Tracking human movement in office environment using video processing

In this paper, we proposed an approach of multi-person movement tracking in office environment without any identity conflicts. Simple image processing with frame differentiation method is applied to identify multiple human motion. An Expert System is applied to predict next camera occurrence of the tracking human. The main objective of this work is to detect and track multi-human motion using single camera in more than a room in an office

Pemikiran Ekonomi Syariah Menurut Muhammad Abdul Mannan dan Muhammad Baqir Al-Sadr

This article discusses Islamic economic thinking according to Muhammad Abdul Mannan and Muhammad Baqir as-Sadr. The purpose of writing this article is to find out the similarities and differences in the economic thought of Muhammad Abdul Mannan and Muhammad Baqir as-Sadr. This research is library research and is qualitative. The data were obtained through books, journal articles, and the internet, especially those discussing Islamic economics and the works of Muhammad Abdul Mannan and Muhammad Baqir as-Sadr. The data collected were analyzed comparatively. The study results conclude that Mannan and as-Sadr have the same thoughts in terms of income distribution to ensure the welfare of all elements of society in a country. The economic problem does not lie in production or the scarcity of resources, but rather due to unequal and unfair distribution due to the financial system that allows the exploitation of the strong against the weak. According to Abdul Mannan, the difference between Baqir and Mannan's thoughts is that production can combine the traditional economy and the market. At the same time, Baqir As Sadr only supports government planning and does not consider market forces. M. A. Mannan allowed private ownership, while Baqir Ash-Sadr limited private ownership to use rights only

Identification of Phytophthora spp. from perennial crops in Malaysia, its pathogenicity and cross-pathogenicity

Phytophthora is one of the most important plant pathogens of perennial crops in the tropics. This study characterised the pathogen(s) responsible for cocoa black pod rot, rubber pod rot and durian stem canker. Eighteen Phytophthora isolates were collected from several states in Malaysia, namely Pahang, Johor and Selangor. A total of 12 Phytophthora palmivora and six Phytophthora nicotianae isolates were isolated and identified based on the morphological and molecular characteristics. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences enabled Phytophthora identification to species level. Inoculation of 18 isolates on detached leaves and unripen cocoa pods successfully demonstrated the progressive development of lesions on its original host. Lesions were also observed in all wounded detached leaves of young durian (clone D24) and rubber (clone RRIM600) and unripen cocoa pods (clone BAL244) regardless of host and isolates. Phytophthora isolates from durian (DSCI) and rubber (R4A) used to inoculate cocoa pods exhibited lesion sizes of 11.6±0.75 and 9.6±0.64 mm, respectively. However, Phytophthora isolates from cocoa (CPR25) developed a longer length of lesion of 18.6±0.47 mm. On durian leaves, Phytophthora isolate from rubber (R4A) and cocoa (CPR25) recorded 11.73±1.04 and 5.22±0.57 mm length of lesion while Phytophthora isolates from durian (DSCB4) produced 13.13±1.29 mm lesion on its native host. Isolates from cocoa (CPR22) and durian (DSCE3) infected rubber leaves with 3.74±0.48 and 2.55±0.31 mm length of lesion, in comparison to rubber isolates (R1B) with 5.43±0.23 mm length of lesion. Differences in the length of lesion demonstrated higher level of virulence on the native host

Growth response of sweet corn ( Zea mays ) to Glomus mosseae inoculation over different plant ages.

A glasshouse study was conducted to investigate the growth response of sweet corn ( Zea mays ) to mycorrhizal fungi inoculation over different plant ages (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks) and to determine the interaction between the host and mycorrhizal fungus on mycorrhizal development, using soil substrate as inoculum for Glomus mosseae . Inoculation had no significant effect on growth parameters in plants harvested at early ages in terms of plant height, total root length, root and shoot dry weights. The significant effect of mycorrhizal inoculation was observed on plants of eight weeks old. Percentage of mycorrhizal colonization and number of spores increased significantly at plants of 2 weeks old (24.1 and 39.2%), respectively while; the highest AMF spores level was recorded at plants of four weeks old. Inoculation with G. mosseae enhanced growth of sweet corn by increasing concentration of N, P and K (24.2, 8.4 and 18.2%), respectively. We concluded that the mycorrhizal inoculation need a time (not less than one month in sweet corn) until showed the beneficial effects on host plant to be desired

