Abstract: The liberalisation of the education industry has
exposed the institute of higher learning (IHL) in Malaysia to the
financial challenges. Without good financial standing, public
institution will rely on the government funding. Ostensibly, this
contradicts with the government’s aspiration to make universities
self-sufficient. With stiff competition from private institutes of higher
learning, IHL need to be prepared at the forefront level. The
corporate identity itself is the entrance to the world of higher learning
and it is in this uniqueness, it will be able to distinguish itself from
competitors. This paper examined the perception of the stakeholders
at one of the public universities in the east coast region in Malaysia
on the perceived reputation and how the university communicate its
preparedness for self-sustainability through corporate identity. The
findings indicated while the stakeholders embraced the challenges in
facing the stiff competition and struggling market conditions, most of
them felt the university should put more efforts in mobilising the
corporate identity to its constituencies.
Abstract: The purposes of hydraulic gate are to maintain the
functions of storing and draining water. It bears long-term hydraulic
pressure and earthquake force and is very important for reservoir and
waterpower plant. The high tensile strength of steel plate is used as
constructional material of hydraulic gate. The cracks and rusts,
induced by the defects of material, bad construction and seismic
excitation and under water respectively, thus, the mechanics
phenomena of gate with crack are probing into the cause of stress
concentration, induced high crack increase rate, affect the safety and
usage of hydroelectric power plant. Stress distribution analysis is a
very important and essential surveying technique to analyze
bi-material and singular point problems. The finite difference
infinitely small element method has been demonstrated, suitable for
analyzing the buckling phenomena of welding seam and steel plate
with crack. Especially, this method can easily analyze the singularity
of kink crack. Nevertheless, the construction form and deformation
shape of some gates are three-dimensional system. Therefore, the
three-dimensional Digital Image Correlation (DIC) has been
developed and applied to analyze the strain variation of steel plate with
crack at weld joint. The proposed Digital image correlation (DIC)
technique is an only non-contact method for measuring the variation of
test object. According to rapid development of digital camera, the cost
of this digital image correlation technique has been reduced.
Otherwise, this DIC method provides with the advantages of widely
practical application of indoor test and field test without the restriction
on the size of test object. Thus, the research purpose of this research is
to develop and apply this technique to monitor mechanics crack
variations of weld steel hydraulic gate and its conformation under
action of loading. The imagines can be picked from real time
monitoring process to analyze the strain change of each loading stage.
The proposed 3-Dimensional digital image correlation method,
developed in the study, is applied to analyze the post-buckling
phenomenon and buckling tendency of welded steel plate with crack.
Then, the stress intensity of 3-dimensional analysis of different
materials and enhanced materials in steel plate has been analyzed in
this paper. The test results show that this proposed three-dimensional
DIC method can precisely detect the crack variation of welded steel
plate under different loading stages. Especially, this proposed DIC
method can detect and identify the crack position and the other flaws
of the welded steel plate that the traditional test methods hardly detect
these kind phenomena. Therefore, this proposed three-dimensional
DIC method can apply to observe the mechanics phenomena of
composite materials subjected to loading and operating.
Abstract: NiFe2O4 (nickel ferrite), ZnFe2O4 (zinc ferrite) and
Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 (nickel-zinc ferrite) were prepared by
mechanochemical route in a planetary ball mill starting from mixture
of the appropriate quantities of the Ni(OH)2/Fe(OH)3,
Zn(OH)2/Fe(OH)3 and Ni(OH)2/Zn(OH)2/Fe(OH)3 hydroxide
powders. In order to monitor the progress of chemical reaction and
confirm phase formation, powder samples obtained after 25 h, 18 h
and 10 h of milling were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD),
transmission electron microscopy (TEM), IR, Raman and Mössbauer
spectroscopy. It is shown that the soft mechanochemical method, i.e.
mechanochemical activation of hydroxides, produces high quality
single phase ferrite samples in much more efficient way. From the IR
spectroscopy of single phase samples it is obvious that energy of
modes depends on the ratio of cations. It is obvious that all samples
have more than 5 Raman active modes predicted by group theory in
the normal spinel structure. Deconvolution of measured spectra
allows one to conclude that all complex bands in the spectra are made
of individual peaks with the intensities that vary from spectrum to
spectrum. The deconvolution of Raman spectra allows to separate
contributions of different cations to a particular type of vibration and
to estimate the degree of inversion.
