Automatic Classification of Bright Retinal Lesions via Deep Network Features

The diabetic retinopathy is timely diagonalized through color eye fundus images by experienced ophthalmologists, in order to recognize potential retinal features and identify early-blindness cases. In this paper, it is proposed to extract deep features from the last fully-connected layer of, four different, pre-trained convolutional neural networks. These features are then feeded into a non-linear classifier to discriminate three-class diabetic cases, i.e., normal, exudates, and drusen. Averaged across 1113 color retinal images collected from six publicly available annotated datasets, the deep features approach perform better than the classical bag-of-words approach. The proposed approaches have an average accuracy between 91.23% and 92.00% with more than 13% improvement over the traditional state of art methods.Comment: Preprint submitted to Journal of Medical Imaging | SPIE (Tue, Jul 28, 2017

Design and Development of 3-Axis Benchtop CNC Milling Machine for Educational Purpose

The main factor in improving learning skills is providing students with hands-on laboratory experience, and the small-scale machine can accomplish academic programs requiring students to learn machining skills. This paper aims to design and develop a 3-axis CNC milling machine with a PC-based open architecture controller in a vertical position open frame structure. Some technical specifications were randomly selected based on the capabilities of similarly sized machines reviewed in previous work. The designed machine consisted of inexpensive off-the-shelf hardware components capable of machining the sample block with high cutting speed and reasonable precision. The accepted percentage error of circular and straightness test readings is below the set requirements. This machine is not intended for series production and precise machining. It can still effectively replace the high cost of commercial CNC machines and be used in any higher education institution offering technical courses

Design and Development of 3-Axis Benchtop CNC Milling Machine for Educational Purpose

The main factor in improving learning skills is providing students with hands-on laboratory experience, and the small-scale machine can accomplish academic programs requiring students to learn machining skills. This paper aims to design and develop a 3-axis CNC milling machine with a PC-based open architecture controller in a vertical position open frame structure. Some technical specifications were randomly selected based on the capabilities of similarly sized machines reviewed in previous work. The designed machine consisted of inexpensive off-the-shelf hardware components capable of machining the sample block with high cutting speed and reasonable precision. The accepted percentage error of circular and straightness test readings is below the set requirements. This machine is not intended for series production and precise machining. It can still effectively replace the high cost of commercial CNC machines and be used in any higher education institution offering technical courses

Contractor’s design responsibility in Malaysian traditional and design and build construction contracts: a legal perspective / Abd Hamid Abd Rahman … [et al.]

Much as we desire not to have mishaps, we cannot avoid accidents; but we can certainly minimize its occurrence. This is a research in one of the contributing factors to structural failure: the design. It analyses the extent of contractor design responsibility by providing the legal insight into the extent of liability for contractors between two types of procurement contracts in Malaysia: the design and build and traditional methods. The focus of the research is on design liability in torts as this is where the development of the case laws is more pronounced. Selected cases from the UK, Canada, Australia and Singapore show that the courts readily emphasize liability greater on design and build contractor, adopting the higher standard, compared to the exercise of reasonable skill and care for the traditional contractor. Within the setting of the design and build contract, the contractor owes the highest liability, where fit-for-purpose liability is implied even in absence of the contractual provisions. Their liability can extend even to the end user when latent defects manifest themselves by the designer builder. The standard of care expected of the consultant is limited to the exercise of reasonable skill and care, although exceptions arise when fit-for-purpose liability can be transferred by the contractor. The research concludes with the findings that the case law in Malaysia has not developed as extensive as other jurisdictions in the commonwealth, placing uncertainty of direction if ever a case on design failure undertaken by a contractor comes to court. As such, the recommendations are for clear express contractual provisions be made in the standard forms and awareness be raised among the contractors, sub-contractors and the consultants for the design duties and responsibilities to minimize occurrence of structural design failures

Effects of process parameters on selected properties of liquid compression-molded vinyl ester sheets

