The effect of knowledge transfer and manufacturing capabilities among local manufacturers in northern region of Malaysia

Due to uncertain of current economic situation, manufacturers must revise their ways to survive in their business.Manufacturing capability assumes that firms are more effective than their rivals at deploying resources.It is suggested that better performing firms are more likely to address multiple manufacturing capabilities simultaneously.In developing countries, manufacturing capabilities is a new concept. There is lack of awareness on the importance of upstream manufacturing capabilities such as product development and design.Through the email survey, a total of 89 companies representing various industries had responded. The hypotheses involved were tested using correlation and regression techniques.The results of the study support all the hypotheses.This paper provides an analysis on the relationship between knowledge transfer and manufacturing capabilities among local manufacturers in Malaysian Northern Region.

A randomized comparison on the corneal endothelial morphology after the use of 2 different viscoelastic agents during phacoemulsification surgery

Objective: To compare corneal endothelial morphological changes after the use of Healon 5 (sodium hyaluronate 2.3%) and Healon GV (sodium hyaluronate 1.4%) during phacoemulsification surgery, particularly at three months after the surgery. Settings: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia and Eye clinic, Hospital Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. Materials and Methods: One hundred and ten patients were randomized, 55 per group, in a prospective randomized clinical trial of phacoemulsification surgery using Heal on 5 or Heal on GV. Three ophthalmologists performed the surgeries. The corneal endothelial cells density, average cell size, coefficient variation and hexagonality were assessed preoperatively and at three months postoperatively using a non-contact specular microscope Topcon SP2000P. Analysis of the data was performed using SPSS version 10.0, Independent-Samples T Test. Results: There was statistically significant difference between Healon 5 group and Healon GV group based on endothelial cell density (p=0.015) and percentage of cell loss (p=0.033). The cell size was noted significantly smaller in the Healon 5 group compared to the Healon GV group at three months (p=0.004). A similar result was also noted in percentage of changes in cell size (p=0.033). There were no statistically significant differences in changes of coefficient variation of cell size and hexagonality in both groups at three months after the surgery. Conclusion: Minimal corneal endothelial morphological changes were noted in the Healon 5 group compared to the Healon GV group, particularly in term of less cell loss and less alteration in cell size at three months after the surgery. Thus, indicates that Healon 5 is more effective than Healon GV in minimizing risk of corneal endothelial injury during phacoemulsification surgery

Burkholderia cepacia: a rare cause of bacterial keratitis

We describe the first clinical case of Burkholderia cepacia keratitis registered in Southeast Asia. A man in his mid-70s with underlying poorly controlled diabetes mellitus came with complaints of painful red left eye for 4 days. This was accompanied with photophobia and blurring of vision after being injured by a wooden particle while cutting grass. Slit-lamp examination showed a paracentral anterior corneal stromal infiltrates with overlying epithelial defect. Culture of the corneal smear isolated B. cepacia that was sensitive to ceftazidime, meropenem and bactrim (trimethorprim and sulfomethoxazole). Topical ceftazidime was given intensively to the patient and the infection resolved after 6 weeks of treatment

Severe panuveitis in neuro-Behçet’s disease in Malaysia: a case series

Behçet’s disease (BD) is a multisystemic disease that is very rare in Malaysia. About 5% of patients develop central nervous system involvement, termed neuro-Behçet’s. Neuro- Behçet’s is one of the most serious causes of long-term morbidity and mortality. We report two cases of neuro-Behçet’s associated with uveitis (ocular BD) highlighting the clinical presentation, diagnostic measurement, and therapeutic management of these cases

Traumatic Globe Displacement into Anterior Cranial Fossa

A 64-year-old Malay gentleman alleged occupational injury when a malfunctioned metal hydraulic door hit on his face while unloading sand from his tipper-truck. Post-trauma, he complained of right eye (RE) pain and total loss of vision. On examination, noted RE visual acuity was unable to be assessed and left eye (LE) was 6/24 with pinhole 6/9. No eyeball could be seen in the right socket with superior orbital rim step deformity and left periorbital haematoma. Computed tomography scan of the brain and orbit confirmed displaced right eye globe into the right anterior cranial fossa with right and left multiple orbital wall fractures. He then underwent successful right eye globe repositioning. Traumatic orbital roof fracture is a rare condition. Repositioning of the eye globe was done to salvage the eye globe for a cosmetic reason and to avoid localised inflammatory reaction at the anterior cranial fossa

