Studi Efektifitas Rancangan Sistem Penyerap Radiokarbon C-14 untuk Metode Spektroskopi Sintilasi Cair pada Penentuan Umur Sampel Kayu

Penanggalan 14C untuk menentukan umur sampel karbon selama ini dilakukan dengan metode radiokarbon (C2H2). Dengan metode ini dapat dianalisis satu sampel dalam sehari dengan biaya bahan yang relatif tinggi. Akhir-akhir ini telah dikembangkan metode baru, yaitu metode absorpsi CO2 menggunakan larutan carbosorb dan permaflour. Metode ini sering disebut direct counting CO2, karena radioisotop 14C yang terkandung di dalamnya secara langsung dicacah dan dikonversi menjadi umur. Hasil-hasil yang diperoleh dari metode absorpsi CO2 kemudian dibandingkan dengan hasil-hasil metode radiokarbon fasa gas. Penentuan umur ini dilakukan dengan variasi rangkaian penyerap karbon, dimulai dari pencucian sampel, pembentukan CaCO3, absorbsi CO2 hingga pembentukan gas C2H2. Pada penelitian ini telah dilakukan pengukuran menggunakan Detektor Multi Anode Anti-Coincendence untuk menentukan hasil dari radiokarbon fasa gas. Hasil pengukuran metode Spektroskopi Sintilasi Cair untuk rangkaian 1 didapat umur 1697 tahun, sedangkan rangkaian 2 didapat umur 1378 tahun

A Novel Model of Image Segmentation Based on Watershed Algorithm

A novel model of image segmentation based on watershed method is proposed in this paper. To prevent the oversegmentation of traditional watershed, our proposed algorithm has five stages. Firstly, the morphological reconstruction is applied to smooth the flat area and preserve the edge of the image. Secondly, multiscale morphological gradient is used to avoid the thickening and merging of the edges. Thirdly, for contrast enhancement, the top/bottom hat transformation is used. Fourthly, the morphological gradient of an image is modified by imposing regional minima at the location of both the internal and the external markers. Finally, a weighted function is used to combine the top/bottom hat transformation algorithm and the markers algorithm to get the new algorithm. The experimental results show the superiority of the new algorithm in terms of suppression over-segmentation

Ultra-Wideband Monostatic Antenna for behind the Wall Detection

This article introduces an ultra-wideband (UWB) shifted arc antenna, designed using Rogers RT-5880 Duroid substrate for the human detection behind the wall. The frequency for this proposed antenna ranges from 2.8 - 15.6 GHz with the gain of around 6.05 dB. A high gain for antenna has been achieved by the implementation of defected ground structure (DGS) method to make it a suitable configuration for through wall detection applications. For the verification of through wall detection configuration, a simulation-based experiment using ground penetrating radar (GPR) technology has been conducted. The results showed that proposed single antenna can act as a monostatic transceiver in order to detect human skin behind the concrete wall. Later, the reflections received from the target have been analyzed to detect and identify the antenna, wall and target for distance calculation

Jahili poetry before Imru' al-Qais.

Classical Arab critics held conflicting and blurred views regarding the history of Jahili poetry. They believed that Imru al-Qais was the father of Jahili poetry and the creator of most, if not all, of the Jahili poetic conventions, but at the same time they referred to a host of distinguished poets who either lived before Imru' al-Qais or were his older contemporaries, and whose works embody most of the conventions attributed to Imru' al-Qais. The discrepancy of the classical critics seems to have been overlooked by the scholars of the last two hundred years who, instead of examining the inherited opinions and the work of individual poets, postulated a series of cul de sac theories on the origins of Jahili poetry, thereby adding more confusion to an already confused situation. The reason for this confusion is that the basic ground-work has not been done. The aim of this thesis is three fold: to investigate the validity of the classical critics' assumptions; to trace the history of Jahili poetry before Imru'al-Qais; to study the work of over thirty poets, so as to prove that Imru'al-Qais drew on a well-established poetic tradition. The thesis is divided into three chapters. The first chapter deals with the source material and the language of Jahiliyya; the second chapter covers the historical and religious background; the third chapter, which makes up more than half the thesis, discusses the work of over thirty poets. The thesis ends with a conclusion that highlights certain aspects of the Jahili poetic experience before Imru'al-Qais

Factors for communication technologies selection within virtual software teams

Virtual teams are established to during software development environment. Virtual team members are gradually engaged in globalized business environments across space, time and organizational boundaries with links ensured by information and communication technologies. A virtual team relies on communication, collaboration, and information exchange is the most important criteria in virtual teams operations and their efficiency directly influences team performance. The aim of this paper is to identify the factors of selecting and using of technologies within virtual teams communication to improve virtual team communication to enhance the virtual team performance. This researcher uses systematic literature review by Kitchenham to review existing literature on the issues and implementation of virtual team members. In this review 22 papers were analyzed to answer the research questions

The virtual teams: E-leaders challenges

In most of the organizations, the collaboration across time, culture, and geographical boundaries has become one of the common practice and has given rise to the concept of globally teams known as virtual teams. Virtual teams use technologies to communicate with each other such as email, video conference, and text messages. Based on a review of the literature on virtual teams' management, this paper identifies the main challenges of the management such as communication technologies, cultural diversity, E-ethics, and trust. This paper aims to highlight these challenges, assess and analyze published contemporary literature addressing these challenges to improve the virtual teams' management by E-leaders