Vinyl esters combine the best of polyesters and epoxies in terms of properties and processing. Without complicating presence of reinforcing fibres, this study investigated the effects of catalyst amount, preheating time, molding temperature, and pressure on flexural and water absorption properties of cast vinyl ester (VE) using a factorial experiment. Longer preheating time enhanced the stiffness of VE, while higher molding pressure reduced the flexural modulus. All the four factors did not affect the flexural strength and elongation at the break of molded VE significantly. Using a high molding pressure also caused molded VE to have higher water absorption for a long water exposure period. Meanwhile, greater water absorption at bigger amount of catalyst and higher preheating temperature indicate possible interactions between these factors. The results suggest possible negative effects of high molding pressure through the increase in the network of micro-cracks, and thus lowering the integrity of cast VE sheets. Judicious selection of the process parameters was required in order to obtain good quality molded VE sheets and by extension fibre-reinforced VE composites. Molded VE-unsaturated polyester (UP) blend is a significantly different material which is 1.49 times stronger, 2.38 times more flexible, but it is 0.69 less stiff than neat VE and with significantly higher water absorption. The results obtained warrant for a further investigation in process optimization of VE molding and the use of VE-UP blend as a matrix for natural fibre-reinforced composites

Menganalisis Model Peramalan Terbaik Bagi Meramal Beban Kerja Jabatan Kerja Sosial Perubatan di Hospital Kuala Lumpur

A marked increase in the number of cases received by Medical Social Department, Kuala Lumpur Hospital have been noted since 1996. This scientific research is to forecast the trend on the number of cases expected until 2010 and to identify the level of workload associated. The analysis was based on secondary data obtained from Medical Social Department and Ministry of Health. Several forecasting models were compared and the best method was used as the basis of forecasting. The models tested were Moving Average, Exponential Smoothing, Trend Exponential Smoothing, Linear Regression, Multiplicative Decomposition and Additive Decomposition. The study found that the Linear Regression model was the most suitable to be used in the forecast. It can be concluded that based on the available data, there will be an increase in the number of cases received yearly until 2010

Investigation of recast layer of non-conductive ceramic due to micro-EDM

This paper presents the investigation of minimum recast layer of zirconium oxide (ZrO2) due to micro-EDM using EDM-3 synthetic oil as dielectric fluid and tungsten as the tool electrode with control parameters of rotational speed and gap voltage. The investigation was performed using multi-process micro machine tools DT 110. The recast layer thickness was observed using scanning electron microscope and its hardness was measured using micro-Vickers hardness tester. The hardness data were analyzed and an empirical model was developed. The optimum value for minimum recast layer hardness was 873.46 Hv with rotational speed of 395 rpm and gap voltage of 110 V

Painting process improvement through six sigma approach in a Malaysian vehicle assembly company

Painting is an important process in the automotive assembly to give more attractive appearance to the vehicles and to provide the layer of protection against corrosion and weathering. The objective of this paper is to identify and analyze the factors affecting the quality of painting process at Company RST’s Paint Shop. The paint shop was unable to perform the painting process satisfactorily and deliver the painted vehicle bodies as per customer specifications. The study concentrated on the fiber defect detected at Top Coat Area as the major problem of paint deficiency. Using activities like Genba investigation, data collection, trials and data analysis, the root causes of the problem were identified. Six Sigma DMAIC approach was utilized in conducting the improvement activities. Through designed experiments conducted to determine the best parameter setting of the spray gun used in the painting process, it was found that 3.5 bars for air pressure and 450 ml/minutes for fluid delivery resulted in the lowest paint defect. The use of Six Sigma DMAIC approach had succeeded in helping the company to minimize paint fiber defect per unit (DPU) from 10 to less than 3 DPU. The results from the study have provided an insight on successful deployment of DMAIC through application of its various statistical tools and techniques, and as the systematic problem-solving framework on solving actual industrial issues such as automotive painting problem

Energy Performance Contracting Initiative in Malaysian Public Hospitals

Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) has integrated sustainability program in the management of its assets particularly hospital buildings in line with the national sustainability goals and the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals.  The fundamental sustainability change is significant since 2015 in the public healthcare sector where green business practice is more appreciable through formation of policy and sustainability related programme. Public hospital in Malaysia are very high energy consumers, therefore various energy projects have been implemented through Energy Performance Contracting (EPC). EPC projects in MOH is intended to deliver energy expenditure savings as well as to offset hospital building carbon footprint. EPC practice in government hospitals have managed to offset about 15.7 ktonne carbon emission in 2019 or about 16% of Government building national emission reduction target. Energy project such as energy efficient chiller retrofit, LED lighting retrofit and solar thermal hot water are some of the EPC initiatives by MOH in public hospitals. The energy projects not only serve to meet the overall Hospital Facility Management Contract sustainability goals but also to complement the green building target for Malaysian Healthcare building by 2025.  The aim of this paper is to review the development of the EPC projects in public healthcare sector and its impact on government energy spending as well as to the climate