Abstract: Cancer is still one of the serious diseases threatening
the lives of human beings. How to have an early diagnosis and
effective treatment for tumors is a very important issue. The animal
carcinoma model can provide a simulation tool for the studies of
pathogenesis, biological characteristics, and therapeutic effects.
Recently, drug delivery systems have been rapidly developed to
effectively improve the therapeutic effects. Liposome plays an
increasingly important role in clinical diagnosis and therapy for
delivering a pharmaceutic or contrast agent to the targeted sites.
Liposome can be absorbed and excreted by the human body, and is
well known that no harm to the human body. This study aimed to
compare the therapeutic effects between encapsulated (doxorubicin
liposomal, Lipodox) and un-encapsulated (doxorubicin, Dox)
anti-tumor drugs using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Twenty-four New Zealand rabbits implanted with VX2 carcinoma at
left thighs were classified into three groups: control group (untreated),
Dox-treated group, and LipoDox-treated group, 8 rabbits for each
group. MRI scans were performed three days after tumor implantation.
A 1.5T GE Signa HDxt whole body MRI scanner with a high
resolution knee coil was used in this study. After a 3-plane localizer
scan was performed, three-dimensional (3D) fast spin echo (FSE)
T2-weighted Images (T2WI) was used for tumor volumetric
quantification. Afterwards, two-dimensional (2D) spoiled gradient
recalled echo (SPGR) dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI was
used for tumor perfusion evaluation. DCE-MRI was designed to
acquire four baseline images, followed by contrast agent Gd-DOTA
injection through the ear vein of rabbit. A series of 32 images were
acquired to observe the signals change over time in the tumor and
muscle. The MRI scanning was scheduled on a weekly basis for a
period of four weeks to observe the tumor progression longitudinally.
The Dox and LipoDox treatments were prescribed 3 times in the first
week immediately after the first MRI scan; i.e. 3 days after VX2 tumor
implantation. ImageJ was used to quantitate tumor volume and time
course signal enhancement on DCE images. The changes of tumor size
showed that the growth of VX2 tumors was effectively inhibited for
both LipoDox-treated and Dox-treated groups. Furthermore, the tumor
volume of LipoDox-treated group was significantly lower than that of
Dox-treated group, which implies that LipoDox has better therapeutic effect than Dox. The signal intensity of LipoDox-treated group is
significantly lower than that of the other two groups, which implies
that targeted therapeutic drug remained in the tumor tissue. This study
provides a radiation-free and non-invasive MRI method for
therapeutic monitoring of targeted liposome on an animal tumor
model.
Abstract: A growing demand is felt today for realistic 3D
models enabling the cognition and popularization of historical-artistic
heritage. Evaluation and preservation of Cultural Heritage is
inextricably connected with the innovative processes of gaining,
managing, and using knowledge. The development and perfecting of
techniques for acquiring and elaborating photorealistic 3D models,
made them pivotal elements for popularizing information of objects
on the scale of architectonic structures.
Abstract: In this paper a very simple and effective user
administration view of computing clusters systems is implemented in
order of friendly provide the configuration and monitoring of
distributed application executions. The user view, the administrator
view, and an internal control module create an illusionary
management environment for better system usability. The
architecture, properties, performance, and the comparison with others
software for cluster management are briefly commented.
Abstract: The garment manufacturing industry involves
sequential processes that are subjected to uncontrollable variations.
The industry depends on the skill of labour in handling the varieties
of fabrics and accessories, machines, as well as complicated sewing
operation. Due to these reasons, garment manufacturers have created
systems to monitor and to control the quality of the products on a
regular basis by conducting quality approaches to minimize variation.
