The source of haemorrhage in traumatic basal subarachnoid haemorrhage

Traumatic basal subarachnoid haemorrhage (TBSH) following trauma to the head, face or neck is well-established as a cause of death; however it remains a heavily disputed topic as the site of vascular injury is difficult to identify. Whilst many regions within the vasculature of the head and neck have been proposed as more susceptible to rupture, the vertebral artery remains the focal point of many investigations. We present a retrospective case review of TBSH in our forensic centre at Forensic and Scientific Services in Brisbane, Australia, from 2003 to 2011. Thirteen cases of TBSH were found, one case excluded due to vasculopathy. All decedents were male, the majority of which were involved in an altercation receiving blows to the head, face, or neck and were unconscious at the scene. All victims were under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination thereof. External examination revealed injuries to the head, face, and neck in all cases. Various combinations of further examination techniques were used during the post-mortem examination including brain and/or cervical spine retention, CT imaging, and angiography. Vascular injury was identified in eight of the twelve cases, all of which occurred intracranially, with seven involving the vertebral artery. Histology was most reliable in identifying the rupture site and angiography failed to reveal a rupture site. The added benefits of histology over angiography are the ability to identify the microscopic architecture of the tear and to diagnose vasculopathy that may have rendered the individual more susceptible to TBSH

Prediction of Beam Stiffness for Structural Glued laminated Timber

The objective of the study was made to develop a probabilistic model for predicting the statistical distribution of stiffness properties of some selected Malaysian timbers.In this respect, a three-step experimental approach was adopted before simulated beam stiffness for the species population was derived. Firstly, a number of probability functions representing the actual distribution of selected timber data were examined. Goodness-offit (GOF) analysis was then carried out to establish the best fitting distribution function for the experimental data used.Secondly, the modulus of elasticity (MOE) of solid and finger-jointed samples was obtained from non-destructive testing (NDT) using the fundamental vibration frequency methodology. Results from the above method were calibrated against those obtained through static bending test by means of Universal Testing Machine. Finally, glued-laminated timber (glulam) beams were fabricated using laminations with predetermined MOEs by NDT method and the beams were later subjected to 3-point static bending test for MOE determination.In the mean time, finite element method (FEM) coupled with transformed section approach, was also used to simulate the glulam beam tests after experimental length effect was incorporated.The MOE of beams population was then predicted using randomly generated MOE and length data.The GOF analysis indicates that 3-parameter Weibull distribution best fit the probability distribution of the tested timber. Results from the NDT method also showed a good relationship between the fundamental vibration frequency test and the static bending test conducted with a coefficient of determination of about 0.89. In the simulation of glulam beams, the MOE values of simulated glulam beams are generally higher than the actual tests conducted, particularly in durian hutan, with a percentage difference of about 23%.In the prediction of the MOE glulam beams population, the generated distribution exhibits higher MOE values compared to the average value reported respectively for durian hutan and rubberwood specie

Abductive Research Strategy(ARS) & The Generation Of Grounded Concepts - Two Empirical Examples

Abductive Research Strategy (ARS) is one distinctive type of qualitative research developed by Blaikie (1993, 2000, 2007, 2010), which refers to the process of constructing theories or typologies that are grounded in everyday activities and in the language and meanings of social actors

Spectral problems of optical waveguides and quantum graphs

In this dissertation, we consider some spectral problems of optical waveguide and quantum graph theories. We study spectral problems that arise when considerating optical waveguides in photonic band-gap (PBG) materials. Specifically, we address the issue of the existence of modes guided by linear defects in photonic crystals. Such modes can be created for frequencies in the spectral gaps of the bulk material and thus are evanescent in the bulk (i.e., confined to the guide). In the quantum graph part we prove the validity of the limiting absorption principle for finite graphs with infinite leads attached. In particular, this leads to the absence of a singular continuous spectrum. Another problem in quantum graph theory that we consider involves opening gaps in the spectrum of a quantum graph by replacing each vertex of the original graph with a finite graph. We show that such "decorations" can be used to create spectral gaps

Multiplicity of Entrepreneurship : An Analysis of Chinese, Malay and Indian Entrepreneurs in Malaysia.

The paper is based on an ongoing research project. It aims to provide a descriptive account on the concept of entrepreneurship in a multicultural, multilingual and multi religious society of Malaysia. The research traces the sources of influence on the emergence and development of entrepreneurship, link types of entrepreneurship to levels of sustainability and types of business activities

A Corpus-Based Study Of Give, Take, And Make Light Verb Constructions In Mesolectal Malaysian English

This study investigated the structural and aspectual functional patterns of light verb constructions (LVCs) in mesolectal Malaysian English and identified nativised LVCs. LVCs refer to combinations of a semantically “empty” or light verb with a deverbal noun. The three selected light verbs are give, take, and make. A standard or prototypical LVC is made up of a light verb and a deverbal noun preceded by the indefinite article as shown in this sentence, I’ll take a look at her feet myself. Studies examining the use of LVCs in postcolonial Englishes suggest emerging variants such as make good decision may not be idiomatic and may not be acceptable by native speakers. To facilitate this research, a 100-million words general corpus of mesolectal Malaysian English was created. This corpus is known as the Corpus of Malaysian English Forum (CMEF). It consists of threads from Lowyat.NET, a popular Internet forum in Malaysia, representing the mesolectal variety of Malaysian English which is commonly used and nationally intelligible. The British National Corpus (BNC) was used as the reference corpus. The structural analysis reveals that Malaysian English LVCs do not deviate much from the standard structure of LVCs except the overuse of zero-article LVCs