Prospects for inhibition of lignin degrading enzymes to control ganoderma white rot of oil palm

Oil palm (OP) is prone to a rot by the fungus Ganoderma which may be capable of being controlled by enzyme inhibitors. Palm oil is used in the production of vegetable oil for foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and, most recently, biodiesel. However, the fundamental process of the disease as “white rot” has been ignored by researchers. White rot fungi are capable of degrading lignin ultimately to carbon dioxide and water: Celluloses become available as nutrients for the fungus. One potential control method is to inhibit the ligninolytic enzymes. There are few data on the lignin of OP and none on how it is degraded by OP Ganoderma and so specific examples on how to inhibit the enzymes of the fungus is impossible. Fortunately, there is more information on lignin and lignin model compounds degraded by other fungi. The taxonomy of Ganoderma is confused; hence drawing direct comparisons between other taxa within the genus in terms of ligninolysis is of limited utility. In general, ligninolytic enzymes can be inhibited by (a) temperature, pH and aeration, (b) high carbon and high nitrogen and (c) halides, metal chelators, heavy metals, and reducing agents. These factors require to be tested against the enzymes from Ganoderma from OPs in vitro with a view to developing control methods in the field, and this is how the area requires to be progressed. Furthermore, the procedures may be useful to control other rots of trees and wood products. In the case of OP, such compounds could be (a) injected into (b) sprayed onto and/or (c) added to the soil of the OP. In conclusion, the control of Ganoderma of OP would benefit from investigating the effect of inhibitors on the lignin degrading enzymes in vitro to enable this to be applied in plantations

Short-Term Ability of Concrete Containing Palm Oil Fuel Ash Exposed to Sodium Sulphate

Uncontrolled palm oil waste disposal can lead to an environmental problem, and recycling the waste can assist in reducing the disposal problem. On another side, concrete exposed to sulphate normally will lose its strength after some time. Replacing cement with palm oil fuel ash (POFA) can lower the disposal issue and help reduce the concrete from strength losses. The main objective of this study is to investigate the short-term effects on the strength of concrete containing POFA exposed to sulphate solution. The POFA was prepared by drying in an oven for 24 hours at 105°C and sieved passing through a 300 μm sieve. Then, the POFA had been refined using ball mills for two hours. The percentage of POFA as cement replacement used in this study is 10%, 20% and 30% by volume of cement. Two types of specimens were prepared, i.e., cube specimen (100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm) and prism specimen (500 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm) that fully immersed in water and 3.5% sulphate solutions. Density test, water absorption test, compression strength test and flexural strength test were conducted after 7 and 28 days of the exposure period. A total of 144 specimens was subjected to these tests. The experiments show that concrete with 10% replacement of POFA had a higher slump value, while the density test showed that the 10% POFA mixture had a lower density than the other specimens. Furthermore, the water absorption test showed that more POFA in concrete contributes to higher water absorption when exposed to sulphate solution compared to water. In conclusion, the compressive strength and flexural strength test recorded replacement of 10% POFA is the highest strength of concrete containing POFA exposed to sulphate solution and water

Cultural and morphological characterisations of Fusicoccum sp., the causal agent of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) leaf blight in Malaysia

Leaf blight caused by Fusicoccum sp. is becoming a serious canopy disease of rubber trees in Malaysia. Despite its increasing significance, information regarding the biology of the causal fungus is scarce. This study provides morphological data useful for its characterisation. Fungal isolates obtained from leaf samples collected from several rubber plantations in Selangor, Johor and Perak were compared in terms of their behaviour in various cultural media potato dextrose agar (PDA), Czapex-dox agar (CDA), corn meal agar (CMA) and malt extract agar (MEA). Furthermore, their incidence on rubber leaves was assessed. In all media and different pH tested, significant differences were observed in spore production, dimension of conidiomata and growth rates among isolates. On PDA, pH 6 supported the best growth compared to other media used. The growth rate was 16.8 mm/day on PDA and MEA, against 14.4 mm /day on CDA and 11.4 mm/day on CMA. The highest spore production (161.33 X 10 6 spores /mh) was obtained on PDA. The optimum temperature for spore germination in water agar was 24 °C 28 °C within a period of eight hours. AU fungal isolates tested were pathogenic to H. brasiliensis but showed variation in symptoms

