An Economic Assessment of the Split Rock Dam of New South Wales

This study investigates the relative profitability of the Split Rock dam in New South Wales from the view point of the participating new irrigators and society. A review of the economic literature on contemporary project appraisal techniques, in an attempt to justify the choice of the analytical method and the Conventional Efficiency Analysis (Gittinger 1982) is presented in detail. In the appraisals, the net present value, internal rate of return and benefit-cost ratio are calculated based on direct costs and benefits related to agriculture with social discount rate of 7, 10 and 13 per cent in real terms. Secondary/intangible costs and benefits are not included in the analysis, but identified with a view to make the decision maker aware of their impacts on the society. The implications of the project are also highlighted. The main conclusion of the study is that investment in Split Rock dam is economically unsound from the view point of society, but would be highly profitable to new irrigators, based on the assumptions underlying the appraisals. It is also concluded that even if the water price is increased to the extent of full economic water development cost, irrigated production at the farm level would still be profitable at a rate greater than the opportunity cost of private investment. Increased water price at an appropriate level would help improve efficiency in irrigation water utilization, reduce wastage and facilitate the effective use of sleeper licenses. The study has outlined policy guides on how to maximise efficiency per dollar invested in the project

JRC2008-63009 DESIGN OF AN INTELLIGENT REMOTE MONITORING AND CONTROL OF BANGLADESH RAILWAY TRANSPORT SYSTEM USING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICTs)

ABSTRACT In Bangladesh, transport sectors are developing rapidly to meet the increasing demand for transporting passengers and freight inside and outside the country. But there is not such development in railway transport system. The Bangladesh Railway transport system is still using an old technology to monitor and control signalling, scheduling, operations etc. This paper describes various problems in the existing systems and also solutions have been provided considering the existing railway transport systems of Bangladesh. A new system has been developed to control and monitor the total railway transport system from remote locations. While designing the system, various sensors and actuators have been introduced and also Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been applied in the field of railway transport. So a Machatronics aspect of system has been designed to ensure a collision free, safe and efficient operation and management of railway transport system. This system is not only for monitoring and controlling of railway transport but also ensures efficient asset management. As a result faceto-face accidents, cross-road accidents and accidents due to railway line displacements or breakage can be avoided and there will be no loss of assets and valuable human lives

Final Year Student’s Perception before Engaging Engineering Technology Program in UTeM

In line with industrial development which is growing rapidly in Malaysia, the country is in great needs of competent technical workforce able to apply the latest concept of technology, improve equipment and system utilization, optimizing operation and maintenance of equipment. Therefore, an engineering technology program will be introduced in Malaysia education system at higher level. In determining the perception of Engineering Technology program in Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), a market survey has been conducted to gather the perception of the final year students about Engineering Technology. Total numbers of 123 students from Cohort 1 with two different departments, electrical and manufacturing were used as a sample space. The scope of the market survey covered regarding their perspective and understanding of Engineering Technology before enrolling engineering technology program from their perspective courses. The findings show that there is a difference perception in overall especially regarding their understanding of terms Engineering Technology Programs

Perceived product quality, perceived value, customer satisfaction and their relation to brand loyalty

There has been a substansial body of evidence to relate trust as an important component to business trends.The study of trust has been exponentially discussed in various forms and context which expands across broad fields and sciences.This paper aims to provide additional rationale and foundational support for the advancement of knowledge pertaining to trust and its relation to the adoption of open innovation. Based from the literature review, this paper view trust from the light of adoption of innovation studies to better understand how it can best used to measure the readiness to adopt open innovation

Comparison of 16S rRNA Gene Quantification with Selected Inflammatory Markers and Culture Method in Septic Arthritis

This study aims to determine the types of causative organism, the utility of synovial procalcitonin (PCT), C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and bacterial 16S rRNA gene-based RT-PCR and their comparison with conventional culture results in patients with clinically-suspected SA. A total of 38 patients were recruited in this cross-sectional study for performing synovial PCT and CRP assay, and bacterial gDNA quantification via RT-PCT. Records of culture results, WBC count, ESR, blood CRP, and antibiotic administration were obtained. Gross appearance and viscosity determination are significantly associated with the bacterial load. This study documents Acinetobacter radioresistens and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria as causative pathogens of SA in Malaysia. CRP and ESR showed a significant role in diagnosing SA. Reasons for finding no concordance between conventional culture methods and 16S rDNA RT-PCR as well as synovial PCT were comprehensively reviewed. Gross appearance and viscosity showed a significant relationship with the bacterial load. RT-PCR is useful in patients treated with antimicrobial therapy with negative culture results.RT-PCR has speed and accuracy compared to conventional culture. Awareness of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter radioresistens as causative bacteria should be prompted among clinicians particularly at local, regional as well as international levels. Developing guidelines for including 16S rRNA gene RT-PCR and introducing Digital PCR and next-generation sequencing to detect and identify bacterial species in diagnosing SA is recommended

Familial and socio-cultural barriers in maintaining tobacco-free homes in Bangladesh: a comparative cross-sectional study

Objectives: Children, pregnant women and the elderly at a global level are all being dangerously exposed to tobacco use in the household (HH). However, there is no understanding of the familial and socio-cultural factors that provide barriers to ensuring tobacco-free homes in Bangladesh either in urban or rural areas (U&RAs). This study therefore investigates those barriers to help enable a move towards tobacco free homes in Bangladesh. Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Settings: Data were collected from both urban and rural settings in Bangladesh. Participants: A probability proportional sampling procedure was used to select 808 participants in U&RAs out of a total of 3,715 tobacco users. Results: The prevalence of tobacco use at home was 25.7% in urban areas and 47.6% in rural areas. In urban areas: marital status (AOR=3.23, 95%CI=1.37-6.61), education (AOR=2.14, 95%CI=1.15-3.99), the smoking habits of elderly family members (AOR=1.81, 95%CI=0.91-2.89), offering tobacco as a traditional form of leisure activity at home (AOR=1.85, 95%CI=.94-2.95), and lack of religious practices (AOR=2.39, 95%CI=1.27-4.54) were identified as significant socio-cultural predictors associated with tobacco use at home. In rural areas: age (AOR=5.11, 95%CI=2.03-12.83), extended family (AOR=3.08, 95%CI=1.28-7.38), lack of religious practices (AOR=4.23, 95%CI=2.32-7.72), using children to buy or carry tobacco (AOR=3.33, 95%CI=1.11-9.99), lack of family guidance (AOR=4.27, 95%CI=2.45-41 7.42), and offering tobacco as a traditional form of leisure activity at home (AOR=3.81, 95%CI=2.23-6.47) were identified as significant determinants for tobacco use at home. Conclusion: This study concludes that socio-cultural traditions and familial norms in Bangladesh provide significant barriers for enabling tobacco-free homes. The identification of these barriers can aid policy makers and programme planners in Bangladesh in devising appropriate measures to mitigate the deadly consequences of tobacco use in the home. The consequences also include the dangers involved in family members being exposed to second48 hand smoke