SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE DEMAND FOR INDUSTRY READY TOWN PLANNING GRADUATES

Emerging of new technologies skills are fundamentally changing how urban planners think, analyses and determine development decision. Application of mobile technologies and increase of public awareness are new challenges that affect traditional planning procedures and design process, resulting widening knowledge and skills gaps between town planning graduates and demand by the industry. This poses questions on the graduates’ capability to meet the job market demands especially on handling town planning related tasks. Therefore, this research endeavours to determine current knowledge and skill demands among planning agencies by using quantitative research approach as main research strategy. Findings of the study suggest Spatial Information System, Online Mapping, Crowd Sourcing technology along with instilling collaborative and multidisciplinary soft skills, in the new syllabus are considered vital.  Thus the implementation of a revised syllabus which take into consideration both knowledge and skills components, would surely offers well equip market ready town planning&nbsp

An Internet of Things (IoT) Based Approach to Innovate Canteen Stores Department’s Retail Operations

Excerpt from the Proceedings of the Nineteenth Annual Acquisition Research SymposiumIn the arena of globalization and competitive business environments, there is an emergent need for retail organizations to capitalize on technological tools and solutions. Retailers that adopt Internet of Things (IoT) technologies improve customer experiences and achieve cost savings. In this regard, the Pakistani-based retail chain Canteen Stores Department (CSD) can use IoT technologies to enhance its competitive advantage. This study aims to create a deeper understanding of how CSD retail operations can use IoT technologies to significantly modernize and improve CSD’s business offerings.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Gauging food allergy knowledge among hospitality students

Cases involving food allergy and their effects seem to be growing all around the world.The effects of food allergy can range from mild to severe and even lead to death.It is also noted that students are among the frequent victims of food allergy. The cure for food allergy is unknown. Thus, a form of intervention is needed to prevent food allergy from occurring.In order to do so, an adequate level of knowledge concerning food allergy is crucial.This study, therefore, explores the level of awareness and knowledge on food allergy among hospitality students in Malaysia. Survey method was utilized in this study and questionnaires were distributed to 150 students specifically who are studying hospitality program at two universities in the Northern region of Malaysia.Results revealed that majority of the respondent have an average knowledge pertaining to food allergy issue.This paper revealed the general knowledge, awareness and perceptions of hospitality students pertaining to food allergy.The implication of the study would benefit the public. Proper development of food allergy syllabus will enhance student knowledge and perhaps will help them to prepare and serve wholesome food to the customers

AN INTERNET OF THINGS–BASED APPROACH TO INNOVATE CANTEEN STORES DEPARTMENT’S RETAIL OPERATIONS

In a competitive business environment, retail organizations in the Western world are capitalizing on technological tools and solutions to enhance customer experience and boost sales. Specifically, retailers that adopt Internet of Things (IoT) technologies improve customer experience and achieve cost savings. Yet such innovation is rare outside the Western world. Hence, early adopters of IoT technologies in retail operations in Pakistan could gain a competitive advantage. This study aims to create a deeper understanding of how Pakistan-based Canteen Stores Department (CSD), a retail chain mainly serving service members and their families, can use IoT technologies to significantly modernize and improve its operations and distinguish itself from competitors. To do so, this study conducts a qualitative analysis of scholarly articles on the relevant technologies and on IoT-based products offered by commercial companies. The authors also include findings from discussions with CSD customers and management. The results of the study indicate CSD can use IoT technologies to optimize store layout, offer interactive in-store mapping, automate checkout systems, implement smart shelving and digital price tagging, improve in-store promotions, enhance customer relationship management, and modernize distribution, transportation, and warehousing. The study also offers CSD management guidance on how to implement IoT technologies into retail operations at one location as a pilot.Outstanding ThesisLieutenant Commander, Pakistan NavyWing Commander, Pakistan Air ForceLieutenant Colonel, Pakistan ArmyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Epidemiological Characteristics and Family Relatives among Thalassemic Patients in Sulaimani City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Thalassemia is a well-known inherited hematologic disorder caused by a decrease or an absence of globin production. Patients with thalassemia suffer from chronic hemolytic anemia and its sequelae. A descriptive study was undertaken in Sulaimani Thalassemia and Congenital Blood Disease Center. The self-administered questionnaire was used to 140 patients who had thalassemia and visited to the hospital during the study periods to assess the patients’ characteristics and parent’s relative’s relation to thalassemic patients.  Data were entered into spreadsheets and analyzed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Descriptive analysis was performed and frequencies and percentages were reported. Associations between categorical variables were checked using Chi-squared test. Out of 140 patients 50.0% of patients were males and 50.0% were female; the mean age was 12.8 years-old. The most frequent thalassemic patents were come from rural area 95.0%. Majority of patients have major type of thalassemia 84.3%. Most of the patients cannot continue to the study accounted 66.4%. About number of children most of the patient’s family had more than 3 children 99.3%. Majority of patient’s parents is carrier for thalassemia and accounted with 90 (65.0%), from those patients with major thalassemia are 77 (85.6) and few cases with minor thalassemia 4 (4.4%). These relations are statistically significant at (p<0.05). Majority of patients who have major type of thalassemia were from rural area followed by urban area 113 (95.8%) vs. 7 (5.0%), these differences are statistically significant at (p≤0.01), from major types of thalassemic patients; 85 (94.4%) of them were both father and mother are carrier of thalassemia. Statistically significant relation was found at (p<0.05). In conclusion, thalassemia is an important cause of morbidity among thalassemic patients. In our community, thalassemia is more frequent in rural population. Therefore, it is a crucial for monitoring and examination of those who are carriers. Moreover, the lack of health education on thalassemia was the major problems related with awareness of families