With that, the aim of this research has been to ascertain the quality
approaches deployed by Malaysian garment manufacturers in three
key areas - quality systems and tools; quality control and types of
inspection; as well as sampling procedures chosen for garment
inspection. Besides, the focus of this research was to distinguish the
quality approaches adopted by companies that supplied finished
garments to both domestic and international markets. Feedback from
each company representative has been obtained via online survey,
which comprised of five sections and 44 questions on the
organizational profile and the quality approaches employed in the
garment industry. As a result, the response rate was 31%. The results
revealed that almost all companies have established their own
mechanism of process control by conducting a series of quality
inspections for daily production, either it was formally set up or
otherwise. In addition, quality inspection has been the predominant
quality control activity in the garment manufacturing, while the level
of complexity of these activities was substantially dictated by the
customers. Moreover, AQL-based sampling was utilized by
companies dealing with exports, whilst almost all the companies that
only concentrated on the domestic market were comfortable using
their own sampling procedures for garment inspection. Hence, this
research has provided insights into the implementation of a number
of quality approaches that were perceived as important and useful in
the garment manufacturing sector, which is truly labour-intensive.
Abstract: Hypertension is a common condition causing cardio
and cerebrovascular complications. Portugal has one of the highest
mortality rates from stroke and a high prevalence of hypertension.
Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) is an important risk factor for
cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction and stroke) and
premature mortality, particularly in the elderly population. The
present study aims to estimate the prevalence of hypertension in a
Portuguese population living in a coastal city and to identify some of
its determinants (namely gender, age, the body mass index and
physical activity frequency). A total of 91 adults who attended three pharmacies of a coastal
city in the center of Portugal, between May and August of 2013 were
evaluated. Attendants who reported to have diabetes or taking
antihypertensive drugs in the 2 previous weeks were excluded from
the study. Sociodemographic factors, BMI, habits of exercise and BP
were assessed. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure ≥140/90
mmHg. The majority of the studied population was constituted by women
(75.8%), with a mean age of 54.2±1.6 years old, married or living in
civil union and that had completed secondary school or had higher
education (40%). They presented a mean BMI of 26.2±4.76 Kg/m2.,
and were sedentary. The mean BP was 127.0±17.77mmHg- 74.69 ±
9.53. In this population we found 4.3% of people with hypertension
and 16.1% with normal high blood pressure. Men exhibit a tendency to present higher systolic blood pressure
values than women. Of all the factors considered, SBP values also
tended to be higher with age and higher BMI values.
Despite the fact that the mean values of SBP did not present values
higher than 140 mmHg we must be concerned because the studied
population is undiagnosed for hypertension. Although this is a preliminary study, it might be a prelude to the
upcoming research about the underlying factors responsible for the
occurrence of SBP.
Abstract: At the present work, highly transparent strip type
quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated
through inkjet printing using nanocomposite TiO2 inks as raw
materials and tested under outdoor illumination conditions. The cells,
which can be considered as the structural units of large area modules,
were fully characterized electrically and electrochemically and after
the evaluation of the received results a large area DSSC module was
manufactured. The module design was a sandwich Z-interconnection
where the working electrode is deposited on one conductive glass and
the counter electrode on a second glass. Silver current collective
fingers were printed on the conductive glasses to make the internal
electrical connections and the adjacent cells were connected in series
and finally insulated using a UV curing resin to protect them from the
corrosive (I-/I3-) redox couple of the electrolyte. Finally, outdoor tests
were carried out to the fabricated dye-sensitized solar module and its
performance data were collected and assessed.
