Biomimetic bone-like apatite coating on anodised titanium in simulated body fluid under UV irradiation

Low temperature deposition techniques of bioceramics coatings are now being researched and developed to avoid deficiencies inherent in high temperature techniques. Biomimetic coatings are a solution-based method conducted at ambient temperature to deposit bioactive coatings on the surface. The current study aims to investigate the effect of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on the coating of bone-like apatite on the anodised surface. High purity titanium foils were anodised with an applied voltage of 350 V, current density of 70 mA.cm-2 in mixture of 0.04 M β-glycerophosphate disodium salt pentahydrate (β-GP) and 0.4 M calcium acetate (CA) for 10 min. After anodic oxidation, UV light treatment was conducted in pH-adjusted distilled water for 12 h with ultraviolet light A (UVA) irradiation. Subsequently, the UV-treated anodised titanium foils were soaked in SBF for 7 days with/without UVA irradiation. After SBF immersion for 7 days, anodised titanium with combination of UV light treatment and UV irradiation during in vitro testing was fully covered by highly crystalline bone-like apatite at maximal thickness of 2.8 μm. This occurred mainly due to the formation of large amounts of Ti-OH groups which act as nucleation sites for bone-like apatite. This study also revealed that UV irradiation during in vitro testing is superior in promoting growth of bone-like apatite compared to UV light treatment. The suggested mechanism for bone-like apatite formation on anodised titanium under different UV irradiation conditions is illustrated in this article. The findings of this study indicated that biomimetic bone-like apatite coating with assistance of UV irradiation is an effective method in accelerating the formation of bone-like apatite

Application of fuzzy AHP method based on eigenvalues for decision making in transportation problems

There is extensive evidence that current environmental systems are at alarming level of degradations which can cause unfavourable impacts on human life and other interacting ecosystems. Consequently, firms were driven to review their current practices and identify any opportunity of introducing green initiatives in their operations to support the ability of current generations to meet their needs without compromising the ability of meeting needs of future generations. The strategic incorporation of environmental concerns in firm’s innovation efforts has been recognized to have great potential for supporting sustainable development (Xavier, 2015). Ecological innovation (eco-innovation) is one of the indispensable strategies for firms to overcome the increasing environmental challenges and contribute to achieve improved and sustainable environment. According to Tarnawska (2013), eco-innovations are basic sources of ecological growth and efficiency which resulted in technological improvements and greater sustainability. Thus, over the past two decades, firms were actively searching for the secret recipe on how to integrate the principles of eco-innovation into their long and short-term strategies

New approach on global optimization problems based on meta-heuristic algorithm and quasi-Newton method

This paper presents an innovative approach in finding an optimal solution of multimodal and multivariable function for global optimization problems that involve complex and inefficient second derivatives. Artificial bees colony (ABC) algorithm possessed good exploration search, but the major weakness at its exploitation stage. The proposed algorithms improved the weakness of ABC algorithm by hybridized with the most effective gradient based method which are Davidon-Flecher-Powell (DFP) and Broyden-Flecher-Goldfarb-Shanno (BFGS) algorithms. Its distinguished features include maximizing the employment of possible information related to the objective function obtained at previous iterations. The proposed algorithms have been tested on a large set of benchmark global optimization problems and it has shown a satisfactory computational behaviour and it has succeeded in enhancing the algorithm to obtain the solution for global optimization problems

Quality of life satisfaction among converted Kelantan Chinese Muslims

This article investigates the quality of life of the Kelantan Chinese Muslim community before and after conversion to Islam, focusing on their level of satisfaction in term of economic aspect. This research was carried out using the sequential explanatory mixed method design involving 75 respondents selected for quantitative and five respondents for qualitative. The sampling method adopted was convenience and snowball samplings. The research data was collected using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that respondents were moderately satisfied before conversion and satisfied after conversion. Besides that, there is no significant difference of quality of life before and after conversion to Islam (F = 0.868, p = 0.355) and it was not influenced by the period of conversion to Islam (F = 0.832, p = 0.589). This analysis indicates numerous respondents are still moderately satisfied in their quality of life even though the average data shows they are satisfied after conversion

Employee’s Perception of Performance Management System – An Assessment

Performance Management System (PMS) is an important component of Human Resource Management (HRM). The purpose of PMS is to evaluate and integrate the doables and deliverables in organization. The successful implementation of PMS helps in the attainment of organizational goals. The contribution of the organizational members and their perception about PMS has a key role to play for achieving the goals of PMS. In this context, the paper addresses to the employees’ perception about PMS of the organization. The significant variation between the perceived values of the employees about PMS and its different dimensions is explored in this study. The supervisor’s motivational and empathetic role, upward communication in organization, conducting Training & Development (T & D) programmes for achieving PMS goals have been suggested

Logistics 4.0 operation transformation determinant factors

The phenomenal growth of e-commerce and online purchase have greatly impacted global logistics industry. As a results, integration of Logistics and Industry Revolution 4.0 is inevitable due to increasing complexities and strong needs to fulfill demanding customer responsiveness. The term Logistics4.0 is coined to reflect the integration of smart systems in industrial logistics which transformed the entire logistics operation and it is getting high focus from researchers and industry practitioners. This article focused on the influential factors which contributed towards Logistics4.0 operation transformation. The business feasibility, workforce competency and technology readiness factors were evaluated thoroughly which provided essential and critical insights to the global logistics industry as it embarked towards smart Logistics4.0

New Product Development: The Perspective of SMES in Malaysia

Small Medium Enterprise (SMEs) are growing rapidly in Malaysia and are the backbone of economic growth. Until today, there are more than 1 million SMEs company registered. The purpose of this research is to determine the best competitive forces and the best practices of New Product Development (NPD). The Porter’s Five Forces Theories or dimensions have been used to determine the competitive forces which is effective for new product development. The targeted population was the top level SME companies in the Southern Region of Malaysia and they are the producer of food and beverages. Data have been collected from 40 top level managers of the selected SME companies using quantitative method. The findings revealed that the best NPD practice is the commercialization, while the best sales competitive forces is threat of substitutes. The owners of the SMEs are recommended to transform their marketing strategies and product innovation to achieve their target and success in the future

Improved Segregated Advancement (I-SA): a new method for solving full triangular fuzzy transportation problems

In this paper, triangular fuzzy numbers (TFN) are used to represent the uncertainty of data in the transportation problems (TP), which are referred to as fuzzy transportation problems (FTP). The main issues in the FTP are the lack of information, error of the basic trading rules, incomplete fuzzy data, and the limitations of the existing fuzzy-ranking functions which is failed to compare two TFN. Segregated advancement (SA) is a separation approach where the TFN represented by low, middle, and upper are solved part by part. The flaw of SA is that it uses the classical algorithms which are NWC, LCM, and VAM. Therefore, we proposed the improvement based on the combination of total ratio cost matrix and total difference method by column without using classical ranking functions. The first and second examples illustrate the existing methods without using the SA approach. The results show that the proposed method obtained the optimal solution of FTP, whereas the existing methods produced infeasible solution. The third example presents the limitation of existing methods along with the SA approach. The results show that the proposed method is capable in solving the third example whereas the existing approach failed to solve the said exampl