Locomotors Rehabilitation System via Gait Analysis with Load cell, Gyroscope and Accelerometer Sensor

Locomotors Rehabilitation System (LRS) has a potential used with the advancement in electronic and computer. It requires sensors for a locomotion measurement and units to communicate between patients and the doctors. These promote a flexible and economical solution to a Gait analysis by develops units to differentiate the abnormal and normal patient different walking pattern. The LRS consist of a PIC microcontroller, RF transceiver, analogue multiplexer plus sensors for the compressive force, acceleration and angular velocity measurement. Later, these measurements are sent to the computer for further human locomotion analysis. The data transmission is optimized up to 250 meters line of sight with ±3 g acceleration, tilt angle at ± 0.1 ° and ≤ 150 Kg bodyweight measurement. The LRS is expected to offer more information than the Gait analysis and also the ability to improve the clinical and rehabilitation applications

The most common problem facing by the maintenance department: a case study between Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)

From time to time, the maintenance works become more challenging due to construction of new building and also aging of the existing buildings. University buildings without any exception require proper maintenance services to support their function requirements and this can be considered as major responsibilities to be fulfilled by the maintenance department in the universities. Maintenance department specifically will face various kinds of problems in their operation works and thus this might influence the maintenance work operations itself. This study purposely to identify the common problem facing by the maintenance department and also to examine the current status of the maintenance department. In addition, this study would also propose any suitable approach that could be implemented to overcome the problem facing by the maintenance department. To achieve the objectives of this study, a combination of deep literature study and carrying out a survey is necessary. Literature study aimed to obtain deeper information about this study, meanwhile a survey aimed at identifying the common problem facing by the maintenance department and also to provide the information of the maintenance department’s organization. Several methods will be used in analyzing the data obtained through the survey, including Microsoft Office Excel and also using mean index formula. This study has identified three categories of problem in the maintenance department, which are management problems, human resource problem, and technical problems. Following the findings, several solutions being proposed which can be implemented as the solution to the problem facing. These suggestions have the potential to improve the maintenance department work efficiency, thus could help to increase the department productivit

Fabrication of plasmonic thin film via DC sputtering with optics based assessment for trasmittance, absorbance and resonance

A plasmonic thin film is potentially to be used with the advancement in optical biosensor. It is a label free without a need of fluorescent, chemiluminescent, radioisotope and etc. It is crucial to design a low cost biosensor that is easily fabricated at precise sizes and density. This paper reported a fabrication for copper and gold thin film on a glass substrate with a magnetron sputtering. The objectives are to: 1-Fabricate the thin film, 2- Develop the optics setup, 3-Evaluate the thin films and 4-Exhibit the optical resonance. Seven glass slides were coated with six copper and remaining with gold at different sputtering time. The time was varied from 280 sec to 980 sec while Argon gas and DC power were maintained respectively at 80 sccm and 130 watt. Later, the optics based was employed for assessing the film thicknesses. The thin films fabrication indicates different thicknesses were achieved at various sputtering time. Given y is a thicknesses and x is a sputtering time, respectively the copper and gold thin film were changed quantitatively at y= 28.335e0.0005x and y= 0.25x. Qualitatively, spectral transmittance and absorbance were changed to the thicknesses of the thin films. The plasmonic resonance was achieved with gold thin film at 50 nm thicknesses. The resonance sensitivity was decreases as the thin films thicknesses were increases