Abstract: Adoption of Information Systems (IS) is receiving
increasing attention such that its implications have been closely
monitored and studied by the IS management community, industry
and professional gatekeepers. Building on previous research
regarding the adoption of technology, this paper develops and
validates an integrated model of the adoption of mobile banking. The
model originates from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and
the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). This paper intends to offer a
preliminary scrutiny of the antecedents of the adoption of mobile
banking services in the context of a developing country. Data was
collected from Pakistan. The findings showed that an integrated TAM
and TPB model greatly explains the adoption intention of mobile
banking; and perceived behavioural control and its antecedents play a
significant role in predicting adoption Theoretical and managerial
implications of findings are presented and discussed.
Abstract: From the start, the importance of having a plan to
sustain tourism was acknowledged. The correct methods to monitor
that type of tourism have been researched. Thus, we propose in this
work to analyze the applicability of a monitoring and assistance
method on the understanding of the tourism sustainability in a small
size destiny or getaway. In this study, the subject is Lagoa da
Confusão, in the state of Tocantins and the analysis was carried out
through the efficiency of the local indicators, according to the WOT
approach. We concluded that the sustainable tourism key points that
were analyzed demonstrated to be important evaluation and
quantification tools for the proposed tasks to be developed in the
mentioned destiny. This is a study of an interdisciplinary character
and the deductive method was chosen as the guiding line.
Abstract: The critical concern of satellite operations is to ensure
the health and safety of satellites. The worst case in this perspective
is probably the loss of a mission, but the more common interruption
of satellite functionality can result in compromised mission
objectives. All the data acquiring from the spacecraft are known as
Telemetry (TM), which contains the wealth information related to the
health of all its subsystems. Each single item of information is
contained in a telemetry parameter, which represents a time-variant
property (i.e. a status or a measurement) to be checked. As a
consequence, there is a continuous improvement of TM monitoring
systems to reduce the time required to respond to changes in a
satellite's state of health. A fast conception of the current state of the
satellite is thus very important to respond to occurring failures.
Statistical multivariate latent techniques are one of the vital learning
tools that are used to tackle the problem above coherently.
Information extraction from such rich data sources using advanced
statistical methodologies is a challenging task due to the massive
volume of data. To solve this problem, in this paper, we present a
proposed unsupervised learning algorithm based on Principle
Component Analysis (PCA) technique. The algorithm is particularly
applied on an actual remote sensing spacecraft. Data from the
Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) was acquired
under two operation conditions: normal and faulty states. The models
were built and tested under these conditions, and the results show that
the algorithm could successfully differentiate between these
operations conditions. Furthermore, the algorithm provides
competent information in prediction as well as adding more insight
and physical interpretation to the ADCS operation.
Abstract: Government reports and published research have
flagged and brought to public attention the deteriorating condition of
a large percentage of bridges in Canada and the United States. With
the increasing number of deteriorated bridges in the US, Canada, and
around the globe, condition assessment techniques of concrete
bridges are evolving. Investigation for bridges’ defects such as
cracks, spalls, and delamination and their level of severity are the
main objectives of condition assessment. Inspection and
rehabilitation programs are being implemented to monitor and
maintain deteriorated bridge infrastructure. This paper highlights the
state-of-the art of current practices being performed for concrete
bridge inspection. The information is gathered from the literature and
through a distributed questionnaire. The current practices in concrete
bridge inspection rely on the use of hummer sounding and chain
dragging tests. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques are not
being utilized fully in the process. Nonetheless, they are being
partially utilized by the recommendation of the bridge inspector after
conducting visual inspection. Lanes are usually closed during the
performance of visual inspection and bridge inspection in general.
Abstract: Polylactic acid (PLA) is the most commercially
available bio-based and biodegradable plastic at present. PLA has
been used in plastic related industries including single-used
containers, disposable and environmentally friendly packaging owing
to its renewability, compostability, biodegradability, and safety.
Although PLA demonstrates reasonably good optical, physical,
mechanical and barrier properties comparable to the existing
petroleum-based plastics, its brittleness and mold shrinkage as well as
its price are the points to be concerned for the production of rigid and
semi-rigid packaging. Blending PLA with other bio-based polymers
including thermoplastic starch (TPS) is an alternative not only to
achieve a complete bio-based plastic, but also to reduce the
brittleness, shrinkage during molding and production cost of the
PLA-based products. TPS is a material produced mainly from starch
which is cheap, renewable, biodegradable, compostable, and nontoxic.
