Abstract: Nowadays pharmaceutical care departments located in
hospitals are amongst the important pillars of the healthcare system.
The aim of this study was to evaluate quality of hospital drugstores
affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences.
In this cross-sectional study a validated questionnaire was used.
The questionnaire was filled in by the one of the researchers in all
seventeen hospital drugstores located in the teaching and nonteaching
hospitals affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical
Sciences. The results shows that in observed hospitals,24% of
pharmacy environments, 25% of pharmacy store and storage
conditions, 49% of storage procedure, 25% of ordering drugs and
supplies, 73% of receiving supplies (proper procedure are fallowed
for receiving supplies), 35% of receiving supplies (prompt action
taken if deterioration of drugs received is suspected), 23.35% of
drugs delivery to patients and finally 0% of stock cards are used for
proper inventory control have full compliance with standards.
Abstract: Anti-money laundering is commonly recognized as a
set of procedures, laws or regulations designed to reduce the practice
of generating income through illegal actions. In Malaysia, the
government and law enforcement agencies have stepped up their
capacities and efforts to curb money laundering since 2001. One of
these measures was the enactment of the Anti-Money Laundering
Act (AMLA) in 2001. The implementation costs on anti-money
laundering requirements (AMLR) can be burdensome to those who
are involved in enforcing them. The objective of this paper is to
explore the perceived effectiveness of AMLR from the enforcement
agencies- perspective. This is a preliminary study whose findings
will help to give direction for further AML research in Malaysia. In
addition, the results of this study provide empirical evidences on the
perceived effectiveness of AMLR prior to further investigations on
barriers and improvements of the implementation of the anti-money
laundering regime in Malaysia.
Abstract: Prior research evidenced that unimodal biometric
systems have several tradeoffs like noisy data, intra-class variations,
restricted degrees of freedom, non-universality, spoof attacks, and
unacceptable error rates. In order for the biometric system to be more
secure and to provide high performance accuracy, more than one
form of biometrics are required. Hence, the need arise for multimodal
biometrics using combinations of different biometric modalities. This
paper introduces a multimodal biometric system (MMBS) based on
fusion of whole dorsal hand geometry and fingerprints that acquires
right and left (Rt/Lt) near-infra-red (NIR) dorsal hand geometry (HG)
shape and (Rt/Lt) index and ring fingerprints (FP). Database of 100
volunteers were acquired using the designed prototype. The acquired
images were found to have good quality for all features and patterns
extraction to all modalities. HG features based on the hand shape
anatomical landmarks were extracted. Robust and fast algorithms for
FP minutia points feature extraction and matching were used. Feature
vectors that belong to similar biometric traits were fused using
feature fusion methodologies. Scores obtained from different
biometric trait matchers were fused using the Min-Max
transformation-based score fusion technique. Final normalized scores
were merged using the sum of scores method to obtain a single
decision about the personal identity based on multiple independent
sources. High individuality of the fused traits and user acceptability
of the designed system along with its experimental high performance
biometric measures showed that this MMBS can be considered for
med-high security levels biometric identification purposes.
Abstract: The rising price of fossil fuels, government incentives
and growing public aware-ness for the need to implement sustainable
energy supplies has resulted in a large in-crease in solar panel
installations across the country. For many sites the most eco-nomical
solar panel installation uses existing, southerly facing rooftops.
Adding solar panels to an existing roof typically means increased
loads that must be borne by the building-s structural elements. The
structural design professional is responsible for ensuring a new solar
panel installation is properly supported by an existing structure and
configured to maximize energy generation.
Abstract: Contact centres have been exemplars of scientific management in the discipline of operations management for more than a decade now. With the movement of industries from a resource based economy to knowledge based economy businesses have started to realize the customer eccentricity being the key to sustainability amidst high velocity of the market. However, as technologies have converged and advanced, so have the contact centres. Contact Centres have redirected the supply chains and the concept of retailing is highly diminished due to over exaggeration of cost reduction strategies. In conditions of high environmental velocity together with services featuring considerable information intensity contact centres will require up to date and enlightened agents to satisfy the demands placed upon them by those requesting their services. In this paper we examine salient factors such as Power Distance, Knowledge structures and the dynamics of job specialisation and enlargement to suggest critical success factors in the domain of contact centres.