CHEMICALLY MODIFIED PALM KERNEL SHELL BIOCHAR FOR THE REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION

Worldwide escalated domestic, agricultural, and industrial operations have resulted in the discharge of toxic disadvantageous heavy metals into the water bodies. Toxic heavy metals eradication from water is a complicated subject, therefore a viable, resilient, and green technology is imperative. Heavy metal removal can be accomplished through easy access, economical, and efficient sorbents. In the current study, Waste Palm Kernel Shell was gathered cleaned, transformed into biochar, and acid-base modification was performed to refine its adsorption capabilities. Batch experiments were conducted to explore the adsorption capability for heavy metals aqueous removal involving Chromium, Nickel, and Copper. The surface area was expanded from 112.934 m2/g to 149.670 m2/g by chemical modification. In the batch adsorption, Palm Kernel Shell biochar exhibited 98.62%, 97.10%, and 48.98% Copper, Nickle, and Chromium ion removal respectively while modified Palm Kernel Shell biochar resulted in 99.29% Copper, 96.77% Nickle, and 42.97% Chromium ion elimination. These results are proportionate to already reported in the studies of different agricultural materials-based sorbents. Adsorption by both Palm Kernel Shell biochar and modified Palm Kernel Shell biochar were well defined by Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-secondorder kinetics. This research’s findings will present new understandings for heavy metals elimination from the wastewater system

Chemically modified palm kernel shell biochar for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution

Heavy metals eradication from water is a complicated subject, therefore a viable, resilient, and green technology is imperative. Heavy metal removal can be accomplished through easy access, economical, and efficient sorbents derived from agricultural waste. In the current study, palm kernel shell (PKS) waste was converted into biochar (PKSC) via pyrolysis. Chemical modification was performed on PKSC via acid-base treatment to refine its adsorption properties. Batch experiments were conducted to study the efficiency of PKSC and acid-base treated PKSC (MPKSC) for removal of Cr(IV), Ni(II) and Cu(II). The surface area was increased from 112.934 m 2/g to 149.670 m 2/g by acid-based treatment. Batch adsorption study showed that the MPKSC afforded high removal efficiency for Cu (99.29%), Ni (96.77%) and Cr (42.97%). The Cr(IV) and Ni(II) adsorption by PKSC, as well as Cr(IV), Ni(II) and Cu(II) adsorption by MPKSC were best represented by Freundlich isotherm. However, Cu(II) adsorption by PKSC can explained by using Langmuir isotherm. All studied heavy metals fitted the pseudo-second-order kinetic

Chemically Modified Coconut Shell Biochar for Removal of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Solution

In this study, coconut shells were converted into biochar via pyrolysis and chemically modified via an acid-base treatment to enrich its adsorption capabilities. Batch experiments were carried out to analyze the adsorption potential of the modified coconut shell (MCSC) for removal of chromium, nickel, and copper from aqueous solution. The chemical modification increased the surface area of MCSC to 185.712 m2 /g. Batch adsorption study using MCSC resulted in 99% removal of copper, 95% (nickel), and 39% (chromium). The adsorption of studied metal ions fitted well with Langmuir isotherm, showing a monolayer adsorption process. A kinetic analysis showed that all the samples match a strong correlation coefficient in pseudo-second-order (R2 >0.95), indicating the occurrence of a chemical adsorption process

Preparations, characterizations and comparative study on electrochemical performance of ZnO/SWNT and TiO2/SWNT nanocomposites

This work has successfully prepared and characterized the nanocomposite based metal oxides, Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide (ZnO and TiO2) with Single-Walled Nanotubes (SWNTs). Metal oxides are well-known alternatives to graphite as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, due to their ability of highly capacities. In this study, green synthesis ZnO and TiO2 were synthesized from Kaffir Lime and Ilmenite mineral respectively, and their composite is prepared in the presence of SWNTs. The as prepared ZnO/SWNT and TIO2/SWNTs composite have been characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), Raman, and electron dispersive X-ray (EDX). The result of FESEM and EDX shows the metal oxide nanoparticles with average size 11.3 ± 3.0 nm was successfully deposited onto the SWNT. Electrochemical characterization of the prepared nanocomposites was carried out using cyclic voltammetry, and galvanostatic charge/discharge tests. The main difference found between these two nanocomposite is the internal resistance, thus giving specific capacitance 3.56 F/g and 0.78 F/g for SWNT/TiO2 and SWNT/ZnO respectively. The investigation highlights the importance of anchoring of green synthesis metal oxides nanoparticles on SWNTs for maximum utilization of electrochemically active ZnO, TiO2 and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for energy storage application