Short-Term Ability of Concrete Containing Palm Oil Fuel Ash Exposed to Sodium Sulphate

Uncontrolled palm oil waste disposal can lead to an environmental problem, and recycling the waste can assist in reducing the disposal problem. On another side, concrete exposed to sulphate normally will lose its strength after some time. Replacing cement with palm oil fuel ash (POFA) can lower the disposal issue and help reduce the concrete from strength losses. The main objective of this study is to investigate the short-term effects on the strength of concrete containing POFA exposed to sulphate solution. The POFA was prepared by drying in an oven for 24 hours at 105°C and sieved passing through a 300 μm sieve. Then, the POFA had been refined using ball mills for two hours. The percentage of POFA as cement replacement used in this study is 10%, 20% and 30% by volume of cement. Two types of specimens were prepared, i.e., cube specimen (100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm) and prism specimen (500 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm) that fully immersed in water and 3.5% sulphate solutions. Density test, water absorption test, compression strength test and flexural strength test were conducted after 7 and 28 days of the exposure period. A total of 144 specimens was subjected to these tests. The experiments show that concrete with 10% replacement of POFA had a higher slump value, while the density test showed that the 10% POFA mixture had a lower density than the other specimens. Furthermore, the water absorption test showed that more POFA in concrete contributes to higher water absorption when exposed to sulphate solution compared to water. In conclusion, the compressive strength and flexural strength test recorded replacement of 10% POFA is the highest strength of concrete containing POFA exposed to sulphate solution and water

Prospects for inhibition of lignin degrading enzymes to control ganoderma white rot of oil palm

Oil palm (OP) is prone to a rot by the fungus Ganoderma which may be capable of being controlled by enzyme inhibitors. Palm oil is used in the production of vegetable oil for foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and, most recently, biodiesel. However, the fundamental process of the disease as “white rot” has been ignored by researchers. White rot fungi are capable of degrading lignin ultimately to carbon dioxide and water: Celluloses become available as nutrients for the fungus. One potential control method is to inhibit the ligninolytic enzymes. There are few data on the lignin of OP and none on how it is degraded by OP Ganoderma and so specific examples on how to inhibit the enzymes of the fungus is impossible. Fortunately, there is more information on lignin and lignin model compounds degraded by other fungi. The taxonomy of Ganoderma is confused; hence drawing direct comparisons between other taxa within the genus in terms of ligninolysis is of limited utility. In general, ligninolytic enzymes can be inhibited by (a) temperature, pH and aeration, (b) high carbon and high nitrogen and (c) halides, metal chelators, heavy metals, and reducing agents. These factors require to be tested against the enzymes from Ganoderma from OPs in vitro with a view to developing control methods in the field, and this is how the area requires to be progressed. Furthermore, the procedures may be useful to control other rots of trees and wood products. In the case of OP, such compounds could be (a) injected into (b) sprayed onto and/or (c) added to the soil of the OP. In conclusion, the control of Ganoderma of OP would benefit from investigating the effect of inhibitors on the lignin degrading enzymes in vitro to enable this to be applied in plantations

Car position and orientation based driving skill metric for analytical driving skill index evaluator

This paper proposes an improved driving skill metric incorporating car-track deviation angle and car position off-set correction agility. The main advantage of the method is which it provides more accurate since this research is using more variables in the formulation for the skill metric compared to the old metric by using the same sample group of subjects. This paper reports nearly an average of 95 of improvement for the new skill metric estimation accuracy. The analysis further reveals the metric also has better driving skill index estimation consistency. The proposed method herein offers a means for characterizing driving skill in response to car-track input information and improving the intelligent behaviours of car support system