). In addition, an overview of the fire retardant treatments; impregnation and coatings was also presented. The potential effects of fire retardants on the durability, strength, hygroscopicity, corrosion, machinability, glueing characteristics, and paintability of the timber were also highlighted.
The purpose of this research is to analyse the influence of change management and e-learning in Malaysian private higher education institutions focusing on educators’ perspectives. The conceptual framework was modified in combination of various theories from Systemic Change Models and E-learning Cycle Models. A self-administered questionnaire adapted from Siebel 4.0-2 Survey Questionnaires (SSQ) by Hambling, 2010 was the data collection instrument. The sample consisted of educators from private higher education institutions with visions or missions based on e-learning implementation in Malaysia. As per findings, through review of the visions and missions, the selected private higher education institutions integrated teaching and learning with Stepwise Multiple regression analysis, has a significant relationship on independent variables that contribute to e-learning implementation.
The abuse of antibiotics usage in bird industry has resulted in the emerging antibiotic resistant Enterococci worldwide which has posed a threat clinically to human health. The present study was to screen and identify the potential virulence agents in antibiotic resistance E. faecalis in bird industry in Borneo. Enterococcus bacteria collected from the birds’ faeces and indoor air inside ten birdhouses were identified to species level and their antibiotic resistance was checked using antibiotic susceptibility discs. Specific primers using PCR assay were intended for the detection of four potential virulence genes (ace, AS, efaA, gelE). Out of the thirty-seven Enterococci faecal bacteria, the prevailing bacteria found were Enterococcus qallinacum (51%), Enterococcus faecalis (35%) and Enterococcus harae (8%). The airborne bacteria were reported as Enterococcus faecalis (5%) and Enterococcus qallinacum (1%). Twenty-seven percent of isolates were reported to have Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index ≥ 0.2 with 9 distinct resistance patterns formed. E. faecalis showed higher resistance to vancomycin. Virulence genes were successfully reported in the 15 E. faecalis isolates. Sixty-seven percent of isolates were detected positive for four virulence genes, 27% possessed three (AS, efaA, gelE) genes and 6% possessed two (ace, AS) genes. Antibiotic resistance and virulence genes detection were significantly correlated. These virulence genes or antibiotic resistance genes were important in the pathogenesis of E. faecalis infections.
In this study, residual oil from oil palm decanter cake (OPDC) was recovered using n-hexane through Soxhlet extraction process. The residual oil recovered was analysed for its physical and chemical properties. The oil content, moisture, Free Fatty Acid (FFA), Peroxide Value (PV), Iodine Value (IV), Deterioration of Bleachability Index (DOBI) and carotene were measured as 15.43±0.45% (dry), 70.96±0.14%, 6.42±0.11%, 4.37±0.04 meq/kg, 53.28±0.02 g/100 g, 1.93±0.03 and 833.20±39 ppm respectively. The results showed that its fatty acid composition, carotene and IV were comparable with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) standard for crude palm oil (CPO), whilst the properties of the other value had slightly exceeded due to oxidation during the extraction process.
Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT)-based image compression techniques have been utilized in most of the earth observation (EO) satellites launched during the last few decades, since they have proved to be more efficient than other methods used previously with remote sensing multispectral imaging payloads. The efficiency of these techniques is mainly due to their high compression ratio that can be achieved while maintaining the quality of the compressed image. Also, they are considered multi-resolution compression techniques. However, these techniques are considered computationally demanding, due to their complex and sophisticated hardware. Due to the limited computational resources available on-board small satellites, they are considered one of the important criteria when choosing the satellite image compression method, along with the compression ratio and quality of the reconstructed image. Hence, an alternative DWT-based method was proposed, developed and implemented in this work with the aim of reducing the computational resources on-board a small satellite, replacing the regular DWT thresholding and quantization processes that are usually used to achieve lossy compression, with the zero-padding technique. This method will also help to control the change in the compression ratio and quality of the reconstructed image according to the end-user’s scientific needs of the satellite image. The
results of this work indicated, objectively and subjectively, that a decrease in the computational resources required on-board satellites was achieved by decreasing the processing time needed to complete the compression, without a significant difference in quality of the image reconstructed at the ground station.
Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing are geospatial technologies that have been used for many years in environmental studies, including gathering and analysing of information on the physical parameters of wildlife habitats and modelling of habitat assessments. The home range estimation provided in a GIS environment offers a viable method of quantifying habitat use and facilitating a better understanding of species and habitat relationships. This study used remote sensing, GIS and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) application tools as methods to assess the habitat parameters preference of Asian elephant. Satellite images and topographical maps were used for the environmental and topographical habitat parameter generation encompassing land use-land cover (LULC), Normalized Digital Vegetation Index (NDVI), water sources, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), slope and aspect. The kernel home range was determined using elephant distribution data from satellite tracking, which were then analysed using habitat parameters to investigate any possible relationship. Subsequently, the frequency of the utilization distribution of elephants was further analysed using spatial and geostatistical analyses. This was followed by the use of AHP for identifying habitat preference, selection of significant habitat parameters and classification of criterion. The habitats occupied by the elephants showed that the conservation of these animals would require good management practices within and outside of protected areas so as to ensure the level of suitability of the habitat, particularly in translocation areas.
Feature descriptor for image retrieval has emerged as an important part of computer vision and image analysis application. In the last decades, researchers have used algorithms to generate effective, efficient and steady methods in image processing, particularly shape representation, matching and leaf retrieval. Existing leaf retrieval methods are insufficient to achieve an adequate retrieval rate due to the inherent difficulties related to available shape descriptors of different leaf images. Shape analysis and comparison for plant leaf retrieval are investigated in this study. Different image features may result in different significance interpretation of images, even though they come from almost similarly shaped of images. A new image transform, known as harmonic mean projection transform (HMPT), is proposed in this study as a feature descriptor method to extract leaf features. By using harmonic mean function, the signal carries information of greater importance is considered in signal acquisition. The selected image is extracted from the whole region where all the pixels are considered to get a set of features. Results indicate better classification rates when compared with other classification methods.
The building sector consumes about forty percent of world energy, making energy efficiency in existing buildings an important issue. This study has been undertaken to investigate energy consumption of a building that has been redesigned to incorporate energy efficient features. It was found that the introduction of energy efficient features has helped to achieve savings up to 46% of the total spent on energy particularly based on electricity bills.