Abstract: Single crystals of Magnesium alloys such as pure Mg,
Mg-1Zn-0.5Y, Mg-0.1Y, and Mg-0.1Ce alloys were successfully
fabricated in this study by employing the modified Bridgman method.
To determine the exact orientation of crystals, pole figure
measurement using X-ray diffraction were carried out on each single
crystal. Hardness and compression tests were conducted followed by
subsequent recrysatllization annealing. Recrystallization kinetics of
Mg alloy single crystals has been investigated. Fabricated single
crystals were cut into rectangular shaped specimen and solution
treated at 400oC for 24 hrs, and then deformed in compression mode
by 30% reduction. Annealing treatment for recrystallization has been
conducted on these cold-rolled plates at temperatures of 300oC for
various times from 1 to 20 mins. The microstructure observation and
hardness measurement conducted on the recrystallized specimens
revealed that static recrystallization of ternary alloy single crystal was
very slow, while recrystallization behavior of binary alloy single
crystals appeared to be very fast.
Abstract: As data to be stored in storage subsystems
tremendously increases, data protection techniques have become more
important than ever, to provide data availability and reliability. In this
paper, we present the file system-based data protection (WOWSnap)
that has been implemented using WORM (Write-Once-Read-Many)
scheme. In the WOWSnap, once WORM files have been created, only
the privileged read requests to them are allowed to protect data against
any intentional/accidental intrusions. Furthermore, all WORM files
are related to their protection cycle that is a time period during which
WORM files should securely be protected. Once their protection cycle
is expired, the WORM files are automatically moved to the
general-purpose data section without any user interference. This
prevents the WORM data section from being consumed by
unnecessary files. We evaluated the performance of WOWSnap on
Linux cluster.
Abstract: This paper aims at numerically analysing the effect
of an active flow control (AFC) by a vortex generator jet (VGJ)
submerged in a boundary layer via Chimera Grids and Detached-
Eddy Simulation (DES). The performance of DES results are
judged against Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and
compared with the experiments that showed an unsteady vortex
motion downstream of VGJ. Experimental results showed that
the mechanism of embedding logitudinal vortex structure in the
main stream flow is quite effective in increasing the near wall
momentum of separated aircraft wing. In order to simulate such
a flow configuration together with the VGJ, an efficient numerical
approach is required. This requirement is fulfilled by performing
the DES simulation over the flat plate using the DLR TAU Code.
The DES predictions identify the vortex region via smooth hybrid
length scale and predict the unsteady vortex motion observed in
the experiments. The DES results also showed that the sufficient
grid refinement in the vortex region resolves the turbulent scales
downstream of the VGJ, the spatial vortex core postion and nondimensional
momentum coefficient RVx .
Abstract: The aerodynamic stall control of a baseline 13-percent
thick NASA GA(W)-2 airfoil using a synthetic jet actuator (SJA) is
presented in this paper. Unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes
equations are solved on a hybrid grid using a commercial software to
simulate the effects of a synthetic jet actuator located at 13% of the
chord from the leading edge at a Reynolds number Re = 2.1x106 and
incidence angles from 16 to 22 degrees. The experimental data for the
pressure distribution at Re = 3x106 and aerodynamic coefficients at
Re = 2.1x106 (angle of attack varied from -16 to 22 degrees) without
SJA is compared with the computational fluid dynamic (CFD)
simulation as a baseline validation. A good agreement of the CFD
simulations is obtained for aerodynamic coefficients and pressure
distribution.
A working SJA has been integrated with the baseline airfoil and
initial focus is on the aerodynamic stall control at angles of attack
from 16 to 22 degrees. The results show a noticeable improvement in
the aerodynamic performance with increase in lift and decrease in
drag at these post stall regimes.