Mechanical and durability analysis of fly ash based geopolymer with various compositions for rigid pavement applications

Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is a conventional material used to construct rigid pave�ment that emits large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) during its manufacturing process, which is bad for the environment. It is also claimed that OPC is susceptible to acid attack, which increases the maintenance cost of rigid pavement. Therefore, a fly ash based geopolymer is proposed as a material for rigid pavement application as it releases lesser amounts of CO2 during the synthesis process and has higher acid resistance compared to OPC. This current study optimizes the formulation to produce fly ash based geopolymer with the highest compressive strength. In addition, the durability of fly ash based geopolymer concrete and OPC concrete in an acidic environment is also determined and compared. The results show that the optimum value of sodium hydroxide concentration, the ratio of sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide, and the ratio of solid-to-liquid for fly ash based geopolymer are 10 M, 2.0, and 2.5, respectively, with a maximum compressive strength of 47 MPa. The results also highlight that the durability of fly ash based geopolymer is higher than that of OPC concrete, indicating that fly ash based geopolymer is a better material for rigid pavement applications, with a percentage of compressive strength loss of 7.38% to 21.94% for OPC concrete. This current study contributes to the field of knowledge by providing a reference for future development of fly ash based geopolymer for rigid pavement applications

Influence of Material Properties on the Fluid-Structure Interaction aspects during Molded Underfill Process

This paper presents the investigation of the effects of epoxy moulding compound’ (EMC) viscosity on the FSI aspects during moulded underfill process (MUF). Finite volume (FV) code and finite element (FE) code were connected online through the Mesh-based Parallel Code Coupling Interface (MpCCI) method for fluid and structural analysis. The EMC flow behaviour was modelled by Castro-Macosko model, which was written in C language and incorporated into the FV analysis. Real-time predictions on the flow front, chip deformation and stress concentration were solved by FV- and FE-solver. Increase in EMC viscosity raises the deformation and stress imposed on IC and solder bump, which may induce unintended features on the IC structure. The current simulation is expected to provide the better understandings and clear visualization of FSI in the moulded underfill process

Impact of increased digital use and internet gaming on nursing students' empathy: a cross-sectional study

Background: The COVID-19 restrictions and quarantines had led to increased dependence and usage of digital devices for various human activities and internet gaming to the extent of risking vulnerable individuals to develop addiction towards it. Little is known on such risks among populations of nursing students and its impact on their empathy skills or trait. Objective: Determining the impact of digital use and internet gaming on empathy of nursing students undergoing remote learning during closure of learning institutions nationwide. Design: Cross-sectional online survey was conducted from October to December 2020. Settings: Two established public institutions located in Malaysia. Participants: A total of 345 nursing students pursuing diploma and bachelor nursing programs. Methods: Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ), Digital Addiction Scale (DAS) and Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short form (IGDS9-SF) were self-administered via Google Form™. Following principal component analysis of TEQ using IBM-SPSS™ (V-27), path analyses was performed using SmartPLS™ (V-3). Results: Despite the increased time spent on digital devices (Δ 2.8 h/day) and internet gaming (Δ 1 h/week) before and during the pandemic, the proportion of high digital users (1.4 %) and gamers (20.9 %) were low; and sizable ≈75 % had higher-than-normal empathy. Digital-related emotions and overuse of them were associated with lower empathy (β = − 0.111, − 0.192; p values < 0.05) and higher callousness (β = 0.181, 0.131; p values < 0.05); internet gaming addiction predicted callousness (β = 0.265, p < 0.001) but digital dependence correlated with higher empathy (β = 0.172, p = 0.009). Conclusions: Digital and internet gaming addiction potentially impact empathy. The negative impact of digital dependence can be attenuated by “digital empathy” – an emerging phenomenon becoming increasingly vital in digital health and communication