Bloodbuddy: a Tracking System for Blood Donor Using GPS

Blood donation is one of the most significant contributions towards the society. Millions of people need blood transfusions each year. Some may need blood during surgery. Others depend on it after an accident or because they have a disease that requires blood components. This study is aim to develop and evaluate the impact of tracking system in the blood shortage situation which is the urgent requirement of the fresh blood and to improve the communication between the hospital and donor. This system will locate the nearest blood donor in cases of emergencies in fastest and easiest way using GPS.The findings on the views of user on the aspects of interface design, navigation and functionality of the web-based application that is developed are presented. Data analysis was done based on the questionnaire received from few users which are student from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI). The findings of this study were analysed according to the objectives and the research questions of the project

Performance evaluation of hybrid coagulation/nanofiltration process for AT-POME treatment

The presence of lignin and its degraded products such as tannin and humic acids is the main reason causing the aerobically-treated palm oil mill effluent (AT-POME) to display colour at the point of discharge. In this work, a hybrid method is employed to treat the AT-POME sample that was conventionally treated by biological method. This hybrid method that combines coagulation and nanofiltration (NF) membrane is used to treat the industrial effluent in which the coagulation is conducted prior to NF process. The effects of several variables during coagulation process, i.e., alum concentration, decolouring polymer dosage, cationic polymer dosage and pH on the colour removal and sludge volume production are investigated in order to determine optimum variable conditions for NF process. Under the optimum coagulation conditions (50 mg/L alum, 441 mg/L decolouring polymer, 534 mg/L cationic polymer and pH 9.2), the results showed 92% colour removal with sludge volume as low as 4.1 mL. Further treatment using commercial NF membranes indicated that a permeate sample with complete elimination of colour (almost 100% removal) could be produced with reasonably high water flux

Lead Acid Battery Analysis using Spectrogram

Battery is an alternative option that can be substituted for future energy demand. Numerous type of battery is used in industries to propel portable power and its makes the task of selecting the right battery type is crucial. These papers discuss the implementation of linear timefrequency distribution (TFD) in analysing lead acid battery signals. The time-frequency analysis technique selected is spectrogram. Based on, the time-frequency representations (TFR) obtain, the signal parameter such as instantaneous root mean square (RMS) voltage, direct current voltage (VDC) and alternating current voltage (VAC) are estimated. The parameter is essential in identifying signal characteristics. This analysis is focussing on lead-acid battery with nominal battery voltage of 6 and 12V and storage capacity from 5 until 50Ah, respectively. The results show that spectrogram technique is capable to estimate and identify the signal characteristics of Lead Acid battery

Characterization of the physical properties of the ancient nanostructured biomaterials (nacre layer) retrieved using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)

Nacre can be found in many seashells species made up of about 95% of volume of multilayer structure of crystalline aragonite and consists of both inorganic and organic biomaterial. Nacre is one of the natural structural materials which constructed at ambient temperature having hard and soft phases arranged in multifaceted hierarchical architectures, thus spanning the characteristic dimensions from the nanoscale to the macroscale. The physical characteristics of the retrieved nacre powder from the nacre layer by using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) method were analyzed by means of X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, and thermal analyzer Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)/Thermagravimetric (TGA). XRF analysis revealed the high content of calcium carbonate in comparison to the untreated nacre. The XRD confirmed the aragonite properties of the retrieved nacre while FTIR spectroscopy identified the calcium carbonate phases due to the differences in carbonate ions, CO2-/3. Simultaneous thermal analyzer (DSC/TGA) was used for analysis of the thermal decomposition of the retrieved nacre powder. Here, we successfully evaluated the properties of the ancient nanostructured biomaterial; nacre retrieved using EDTA for future application in bone tissue engineering

Structural crack detection system using internet of things (IoT) for structural health monitoring (SHM): a review