Image Enhancement Background for High Damage Malay Manuscripts using Adaptive Threshold Binarization

Jawi Manuscripts handwritten which are kept at Malaysia National Library (MNL), has aged over decades. Regardless of the intensive sustainable process conducted by MNL, these manuscripts are still not maintained in good quality, and neither can easily be read nor better view. Even thought, many states of the art methods have developed for image enhancement, none of them can solve extremely bad quality manuscripts. The quality of old Malay Manuscripts can be categorize into three types, namely: the background image is uneven, image effects and image effects expand patch. The aim of this paper is to discuss the methods used to value add the quality of the manuscript.  Our propose methods consist of several main methods, such as: Local Adaptive Equalization, Image Intensity Values, Automatic Threshold PP, and Adaptive Threshold Filtering. This paper is intend to achieve a better view image that geared to ease reading. Error Bit Phase achievement (TKB) has a smaller error value for proposed method (Adaptive Threshold Filtering Process / PAM) namely 0.0316 compared with Otsu’s Threshold Method / MNAO, Binary Threshold Value Method / MNAP, and Automatic Local Threshold Value Method / MNATA. The precision achievement (namely on ink bleed images) is using a proposed method more than 95% is compared with the state of the art methods MNAO, MNAP, MNATA and their performances are 75.82%, 90.68%, and 91.2% subsequently.  However, this paper’s achievement is using a proposed method / PAM, MNAO, MNAP, and MNATA for correspondingly the image of ink bleed case are 45.74%, 54.80%, 53.23% and 46.02%.  Conclusion, the proposed method produces a better character shape in comparison to other methods

The impact of board characteristics on firm performance: Evidence from nonfinancial listed companies in Kuwaiti Stock Exchange

The core aim of this study is to examine the relationship between board characteristics and the firm performance of non-financial listed Kuwaiti firms.To achieve the objectives of the study, the data were collected from a sample of 136 companies for the financial year 2009.Variables such as CEO duality, COE tenure, audit committee size, board size and board composition were considered as predictors of the firm performance that was measured employing the return on assets (ROA).By contrast, the effects of CEO tenure and leverage on firm performance were found to be negative and significant at the chosen level of significance.To test the hypotheses of the study, multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS 18.0 was utilized.Using the firm size and leverage as a control variable, the findings of the study support the positive effects of CEO duality and audit committee size on ROA.Other findings of the study were discussed in the discussion section and some other future study directions were provided

A High-Realism and Cost-Effective Training Simulator for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Medical simulators, employed in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), are burdened with costly equipment and low-fidelity methodologies. This dichotomy necessitated a new approach that eliminates high-costs and integrates with the critical care environment. This is especially applicable after the Coronavirus pandemic, where resources and supplies are evermore scarce. After examining the state-of-the-art and establishing a close collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), the main healthcare provider in Qatar, several criteria were identified to advance the cutting-edge. In this article, a high-realism, cost-effective ECMO simulator is presented. It runs on a novel blood simulation technology along with simulation modules. An instructor tablet application enables instructors to orchestrate the training experience wirelessly with real-time performance. It also includes a novel scenario designer for implementing consistent simulation curricula. A product-level simulator with high-fidelity casings is in the final integration phases. Current results include developing and testing the simulated blood circuit, simulation modules for hemorrhaging, line chattering, air bubbles noise, and a replicated console along with an integrated communications system. Nineteen specialists rated the fidelity of the system as highly realistic during a questionnaire-based study. It is expected to run a second study to evaluate the educational efficacy of the simulator as a first-of-its-kind in the region. 2013 IEEE.This work was supported by the Qatar University under Grant M-CTP-CENG-2020-1.Scopu

Addressing the challenges of ECMO simulation

This document is the Accepted Manuscript. The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in Perfusion, May 2018, published by SAGE Publishing, All rights reserved.Introduction/Aim: The patient’s condition and high-risk nature of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy force clinical services to ensure clinicians are properly trained and always ready to deal effectively with critical situations. Simulation-based education (SBE), from the simplest approaches to the most immersive modalities, helps promote optimum individual and team performance. The risks of SBE are negative learning, inauthenticity in learning and over-reliance on the participants’ suspension of disbelief. This is especially relevant to ECMO SBE as circuit/patient interactions are difficult to fully simulate without confusing circuit alterations. Methods: Our efforts concentrate on making ECMO simulation easier and more realistic in order to reduce the current gap there is between SBE and real ECMO patient care. Issues to be overcome include controlling the circuit pressures, system failures, patient issues, blood colour and cost factors. Key to our developments are the hospital-university collaboration and research funding. Results: A prototype ECMO simulator has been developed that allows for realistic ECMO SBE. The system emulates the ECMO machine interface with remotely controllable pressure parameters, haemorrhaging, line chattering, air bubble noise and simulated blood colour change. Conclusion: The prototype simulator allows the simulation of common ECMO emergencies through innovative solutions that enhance the fidelity of ECMO SBE and reduce the requirement for suspension of disbelief from participants. Future developments will encompass the patient cannulation aspect.Peer reviewe