Abstract: Purpose: To develop a method for automatic segmentation of adipose and muscular tissue in thighs from magnetic resonance images. Materials and methods: Thirty obese women were scanned on a Siemens Impact Expert 1T resonance machine. 1500 images were finally used in the tests. The developed segmentation method is a recursive and multilevel process that makes use of several concepts such as shaped histograms, adaptative thresholding and connectivity. The segmentation process was implemented in Matlab and operates without the need of any user interaction. The whole set of images were segmented with the developed method. An expert radiologist segmented the same set of images following a manual procedure with the aid of the SliceOmatic software (Tomovision). These constituted our 'goal standard'. Results: The number of coincidental pixels of the automatic and manual segmentation procedures was measured. The average results were above 90 % of success in most of the images. Conclusions: The proposed approach allows effective automatic segmentation of MRIs from thighs, comparable to expert manual performance.
Abstract: The motion planning technique described in this paper has been developed to eliminate or reduce the residual vibrations of belt-driven rotary platforms, while maintaining unchanged the motion time and the total angular displacement of the platform. The proposed approach is based on a suitable choice of the motion command given to the servomotor that drives the mechanical device; this command is defined by some numerical coefficients which determine the shape of the displacement, velocity and acceleration profiles. Using a numerical optimization technique, these coefficients can be changed without altering the continuity conditions imposed on the displacement and its time derivatives at the initial and final time instants. The proposed technique can be easily and quickly implemented on an actual device, since it requires only a simple modification of the motion command profile mapped in the memory of the electronic motion controller.
Abstract: The Pads have unique values of thermophysical
properties (THP) having important contribution over heat transfer
into the PCB structure.
Materials with high thermal diffusivity (TD) rapidly adjust their
temperature to that of their surroundings, because the HT is quick in
compare to their volumetric heat capacity (VHC).
In the paper is presenting the diffusivity tests (ASTM E1461 flash
method) for PCBs with different core materials. In the experiments,
the multilayer structure of PCBA was taken into consideration, an
equivalent property referring to each of experimental structure be
practically measured.
Concerning to entire structure, the THP emphasize the major
contribution of substrate in establishing of reflow soldering process
(RSP) heat transfer necessities. This conclusion offer practical
solution for heat transfer time constant calculation as function of
thickness and substrate material diffusivity with an acceptable error
estimation.
Abstract: Phase error in communications systems degrades error
performance. In this paper, we present a simple approximation for the
average error probability of the binary phase shift keying (BPSK) in
the presence of phase error having a uniform distribution on arbitrary
intervals. For the simple approximation, we use symmetry and
periodicity of a sinusoidal function. Approximate result for the
average error probability is derived, and the performance is verified
through comparison with simulation result.
Abstract: The OTOP Entrepreneurship that used to create
substantial source of income for local Thai communities are now in a
stage of exigent matters that required assistances from public sectors
due to over Entrepreneurship of duplicative ideas, unable to adjust
costs and prices, lack of innovation, and inadequate of quality
control. Moreover, there is a repetitive problem of middlemen who
constantly corner the OTOP market. Local OTOP producers become
easy preys since they do not know how to add more values, how to
create and maintain their own brand name, and how to create proper
packaging and labeling. The suggested solutions to local OTOP
producers are to adopt modern management techniques, to find
knowhow to add more values to products and to unravel other
marketing problems. The objectives of this research are to study the
prevalent OTOP products management and to discover direction to
manage OTOP products to enhance the effectiveness of OTOP
Entrepreneurship in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand. There were 113
participants in this study. The research tools can be divided into two
parts: First part is done by questionnaire to find responses of the
prevalent OTOP Entrepreneurship management. Second part is the
use of focus group which is conducted to encapsulate ideas and local
wisdom. Data analysis is performed by using frequency, percentage,
mean, and standard deviation as well as the synthesis of several small
group discussions. The findings reveal that 1) Business Resources:
the quality of product is most important and the marketing of product
is least important. 2) Business Management: Leadership is most
important and raw material planning is least important. 3) Business
Readiness: Communication is most important and packaging is least
important. 4) Support from public sector: Certified from the
government is most important and source of raw material is the least
important.