BRAND IDENTITY: INTRODUCING RENEWED CONCEPT FOR COFFEE SHOPS

Building a strong brand identity has become a major marketing concern for many services. In previous years, the focus was on the interaction between the organization and the customers. This study extended previous research by focusing on the concept of coffee shops. A qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews was used to explore the food and beverage industry. The interviews were carried out with 15 independent coffee shops in Christchurch, New Zealand. There were two key findings from this research that indicated attentiveness among the respondents about brand identity, first, a distinctive concept and second, having a fresh concept that will assist the process of brand identity creation. This study contributed to our understanding of how brand identity was built and then connected it to the internal culture of the coffee shop. The findings suggested that the process of creating and building a brand identity was more complicated than just creating the visual imagery in order to build distinctiveness

Biological Monitoring of Blood Naphthalene Levels as a Marker of Occupational Exposure to PAHs among Auto-Mechanics and Spray Painters in Rawalpindi

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Routine exposure to chemical contaminants in workplace is a cause for concern over potential health risks to workers. In Pakistan, reports on occupational exposure and related health risks are almost non-existent, which reflects the scarce availability of survey data and criteria for determining whether an unsafe exposure has occurred. The current study was designed to evaluate blood naphthalene (NAPH) levels as an indicator of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) among automobile workshop mechanics (MCs) and car-spray painters (PNs). We further determined the relationship between blood NAPH levels and personal behavioural, job related parameters and various environmental factors that may further be associated with elevated risks of occupational exposures to PAHs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sixty blood samples (n = 20 for each group i.e. MC, PN and control group) were collected to compare their blood NAPH levels among exposed (MCs and PNs) and un-exposed (control) groups. Samples were analyzed using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Data regarding demographic aspects of the subjects and their socioeconomic features were collected using a questionnaire. Subjects were also asked to report environmental hygiene conditions of their occupational environment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified automobile work areas as potential sites for PAHs exposure, which was reflected by higher blood NAPH levels among MCs. Blood NAPH levels ranged from 53.7 to 1980.6 μgL^-1and 54.1 to 892.9 μgL^-1among MCs and PNs respectively. Comparison within each group showed that smoking enhanced exposure risks several fold and both active and passive smoking were among personal parameters that were significantly correlated with log-transformed blood NAPH levels. For exposed groups, work hours and work experience were job related parameters that showed strong associations with the increase in blood NAPH levels. Poor workplace hygiene and ventilation were recognized as most significant predictors related to differences among workplaces that may enhance the extent of exposure to chemical contaminants.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>It appeared that chemical exposure at the workplace may be influenced by multiple environmental factors, but poor workplace hygiene and duration of exposure (long work hours) were the most important factors. Smoking and negligence of workers regarding self protection were among some of the important personal behaviours than can be addressed with better training. There is also a need to improve workplaces hygiene and to rationalize work hours to minimize health risks. Since smoking was an important confounding factor that supplemented most of the actual occupational exposure, a study based on non-smoker subjects is needed to separate out the effects of smoking and other confounding factors that may obscure measurements of actual extent of occupational exposure.</p

