VOICE ACTIVATED DOOR

Voice activated door is a voice input environment control unit for use by individual. The system operates in response to voice command by converting the sound input energy into electrical energy. This voice activated door opens when the user gave command, "Open" through the speech recognition and it closes automatically as the userpasses bythe door by stepping onthe touch plate (i.e. enters the room). The objective of the project is to help disable person enters a room, place or area with ease. This system also can provide a security system for entrance for some area, by using different command password for each user. Thus, only authorized person can enter the area. The designed voice activated door system consists of 3 mains parts which are speech recognition for recognizing the input sound, DC motor control circuit attach with the rack and pinion gear system to control the door operation (close /open) and touch sensor as an object detection to detect an object that enters the room, which then automatically closes the door. For better operation of the system, electric strike and cylindrical locks are used for locking system purpose, with fail secure mode. Fail secure mode will leave the door lock if power failure occurs. This willavoid from unauthorized userto come in which obeys the security objective. The voice activated door system produced is low in cost, simple and capable in helping the disable people as well as enhances the security system

VOICE ACTIVATED DOOR

Voice activated door is a voice input environment control unit for use by individual. The system operates in response to voice command by converting the sound input energy into electrical energy. This voice activated door opens when the user gave command, "Open" through the speech recognition and it closes automatically as the userpasses bythe door by stepping onthe touch plate (i.e. enters the room). The objective of the project is to help disable person enters a room, place or area with ease. This system also can provide a security system for entrance for some area, by using different command password for each user. Thus, only authorized person can enter the area. The designed voice activated door system consists of 3 mains parts which are speech recognition for recognizing the input sound, DC motor control circuit attach with the rack and pinion gear system to control the door operation (close /open) and touch sensor as an object detection to detect an object that enters the room, which then automatically closes the door. For better operation of the system, electric strike and cylindrical locks are used for locking system purpose, with fail secure mode. Fail secure mode will leave the door lock if power failure occurs. This willavoid from unauthorized userto come in which obeys the security objective. The voice activated door system produced is low in cost, simple and capable in helping the disable people as well as enhances the security system

Persepsi Gelagat Pengguna Berdasarkan Elemen Perkongsian Keuntungan Perniagaan Peruncit (The Perceptions of Consumer Behaviour Based on Retailers’ Profit Sharing Elements)

Abstrak: Kepesatan pertumbuhan ekonomi negara telah menyebabkan kewujudan banyak entiti perniagaan. Keadaan ini secara tidak langsung menyebabkan persaingan yang sengit untuk menarik pelanggan. Namun demikian, pelanggan sentiasa terpedaya dengan segala teknik yang amalkan seperti membuat promosi, diskaun, kupon dan sebagainya semata-mata firma mengaut keuntungan dan untuk kepentingan mereka. Dari sudut pengguna pula, mereka tidak akan memberi responsif kecuali promosi yang ditawarkan memberikan faedah kepada mereka. Semua teknik promosi ganjaran yang disediakan oleh peruncit kepada pengguna memberi ganjaran (faedah, insentif, galakkan) yang menggalakkan sesetengah gelagat pengguna. Oleh itu, dalam kajian ini, diandaikan teknik peruncit dijadikan sebagai alat untuk pengguna menikmati dapat keuntungan daripada peruncit. Pembangunan model ekonomi baru dengan memasukkan elemen perkongsian keuntungan dalam model gelagat di mana model ekonomi baru ini bertujuan untuk menilai persepsi dan gelagat pengguna  berdasarkan elemen perkongsian keuntungan.Kata kunci: Persepsi; Gelagat Pengguna; Perkongsian Keuntungan  Abstract: The rapid economic growth of the country has led to the existence of many business entities. This situation indirectly leads to intense competition to attract customers. However, customers are always deceived by all the techniques that are practised such as making promotions, discounts, coupons and so on solely for profit and their benefit. From the consumer's point of view, they will not be responsible unless the promotion offered benefits them. All reward promotion techniques provided by retailers to consumers provide rewards (benefits, incentives) that encourage certain consumer behaviours. Therefore, in this study, it is assumed that the retailer technique is used as a tool for consumers to enjoy being able to profit from the retailer. Development of a new economic model by incorporating profit-sharing elements in the behavioural model where this new economic model aims to assess consumer perceptions and behaviours based on profit sharing elements. Keywords: Perception; Consumer Behaviour; Profit Sharin

The Determinants of Happiness Among Urban Poor Households

Abstract: The main purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that have contributed to the incidence of urban poverty in Kedah.  The study is based on the primary data. The survey was conducted in six districts involving 204 poor households. The unit of analysis is the poor households with income below the level of the poverty line income. For urban poor households the poverty line income is RM 840.  There are seven dimensions and 26 indicators used to determine the happiness among poor households by using logit regression analysis.  The results of logit regression analysis showed that there were nine indicators that affect the poor households; there are gender, income, expenditure, saving, healthy life, rest, safety, community and government.  As a result, this study focuses more comprehensively, including happiness aspect that are more subjective to identify the factors that have contributed to the incidence of urban poverty in Kedah.  To achieve the eradication of poverty effectively, a comprehensive approach that is appropriate and should be done, so that the solution to the issue of poverty can be made as needed. Indirectly, this study also is to realize the aspirations of the government through its strategy to improve the people’s happiness. Keywords: Poverty, Kedah, Malaysia, Happiness, GNH, Logit, Urba