Monitoring the state of civil engineering infrastructure is critical for a country’s economic development since structures with long service life and timely maintenance have lower reconstruction costs. Crack occurrence is the most important element that influences the performance and lifespan of civil infrastructures like bridges and pipelines. As a result, several fracture detection and characterization approaches have been explored and developed in the domains of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) throughout the last few decades. The major goal of implementing the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm is to enable the Internet-based connectivity extension of various typical SHM devices. As a result, connected devices can communicate and process data, opening new possibilities in the design of acquisition systems in various disciplines of research and engineering. The researchers have extended the application of the IoT paradigm to the SHM crack detection because of the advances, ensuring that the tests done in this framework can produce good results with promising future improvements. Thus, this paper reviews structural crack detection based IoT for SHM as reported by previous research in the literature. The strengths and limitations of current systems are discussed. This paper is aimed to serve as a reference for crack detection and characterisation researchers as well as others who are interested in SHM in general. In addition, several case studies on real structures, as well as laboratory experiments for monitoring structural crack health of civil engineering structures, are also presented

VALIDATION OF THE MALAY VERSION OF THE EXPLANATORY MODEL INTERVIEW CATALOGUE STIGMA SCALE AMONG COVID-19 SURVIVORS IN MALAYSIA

Abstract The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) imparted unprecedented negative impact worldwide since it was declared as a global pandemic in 2020 due to its high infectivity and mortality rate. Consequently, those who have been infected with COVID-19 experienced significant amount of social stigma which resulting in deterioration of mental well being. Hence, this study aimed to translate the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue Stigma Scale (EMIC-SS) into Malay and investigate the reliability and validity of the Malay version (EMIC-SS-M) among COVID-19 survivors in Malaysia. Initially, concurrent translation and back translation of the EMIC-SS was conducted followed by the assessment of its face and content validity. Then, the EMIC-SS-M was administered to 219 COVID-19 survivors recruited from three targeted centers for assessment of its reliability (internal consistency) and validity (convergent and discriminant validity, exploratory factor analysis [EFA] and confirmatory factor analysis [CFA]). The EMIC-SS-M reported an acceptable internal consistency with Cronbach’s α of 0.727, while its domains reported acceptable Cronbach’s α ranged from 0.708 to 0.795. EFA and CFA confirmed that the EMIC-SS-M consisted of 15 items in 4 domains. The EMIC-SS-M exhibited good psychometric properties and ready for use to assess stigma among COVID 19 survivors in Malaysia. It can be adapted for use to assess stigma in other disease conditions among the Malaysian population in future studies

Undrained shear strength of soft clay reinforced with 6mm and 10mm diameter of single bottom ash column

In today's construction industry, there are various types of ground improvement techniques are need due to existence of problematic soil like soft soil. Stone column is one of the ground improvement techniques to improve the soft soil strength. Bottom ash, as a residue of coal combustion from coal power plants, has similar properties with sand and potentially use as stone columns. The utilization of the industrial by-products is recognized nowadays due to the continuous dwindling of non-renewable natural materials. Furthermore, the large production of bottom ash from coal burning in Malaysia has results in waste issues. So, by using bottom ash column, the disposal problem for bottom ash could extensively be reduced. This research is to show the improvement level in shear strength of soft clay after being reinforced with single bottom ash column. The first study was to determine the physical and mechanical properties of kaolin and bottom ash. The results show that kaolin can be classified as clayey soil and the bottom ash it has relatively similar characteristics to sand. Next, remoulded specimens of 50mm in diameter and 100mm in height of kaolin are tested under Unconfined Compression Test (UCT). A total 35 specimens of kaolin samples were tested using unconfined compression test to determine the shear strength parameter. It can be concluded that the shear strength parameters were affected by the diameter and the height of the column. Diameter for single bottom ash columns are 6 mm, and 10mm. So, the area ratio between the area of the bottom ash column and area of the specimen (Ac/As) are 1.44% and 4.0%.The heights of single bottom ash column are 24mm, 36mm, 48mm4 40mm, 60mm and 80mm. So, the height penetration ratios between the heights of column with the height of the specimen (Hc/Hs) are 0.24, 0.36, 0.48, 0.40, 0.60 and 0.8 respectively. Hence, the volume ratio between the volume of the bottom ash column and volume of the specimen (Vc/Vs) are 0.35%, 0.52%, 0.69% 1.60%, 2.40%, 3.20%. The presence of bottom ash column really improved the shear strength. Nonetheless, column longer than 80% of the soil length, did not lead to further increment in shear strength. This is considered as the "critical column length" where used as vertical granular column

