Field dependent-shear stress prediction of magnetorheological fluid using an optimum extreme learning machine model

Extreme learning machine (ELM) application to model the shear stress of magnetorheological (MR) fluids has superiority over the existing methods, such as Herschel-Bulkley. Although the shear stress has been successfully predicted, the hidden node numbers are too high reaching up to 10,000 that will hinder the application of the models. Furthermore, the existing works have tried to determine the hidden node number only by trial and error method. Therefore, this paper aims to reduce the hidden node number by employing the particle swarm optimization (PSO) considering the accuracy and the hidden node numbers. The ELM based-shear stress model was firstly defined by treating the magnetic field and shear rate as the inputs and shear stress as output. The objective function optimization method was then formulated to minimize the normalized error and the hidden node numbers. Finally, the proposed methods were tested at various ELM activation functions and samples. The results have shown that the platform has successfully reduced the hidden node numbers from 10,000 to 571 while maintaining the error of less than 1%. In summary, the proposed objective function for PSO optimization has successfully built the optimum shear stress model automatically

Hospitalized Muslim Trauma Patients Ibadah Disability Scale (HM[T]-IDS)

The HM[T]-IDS is an assessment tool developed to be used as a standard, objective evaluation scale to determine disability levels of Muslim trauma patients in performing religious physical cleansing and prayer during hospitalization and improve the deliverance of assistance they need. It is constructed based on the patients' and physicians' perspectives on the difficulties in performing religious duties. The use of this assessment tool is to assist physicians and hospital staff in scrutinizing the types of assistance required by the patients. The patients will be assessed based on five major disabilities/ difficulties, which include: A. Pain, B. Mobility, C. Extremity Involvement, D. Bandage/ Cast Application, and E. Toileting. These disabilities/ difficulties are organized in a form of a scoring sheet that utilizes a Linkert scale based on the severity of the disabilities/ difficulties. It was designed in two languages: English and Malay. The total score a patient can be given ranged between 5 and 25. From the total score obtained, the patients are categorized into four categories based on the assistance required by them: Category I (score of 5-8) - patients require least or no assistance, Category II (score of 9-14) - patients require assistance in the form of equipment or aids without the support of an assistant, Category III (score of 15-20) - patients require assistance in the form of equipment or aids with the support of an assistant, and Category IV (score of 21-25) - patients require full support from an assistant as well as supporting equipment. It is hoped that the new assessment tool can provide a new practical measure to evaluate disability among Muslim patients in performing their religious duties. It will provide a balance approach in trauma care

Field-dependent viscoelastic properties of graphite-based magnetorheological grease

This paper highlights the effect of graphite on the dynamic viscoelastic properties of magnetorheological grease (MRG). Two types of MRG namely MRG and graphite-MRG, GMRG with 0 wt.% and 10 wt. % of graphite respectively was synthesized by using a mechanical stirrer. The rheological properties of both sample at various magnetic field strength from 0 to 0.603 T was analyzed via rheometer under oscillatory mode with strain ranging from 0.001 to 1% with fixed frequency at 1 Hz for strain sweep and frequency ranging from 0.1 to 80 Hz at a constant strain of 0.01 % for frequency sweep. Based on the result obtained, the value of storage and loss modulus are dependent on the graphite content. A high value of storage modulus was achieved in the GMRG sample at all applied magnetic field strengths within all frequency ranges. These phenomena related to the contribution of graphite to forming the chain structure with CIPs and offered a more stable and stronger structure as compared with MRG. Moreover, the reduction in the value of loss modulus in GMRG was noticed compared to MRG at on-state conditions reflected by the stable structure obtained by GMRG. Lastly, both samples displayed a strong solid-like (elastic) behavior due to the high value of storage modulus, G’ acquired compared to loss modulus, G’’ at all frequency ranges. Therefore, the utilization of graphite in MRG can be used in wide applications such as brake and seismic dampers

The antimetastatic and antiangiogenesis effects of kefir water on murine breast cancer cells

Background. Kefir is a unique cultured product that contains beneficial probiotics. Kefir culture from other parts of the world exhibits numerous beneficial qualities such as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulation, and anticancer effects. Nevertheless, kefir cultures from different parts of the world exert different effects because of variation in culture conditions and media. Breast cancer is the leading cancer in women, and metastasis is the major cause of death associated with breast cancer. The antimetastatic and antiangiogenic effects of kefir water made from kefir grains cultured in Malaysia were studied in 4T1 breast cancer cells. Methods. 4T1 cancer cells were treated with kefir water in vitro to assess its antimigration and anti-invasion effects. BALB/c mice were injected with 4T1 cancer cells and treated orally with kefir water for 28 days. Results. Kefir water was cytotoxic toward 4T1 cells at IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) of 12.5 and 8.33 mg/mL for 48 and 72 hours, respectively. A significant reduction in tumor size and weight (0.9132 ± 0.219 g) and a substantial increase in helper T cells (5-fold) and cytotoxic T cells (7-fold) were observed in the kefir water–treated group. Proinflammatory and proangiogenic markers were significantly reduced in the kefir water–treated group. Conclusions. Kefir water inhibited tumor proliferation in vitro and in vivo mainly through cancer cell apoptosis, immunomodulation by stimulating T helper cells and cytotoxic T cells, and anti-inflammatory, antimetastatic, and antiangiogenesis effects. This study brought out the potential of the probiotic beverage kefir water in cancer treatment

Subchronic toxicity, immunoregulation and anti-breast tumor effect of Nordamnacantal, an anthraquinone extracted from the stems of Morinda citrifolia L.