It is commonly prepared by a plasticization of starch under
applying heat and shear force. Although glycerol has been reported as
one of the most plasticizers used for preparing TPS, its migration
caused the surface stickiness of the TPS products. In some cases,
mixed plasticizers or natural fibers have been applied to impede the
retrogradation of starch or reduce the migration of glycerol. The
introduction of fibers into TPS-based materials could reinforce the
polymer matrix as well. Therefore, the objective of the present
research is to study the effect of starch type (i.e. native starch and
phosphate starch), plasticizer type (i.e. glycerol and xylitol with a
weight ratio of glycerol to xylitol of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and
0:100) and fiber content (i.e. in the range of 1-25 %wt) on properties
of PLA/TPS blend and composite. PLA/TPS blends and composites
were prepared using a twin-screw extruder and then converted into
dumbbell-shaped specimens using an injection molding machine. The
PLA/TPS blends prepared by using phosphate starch showed higher
tensile strength and stiffness than the blends prepared by using native
one. In contrast, the blends from native starch exhibited higher
extensibility and heat distortion temperature (HDT) than those from
the modified starch. Increasing xylitol content resulted in enhanced
tensile strength, stiffness and water resistance, but decreased
extensibility and HDT of the PLA/TPS blend. Tensile properties and
hydrophobicity of the blend could be improved by incorporating
silane treated-jute fibers.
Abstract: Nowadays, illegal logging has been causing many
effects including flash flood, avalanche, global warming, and etc. The
purpose of this study was to maintain the earth ecosystem by keeping
and regulate Malaysia’s treasurable rainforest by utilizing a new
technology that will assist in real-time alert and give faster response
to the authority to act on these illegal activities. The methodology of
this research consisted of design stages that have been conducted as
well as the system model and system architecture of the prototype in
addition to the proposed hardware and software that have been
mainly used such as microcontroller, sensor with the implementation
of GSM, and GPS integrated system. This prototype was deployed at
Royal Belum forest in December 2014 for phase 1 and April 2015 for
phase 2 at 21 pinpoint locations. The findings of this research were
the capture of data in real-time such as temperature, humidity,
gaseous, fire, and rain detection which indicate the current natural
state and habitat in the forest. Besides, this device location can be
detected via GPS of its current location and then transmitted by SMS
via GSM system. All of its readings were sent in real-time for further
analysis. The data that were compared to meteorological department
showed that the precision of this device was about 95% and these
findings proved that the system is acceptable and suitable to be used
in the field.
Abstract: The advancements in technology allow the
development of a new system that can continuously measure surface
soil erosion. Continuous soil erosion measurements are required in
order to comprehend the erosional processes and propose effective
and efficient conservation measures to mitigate surface erosion.
Mitigating soil erosion, especially in Mediterranean countries such as
Greece, is essential in order to maintain environmental and
agricultural sustainability. In this paper, we present the Automated
Soil Erosion Monitoring System (ASEMS) that measures surface soil
erosion along with other factors that impact erosional process.
Specifically, this system measures ground level changes (surface soil
erosion), rainfall, air temperature, soil temperature, and soil moisture.
Another important innovation is that the data will be collected by
remote communication. In addition, stakeholder’s awareness is a key
factor to help reduce any environmental problem. The different
dissemination activities that were utilized are described. The overall
outcomes were the development of a new innovative system that can
measure erosion very accurately. These data from the system help
study the process of erosion and find the best possible methods to
reduce erosion. The dissemination activities enhance the stakeholders
and public's awareness on surface soil erosion problems and will lead
to the adoption of more effective soil erosion conservation practices
in Greece.