Chemosensor development of cu2+ recognition using 1,5-diphenylcarbazone: optimization, cosmo-RS and DFT studies

The sensitive and selective chemosensor for copper (II) ions (Cu2+) was successfully optimized using the 1,5-diphenylthiocarbazone (DPT) compound. Results showed that Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) in a 9:1 ratio with a co-solvent at a pH 3 was the optimum condition for DPT to act as chemosensor of Cu2+ recognition. The DPT chemosensor did not encounter any interference from other metal ions, including Fe3+, Ag+, Cr3+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Mg2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, K+, Ni2+ and Co2+ . The presence of Cu2+ led to an absorption peak at 658 nm, where the colour changed from cantaloupe to grey-green color indicating the interaction by the formation of the DPT-Cu complex in 2:1 stoichiometry. The theoretical σ-profile calculation using conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS) showed the compatibility of DPT with the DMSO solvent through hydrogen bonding. In the density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the formation energy of DPT and DPT-Cu were -1113.79645660 a.u. and -2435.71832681 a.u., respectively. Under optimal conditions, a detection limit of 1.47 ppm for the DPT chemosensor for Cu2+ recognition can compete with the atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) value of 1.50 ppm. The preliminary results show that DPT was able to provide less expensive, more portable and convenient chemosensor for Cu2+ recognition in aqueous medium, as compared to AAS

Performance of nanofiltration-like forward-osmosis membranes for aerobically treated palm oil mill effluent

For the first time, engineered osmosis was performed using commercial nanofiltration (NF) membranes for the treatment process of aerobically treated palm oil mill effluent (AT-POME). Compared to conventional forward-osmosis (FO) membranes with dense rejection layer, the NF-like FO membranes offer a higher water flux with minimum reverse solute flux provided appropriate solutes like divalent salts or polyelectrolytes were used in the draw solution. Both NF membranes were able to treat the AT-POME by completely preventing the color component from passing through the permeate side under FO and pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO) orientation. The water fluxes of the membranes were higher under PRO orientation owing to the reduced internal concentration polarization effect. Relatively loose membranes for the engineered osmosis application could address severe surface fouling of membranes tested under pressure-driven filtration

Enhancing Physiochemical Substrate Properties of Thin-Film Composite Membranes for Water and Wastewater Treatment via Engineered Osmosis Process

The commercial thin-film composite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membrane is unsuitable for engineered osmosis processes because of its thick non-woven fabric and semi-hydrophilic substrate that could lead to severe internal concentration polarization (ICP). Hence, we fabricated a new type of NF-like TFC membrane using a hydrophilic coated polyacrylonitrile/polyphenylsulfone (PAN/PPSU) substrate in the absence of non-woven fabric, aiming to improve membrane performance for water and wastewater treatment via the engineered osmosis process. Our results showed that the substrate made of a PAN/PPSU weight ratio of 1:5 could produce the TFC membrane with the highest water flux and divalent salt rejection compared to the membranes made of different PAN/PPSU substrates owing to the relatively good compatibility between PAN and PPSU at this ratio. The water flux of the TFC membrane was further improved without compromising salt rejection upon the introduction of a hydrophilic polydopamine (PDA) coating layer containing 0.5 g/L of graphene oxide (PDA/GO0.5) onto the bottom surface of the substrate. When tested using aerobically treated palm oil mill effluent (AT-POME) as a feed solution and 4 M MgCl2 as a draw solution, the best performing TFC membrane with the hydrophilic coating layer achieved a 67% and 41% higher forward osmosis (FO) and pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) water flux, respectively, compared to the TFC membrane without the coating layer. More importantly, the coated TFC membrane attained a very high color rejection (>97%) during AT-POME treatment, while its water flux and reverse solute flux were even better compared to the commercial NF90 and NF270 membranes. The promising outcomes were attributed to the excellent properties of the PAN/PPSU substrate that was coated with a hydrophilic PDA/GO coating and the elimination of the thick non-woven fabric during TFC membrane fabrication