Background: Morinda citrifolia L. that was reported with immunomodulating and cytotoxic effects has been traditionally used to treat multiple illnesses including cancer. An anthraquinone derived from fruits of Morinda citrifolia L., nordamnacanthal, is a promising agent possessing several in vitro biological activities. However, the in vivo anti-tumor effects and the safety profile of nordamnacanthal are yet to be evaluated. Methods: In vitro cytotoxicity of nordamnacanthal was tested using MTT, cell cycle and Annexin V/PI assays on human MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells. Mice were orally fed with nordamnacanthal daily for 28 days for oral subchronic toxicity study. Then, the in vivo anti-tumor effect was evaluated on 4T1 murine cancer cells-challenged mice. Changes of tumor size and immune parameters were evaluated on the untreated and nordamnacanthal treated mice. Results: Nordamnacanthal was found to possess cytotoxic effects on MDA-MB231, MCF-7 and 4T1 cells in vitro. Moreover, based on the cell cycle and Annexin V results, nordamnacanthal managed to induce cell death in both MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 cells. Additionally, no mortality, signs of toxicity and changes of serum liver profile were observed in nordamnacanthal treated mice in the subchronic toxicity study. Furthermore, 50 mg/kg body weight of nordamncanthal successfully delayed the progression of 4T1 tumors in Balb/C mice after 28 days of treatment. Treatment with nordamnacanthal was also able to increase tumor immunity as evidenced by the immunophenotyping of the spleen and YAC-1 cytotoxicity assays. Conclusion: Nordamnacanthal managed to inhibit the growth and induce cell death in MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 cell lines in vitro and cease the tumor progression of 4T1 cells in vivo. Overall, nordamnacanthal holds interesting anti-cancer properties that can be further explored

Malaysian Oil Palm Workers Are in Pain: Hazards Identification and Ergonomics Related Problems

Agricultural activities have always been associated with hazards and injuries. Most common injuries experienced by workers are health, safety and ergonomic injuries. It stems from many causes, such as the use of manual tools, incorrect working position, inadequate rest and overloading. This paper aims to reveal the daily hazardous work task of oil palm plantation workers with highlighting the ergonomics problems and risk of injury they faced. Observations of work tasks and distribution of Modified Nordic Questionnaire (MNQ) were performed for every work unit. Worker’s activities and posture while performing work tasks were recorded extensively using camera and video recordings for ergonomics analysis. Results from the observation and questionnaire survey conducted, showed that oil palm plantation workers are exposed to the risk of dangerous work every day. Fresh fruit bunches cutter and loose fruit collectors were having highest body pain complaints and almost from them are having low back pain problems. Therefore, it is necessary for an immediate action from the management in order to determine the current prevalence of ergonomic injuries. Using of manual tools should be avoided and plantation workers should be provided with ergonomics machines that can help them reduce their workload and injuries

Palm Oil Clinker: A Potential Partial Sand Replacement In Brick Production

The present research stems out from the environmental problem posed by dumping of palm oil clinker, a by-product of palm oil industry and excessive sand mining issues. Thus, experimental work has been conducted to investigate the effect of palm oil clinker content as partial sand replacement on the properties of brick. A total of five mixes containing various percentage of palm oil clinker, which are 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% have been prepared. All specimens were water cured until the testing date. The compressive strength test, flexural strength test and water absorption test was conducted at 7 and 28 days. The findings show that incorporation of 10% palm oil clinker contributes towards densification of the mix which enhances both compressive strength and flexural strength performance of the brick. The water absorption of the brick increases slightly when palm oil clinker is integrated as partial sand replacement. On overall, the brick produced using palm oil clinker as partial sand replacement can be used for non load bearing application

Factors Affecting Students Satisfaction Of Higher Education Institution Services

University student's satisfaction is very important to institutional success in this effective establishments have satisfied ‘customers' as a result of this satisfaction supports the incoming of further students or customers. Ratings of student satisfaction are getting clearer. Higher learning institution are dealing with young adults. This gives some changes toward the higher learning environment and this is important to ensure the survivability of the college. Due to the changes in higher learning industry satisfaction factors' that used to satisfy students are no longer the same especially in this post pandemic of covid-19. In order for this college to sustain and maintain successful, the college really need to look into the new factors. To address this issue, the present study seeks to explore the relationship between students' satisfaction and service quality of higher education institution services

Multiform Frame Shape Extraction Using Neighbouring Pixel Be-Haviors For Mushaf Al-Quran

Page decoration removal in the Al-Quran is an important step in document processing. One of the challenging parts of Al-Quran text recognition area is text extraction from its decorated page. Al-Quran decorations contain different patterns and textures depending on the Mushaf. In this paper, we propose a novel approach based on neighbouring properties by analysing the binary image page of current neighbouring pixels of point. This paper will focus on how to extract Al-Quran text from its decorative illumination frame. The accuracy of the result of the proposed algorithm depends on the noise of the images. The proposed method may contribute to the development of applications related to Optical Character Recognition (OCR)