Neuroinflammation and COVID-19 ischemic stroke recovery—Evolving evidence for the mediating roles of the ACE2/angiotensin-(1–7)/mas receptor axis and NLRP3 inflammasome

Cerebrovascular events, notably acute ischemic strokes (AIS), have been reported in the setting of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection. Commonly regarded as cryptogenic, to date, the etiology is thought to be multifactorial and remains obscure; it is linked either to a direct viral invasion or to an indirect virus-induced prothrombotic state, with or without the presence of conventional cerebrovascular risk factors. In addition, patients are at a greater risk of developing long-term negative sequelae, i.e., long-COVID-related neurological problems, when compared to non-COVID-19 stroke patients. Central to the underlying neurobiology of stroke recovery in the context of COVID-19 infection is reduced angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression, which is known to lead to thrombo-inflammation and ACE2/angiotensin-(1–7)/mitochondrial assembly receptor (MasR) (ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MasR) axis inhibition. Moreover, after AIS, the activated nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome may heighten the production of numerous proinflammatory cytokines, mediating neuro-glial cell dysfunction, ultimately leading to nerve-cell death. Therefore, potential neuroprotective therapies targeting the molecular mechanisms of the aforementioned mediators may help to inform rehabilitation strategies to improve brain reorganization (i.e., neuro-gliogenesis and synaptogenesis) and secondary prevention among AIS patients with or without COVID-19. Therefore, this narrative review aims to evaluate the mediating role of the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MasR axis and NLRP3 inflammasome in COVID-19-mediated AIS, as well as the prospects of these neuroinflammation mediators for brain repair and in secondary prevention strategies against AIS in stroke rehabilitation

Students’ Inclination towards English Language as Medium of Instruction in the Teaching of Science and Mathematics

AbstractMalay language, the national language of Malaysia has been the medium of instruction for Science and Mathematics for the past four and a half decades in Malaysia. The government however changed the medium of instruction of these subjects to English in January 2003. The “Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English” (PPSMI) policy was implemented in all primary and secondary schools. It aims to improve the English language proficiency among students as well as the learning and achievement level in science and mathematics. This paper presents findings of the study on students’ inclination towards English language as medium of instruction in teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in Higher Learning Institutions in Malaysia. The respondents were 291 undergraduate students from the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) and Faculty of Education (FPEND) of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). A questionnaire pertaining to students’ inclination was used as research instrument. Using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and t-test, the study found that undergraduate students of FST and FPEND had an inclination towards English as medium of instruction in the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics. Using the Post-Hoc test, it is found that Indian students and students from other races than Malay and Chinese have greater inclination towards English as medium of instruction in teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in UKM for both faculties. However, FST students who studied in Mandarin and Tamil at pre-university level (STPM) had higher inclination compared to those who used Malay language or even English

Drug adherence in chronic kidney diseases and dialysis

Poor long-term adherence and persistence to drug therapy is universally recognized as one of the major clinical issues in the management of chronic diseases, and patients with renal diseases are also concerned by this important phenomenon. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients belong to the group of subjects with one of the highest burdens of daily pill intake with up to >20 pills per day depending on the severity of their disease. The purpose of the present review is to discuss the difficulties encountered by nephrologists in diagnosing and managing poor adherence and persistence in CKD patients including in patients receiving maintenance dialysis. Our review will also attempt to provide some clues and new perspectives on how drug adherence could actually be addressed and possibly improved. Working on drug adherence may look like a long and tedious path, but physicians and healthcare providers should always be aware that drug adherence is in general much lower than what they may think and that there are many ways to improve and support drug adherence and persistence so that renal patients obtain the full benefits of their treatment

Neuroinflammation and COVID-19 Ischemic Stroke Recovery—Evolving Evidence for the Mediating Roles of the ACE2/Angiotensin-(1–7)/Mas Receptor Axis and NLRP3 Inflammasome

Cerebrovascular events, notably acute ischemic strokes (AIS), have been reported in the setting of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection. Commonly regarded as cryptogenic, to date, the etiology is thought to be multifactorial and remains obscure; it is linked either to a direct viral invasion or to an indirect virus-induced prothrombotic state, with or without the presence of conventional cerebrovascular risk factors. In addition, patients are at a greater risk of developing long-term negative sequelae, i.e., long-COVID-related neurological problems, when compared to non-COVID-19 stroke patients. Central to the underlying neurobiology of stroke recovery in the context of COVID-19 infection is reduced angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression, which is known to lead to thrombo-inflammation and ACE2/angiotensin-(1–7)/mitochondrial assembly receptor (MasR) (ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MasR) axis inhibition. Moreover, after AIS, the activated nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome may heighten the production of numerous proinflammatory cytokines, mediating neuro-glial cell dysfunction, ultimately leading to nerve-cell death. Therefore, potential neuroprotective therapies targeting the molecular mechanisms of the aforementioned mediators may help to inform rehabilitation strategies to improve brain reorganization (i.e., neuro-gliogenesis and synaptogenesis) and secondary prevention among AIS patients with or without COVID-19. Therefore, this narrative review aims to evaluate the mediating role of the ACE2/Ang- (1-7)/MasR axis and NLRP3 inflammasome in COVID-19-mediated AIS, as well as the prospects of these neuroinflammation mediators for brain repair and in secondary prevention strategies against AIS in stroke rehabilitation