A Cryopreservatlon method of Sclzaphyllurn commune local strains

Schizophyllan commune fsolates were collected from rubber plantations in Selangor and Perak area in Malaysia. Spawns were prepared using three different grains (wheat, corn and paddy). The grains were incubated for 7 days at room temperature. After the grains were fully covered with myceHa, they were place into a cryo-vial with three different. treatments, 10% glycerol, sterile distilled water and no cryoprotectants. AU of the treatments were frozen in liquid nitrogen for 7 days followed by thawing (cooling) at 30°C for 30 min. The grains were inoculated onto PDA agar to observe the viability (rate of survival) of the seeds. The radius of each grain with different treatments was measured. Results showed that all treatments showed 100% viability aft.er 48 hours and wheat wit.h no cryoprotectants showed the highest growth rate. This indicated that the grains have mycelial protective properties. In this study, a cryopreservation process was simplified as opposed to the conventional method in which 10% glycerol was used as the cryoprotectant. This study promotes an alternative method for cryopreservalion which is more economical as no cryoprotectants were required

Water absorption and curing time performance of urea formaldehyde resin mixed with different amount phosphorous-based fire retardants.

The curing time and the properties of urea formaldehyde (UF) resin mixed with fire retardants, BP (mixture of boric acid, guanylurea phosphate and phosphoric acid), monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP) were studied. There were two amounts used, 8% w/w and 10% w/w. The curing time of the mixed resin was determined by using thermo oil at the temperature of 170ºC. Water absorption test and physical observations were done to evaluate the properties of the fire retardant-mixed resin. The non-fire retardant UF resin samples were used as controls. The solubility of MAP and DAP in the water at different weights also has been studied. The solubility test was done with and without the involvement of heat. The study showed that UF resin mixed with MAP and BP cured faster than DAP-mixed UF and control samples. The time taken for UF resin to mix with 10 % w/w and 8 % w/w MAP were 20 s and 28 s respectively. The time taken for UF resin mixed with 10 % and 8 % w/w DAP was slightly than the controls, which are 160 s and 150 s respectively. The time taken for UF resin mixed with 10 % w/w and 8 % w/w BP was 101 s and 92 s respectively.The curing time for control samples was 140 s respectively. MAP and DAP were shown to be highly soluble, as they took less than 1 minute to be dissolved in the water without heat, but BP took 30 minutes to be dissolved in the water without heat and less than 1 minute with heat. Water absorption test showed that the higher the amount of MAP, DAP and BP mixed into the resin, the higher would be the rate of water absorbed

Geospatial Water Productivity Index (WPI) for rice

A GIS-based user-interface programme was developed to compute the geospatial Water Productivity Index (WPI) of a river-fed rice irrigation scheme in Northwest Selangor, Malaysia. The spatial analysis includes irrigation blocks with sizes ranging from 20 to 300 ha. The amount of daily water use for each irrigation block was determined using irrigation delivery model and stored in the database for both main season (August to December) and off season (February to May). After cut-off of the irrigation supply, a sub-module was used to compute the total water use including rainfall for each irrigation block. The rice yield data for both seasons were obtained from DOA (Department of Agriculture, Malaysia) of the scheme. Then, the Water Productivity Index (WPI) was computed for each irrigation block and spatial thematic map was also generated. ArcObjects and Visual Basic Application (VBA) programming languages were used to structure user-interface in the ArcGIS software. The WPI, expressed in terms of crop yield per unit amount of water used (irrigation and effective rainfall), ranged from 0.02 to 0.57 kg/m3in the main season and 0.02 to 0.40 in off season among irrigation blocks, respectively. The development of the overall system and the procedure are illustrated using the data obtained from the study area. The approach could be used to depict the gaps between the existing and appropriate water management practices. Suitable interventions could be made to fill the gaps and enhance water use efficiency at the field level and also help in saving irrigation water through remedial measures in the season. The approach could be useful for irrigation managers to rectify and enhance decision-making in both the management and operation of the next irrigation season