Aproposed TEV framework for Pulau Payar Marine Park

This paper aims to propose total economic value (TEV) framework for Pulau Payar Marine Park (PPMP). Currently, TEV framework for PPMP revealed a few components despite infeasibility of certain main scientific data to be acquired and also under assumption of non-climate change phenomenon. With the MPA exposures towards recent climate change phenomenon, this paper explored the extended areas in Pulau Payar that might contribute either positively or negatively to the value of the PPMP which will assist in marine park management in their policy making. This study conducted along the qualitative paths in which information are gathered through focus group discussions and empirical study relevant to the calamity of coral bleaching. The findings illustrate that there are eight (8) items would contribute to the use and non-use value of the TEV framework

Micro-Needle with Polygonal Structure of Micro-Channel for Stress and Blood or Drug Flow Optimization

This paper presents micro-needle with different tip and inner structure of the needle for optimizations of pain stresses and drug or blood deliveries. The micro-needle comes with several design's parameters of length ranging from 5 mm to 50 mm and diameter ranging from 100 µm to 200 µm. A hollow micro-needle with four different tip designs which are 10°, D3-2, D6 and Quadruple are also designed to optimize the pain stresses parameters. In order to improve the flow deliveries, the inner structure of the channel is modified into various polygonal shape which is square, hexagon and dodecagon. It shows that, having less contact surface area between the skin and micro-needle's tip and polygonal shape of inner channel has better performance for both of the objectives. These feasible region of average velocity and stress of the micro-needle have satisfied in determining the best design for tip and inner channel of the micro-needle under certain conditions and constraints. The three-dimensional geometry study had improved the insertions performance and efficiencies in painless drug or blood deliveries

Evaluation of ampicillin, vancomycin, and gentamycin antibiotic resistant among lactobacillus isolates / Rozila Alias... [et al.]

Antibiotic resistance is an ever-increasing in worldwide problem nowadays. It is happened when the exten- sive use of antibiotics which will creates the selective pressure resulting from mutation of normal genes and spreading of a variety of an antimicrobial resistance. Uses of Lactobacillus as probiotics or in starter cultures may serve as hosts of antibiotic resistance genes, which could be transfer or resistance to multiple antibiotics. Therefore, it is important to screen the susceptible or resistance towards antibiotics which will not transferable resistance genes. In the recent study, a total of 37 strains of Lactobacillus species isolated from various milk and dairy products such as goat’s milk, cattle’s milk, human’s milk, homemade yogurt and commercial yogurt were examined for the antibiotic profile using Kirby-Bauer method. The results of this study show that human’s milk has a high number of Lactobacillus isolates resistant to ampicillin (75%), vancomycin (62.5%) and gentamycin (62.5%). Whereas Lactobacillus isolated from cattle’s milk have resistant to ampicillin (42.1%), vancomycin (42.1%) and susceptible to gentamycin (0%). But however, goat’s milk still has lower percentage number of resistant to ampicillin (28.0%), vancomycin (14.3%) and are susceptible to gentamycin (0%). These results indicate that ampicillin and vancomycin resistant seems to be very common among Lactobacillus isolates but gentamycin are still susceptible used. Vancomycin resistant are more concerned because of the emerging problem in hospital and often described as one of the last resorts against the infection caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens. Therefore, lactobacilli as probiot- ics would be more monitoring when applied in food industry and clinical especially for immune compromised patients or during anti-biotherapy. Acquisition and retransfer of resistance genes should be addressed in the new safety aspects of probiotics uses.addressed in the new safety aspects of probiotics uses

Drag-Reduction Study and its Dynamic Characteristics on Recreational Speedboat Utilizing Simplified Shark Skin Design

Inspired by the structure of the shark skin denticles, our team has carried out a study on the attempt of improving the hydrodynamic design of marine vessels through design modification on the hull form by applying simplified imitation of shark skins. Speedboat models used in this study were designed using computer-aided design (CAD) software and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations were then carried out to predict the hydrodynamic effect of the bio mimicry application on the hull form, mainly focusing on the wave profile produced by the models as well as the total drag experienced by it under two different Froude value; Fr≈ 0.39 and Fr≈0.47. Interestingly, the design modification on the hull gave encouraging results with a reduction of 12% and 10.4% at Fr≈ 0.39 and Fr≈0.47 respectively on the total drag coefficient. Furthermore, the modified speedboat provides better wave pattern compared to unmodified hull form. The reduction of drag force could contribute to a more efficient vessel with better cruising speed. Thus, this provide better impact to marine industry in order to help improve their vessel dynamic performances