Abstract: Cooling with sound is a physical phenomenon allowed by Thermo-Acoustics in which acoustic energy is transformed into a negative heat transfer, in other words: into cooling! Without needing any harmful gas, the transformation is environmentally friendly and can respond to many needs in terms of air conditioning, food refrigeration for domestic use, and cooling medical samples for example. To explore the possibilities of this cooling solution on a small scale, the TACS prototype has been designed, consisting of a low cost thermoacoustic refrigerant “pipe” able to lower the temperature by a few degrees. The obtained results are providing an interesting element for possible future of thermo-acoustic refrigeration.
Abstract: Development of a Robust Supply Chain for Dynamic
Operating Environment as we move further into the twenty first
century, organisations are under increasing pressure to deliver a high
product variation at a reasonable cost without compromise in quality.
In a number of cases this will take the form of a customised or high
variety low volume manufacturing system that requires prudent
management of resources, among a number of functions, to achieve
competitive advantage. Purchasing and Supply Chain management is
one of such function and due to the substantial interaction with
external elements needs to be strategically managed. This requires a
number of primary and supporting tools that will enable the
appropriate decisions to be made rapidly. This capability is
especially vital in a dynamic environment as it provides a pivotal role
in increasing the profit margin of the product. The management of
this function can be challenging by itself and even more for Small
and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) due to the limited resources and
expertise available at their disposal.
This paper discusses the development of tools and concepts
towards effectively managing the purchasing and supply chain
function. The developed tools and concepts will provide a cost
effective way of managing this function within SMEs. The paper
further shows the use of these tools within Contechs, a manufacturer
of luxury boat interiors, and the associated benefits achieved as a
result of this implementation. Finally a generic framework towards
use in such environments is presented.
Abstract: Directive 2009/28/CE establishes, as obligatory objective, a share of renewable energies on energetic consumption of 20%, in European Union, in 2020 However, such European normative gives freedom to member states in the selection of the renewable promotion mechanism that allows them to obtain that objective. In this paper, we analyze the main characteristics of the promotion mechanisms of renewable energy used in the countries that shape the Electricity Iberian Market (Spain and Portugal) and the results in employment. The importance of these countries is given by the great increasing of the renewable energies which suppose a share higher than 30% of the overall generation in 2010. Therefore, this research paper can serve as the basis for the learning of other countries with regard to the main advantages that entail the use of a feed-in tariff system.
Abstract: In this paper, a novel road extraction method using Stationary Wavelet Transform is proposed. To detect road features from color aerial satellite imagery, Mexican hat Wavelet filters are used by applying the Stationary Wavelet Transform in a multiresolution, multi-scale, sense and forming the products of Wavelet coefficients at a different scales to locate and identify road features at a few scales. In addition, the shifting of road features locations is considered through multiple scales for robust road extraction in the asymmetry road feature profiles. From the experimental results, the proposed method leads to a useful technique to form the basis of road feature extraction. Also, the method is general and can be applied to other features in imagery.
Abstract: This paper describes a computer model of Quantum Field Theory (QFT), referred to in this paper as QTModel. After specifying the initial configuration for a QFT process (e.g. scattering) the model generates the possible applicable processes in terms of Feynman diagrams, the equations for the scattering matrix, and evaluates probability amplitudes for the scattering matrix and cross sections. The computations of probability amplitudes are performed numerically. The equations generated by QTModel are provided for demonstration purposes only. They are not directly used as the base for the computations of probability amplitudes. The computer model supports two modes for the computation of the probability amplitudes: (1) computation according to standard QFT, and (2) computation according to a proposed functional interpretation of quantum theory.
Abstract: This paper provides a scheme to improve the read efficiency of anti-collision algorithm in EPCglobal UHF Class-1 Generation-2 RFID standard. In this standard, dynamic frame slotted ALOHA is specified to solve the anti-collision problem. Also, the Q-algorithm with a key parameter C is adopted to dynamically adjust the frame sizes. In the paper, we split the C parameter into two parameters to increase the read speed and derive the optimal values of the two parameters through simulations. The results indicate our method outperforms the original Q-algorithm.