Abstract: This study presents a kinematic positioning approach
that uses a global positioning system (GPS) buoy for precise ocean
surface monitoring. The GPS buoy data from the two experiments are
processed using an accurate, medium-range differential kinematic
technique. In each case, the data from a nearby coastal site are
collected at a high rate (1 Hz) for more than 24 hours, and
measurements are conducted in neighboring tidal stations to verify
the estimated sea surface heights. The GPS buoy kinematic
coordinates are estimated using epoch-wise pre-elimination and a
backward substitution algorithm. Test results show that centimeterlevel
accuracy can be successfully achieved in determining sea
surface height using the proposed technique. The centimeter-level
agreement between the two methods also suggests the possibility of
using this inexpensive and more flexible GPS buoy equipment to
enhance (or even replace) current tidal gauge stations.
Abstract: This study aims at improving the urban hydrological
cycle of the Orléans agglomeration (France) and understanding the
relationship between physical and chemical parameters of urban
surface runoff and the hydrological conditions. In particular water
quality parameters such as pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids,
major dissolved cations and anions, and chemical and biological
oxygen demands were monitored for three types of urban water
discharges (wastewater treatment plant output (WWTP), storm
overflow and stormwater outfall) under two hydrologic scenarios (dry
and wet weather). The first results were obtained over a period of five
months. Each investigated (Ormes, l’Egoutier and La Corne) outfall
represents an urban runoff source that receives water from runoff
roads, gutters, the irrigation of gardens and other sources of flow over
the Earth’s surface that drains in its catchments and carries it to the
Loire River. In wet weather conditions there is rain water runoff and
an additional input from the roof gutters that have entered the
stormwater system during rainfall. For the comparison the results La
Chilesse is a storm overflow that was selected in our study as a
potential source of waste water which is located before the (WWTP). The comparison of the physical-chemical parameters (total
dissolved solids, turbidity, pH, conductivity, dissolved organic
carbon (DOC), concentration of major cations and anions) together
with the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen
demand (BOD) helped to characterize sources of runoff waters in the
different watersheds. It also helped to highlight the infiltration of
wastewater in some stormwater systems that reject directly in the
Loire River. The values of the conductivity measured in the outflow
of Ormes were always higher than those measured in the other two
outlets. The results showed a temporal variation for the Ormes outfall
of conductivity from 1465 μS cm-1 in the dry weather flow to 650 μS
cm-1 in the wet weather flow and also a spatial variation in the wet
weather flow from 650 μS cm-1 in the Ormes outfall to 281 μS cm-1
in L’Egouttier outfall. The ultimate BOD (BOD28) showed a
significant decrease in La Corne outfall from 181 mg L-1 in the wet
weather flow to 95 mg L-1 in the dry weather flow because of the
nutrient load that was transported by the runoff.
Abstract: Our sowing date experiment took place in the
Demonstration Garden of Institution of Plant Sciences, Centre for
Agricultural Sciences of University of Debrecen, in 2012-2014. The
paper contains data of test year 2014. Our purpose, besides several
other examinations, was to observe how sowing date influences the
leaf area index and the activity of photosynthesis of maize hybrids,
and how those factors affect fruiting. In the experiment we monitored
the change of the leaf area index and the photosynthesis of hybrids
with four different growing seasons. The results obtained confirm
that not only the environmental and agricultural factors in the
growing season have effect on the yield, but also other factors like
the leaf area index and the photosynthesis are determinative
parameters, and all those factors together, modifying the effects of
each other, develop average yields.
Abstract: The photovoltaic (PV) panel with no galvanic
isolation system is well known technique in the world which is
effective and delivers power with enhanced efficiency. The PV
generation presented here is for stand-alone system installed in
remote areas when as the resulting power gets connected to electronic
load installation instead of being tied to the grid. Though very small,
even then transformer-less topology is shown to be with leakage in
pico-ampere range. By using PWM technique PWM, leakage current
in different situations is shown. The results shown in this paper show
how the pico-ampere current is reduced to femto-ampere through use
of inductors and capacitors of suitable values of inductor and
capacitors with the load.