Effects of compounding on stress-strain behaviour of natural rubber vulcanizates

Imperial Users onl

MRI brain classification using support vector machine

The field of medical imaging gains its importance with increase in the need of automated and efficient diagnosis in a short period of time. Other than that, medical image retrieval system is to provide a tool for radiologists to retrieve the images similar to query image in content. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging technique that has played an important role in neuroscience research for studying brain images. Classification is an important part in retrieval system in order to distinguish between normal patients and those who have the possibility of having abnormalities or tumor. In this paper, we have obtained the feature related to MRI images using discrete wavelet transformation. An advanced kernel based techniques such as Support Vector Machine (SVM) for the classification of volume of MRI data as normal and abnormal will be deployed

Pregnancy outcome after one previous caesarean section at a tertiary university teaching hospital in Tanzania

The aim of this study was to assess outcome of pregnancy in women with one previous caesarean section at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) from 13th September 2006-2nd February 2007. All women with one previous caesarean section coming for delivery at MNH in that period were identified. Data on medical history, socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics, decision on mode of delivery, and pregnancy outcomes were collected. There were 3285 deliveries during the study period, out of which 365 (11%) women had one previous caesarean section. Almost half (48%) of the women with one previous caesarean section attended antenatal care in the dispensaries and health centres. Trial of scar was decided in 80 (21.9%) women. A total of 278 women had the decision for repeat caesarean section made on admission whereby 180 (64.4%) were for emergency caesarean section and 98 (35.6%) were for elective caesarean section. A total 52 women delivered vaginally, 44 after trial of the scar and eight among women decided for emergency repeat caesarean section on admission. The incidence of uterine rupture was 2% and perinatal mortality ratio was 55 per 1000 live birth. In conclusion, a significant proportion of women delivering at MNH had one previous caesarean section among which few underwent trial of scar. Half of the women attended antenatal care in the dispensaries and health centres. Women with previous caesarean section should be encouraged to attend hospitals providing comprehensive emergency obstetric care. The quality of intrapartum monitoring should be audited to improve maternal and newborn outcome

Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of 1,3,4-Oxadiazole and 1,2,4-Triazole Derivatives of Salicylic Acid and its Synthetic Intermediates

Eight compounds 2–9 have been synthesized starting from salicylic acid, two of them (7 and 9) are novel. The four final products namely: 5-(2-hydroxy phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thione 4, 3-(2-hydroxy phenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5-thiol 6, 3-(2-hydroxy phenyl)-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole-5-thiol 8 and 3-(2-hydroxy phenyl)-1-amino-1,2,4-triazole-5-thiol 9 have been prepared using known reactions. The structures of intermediates and final products were determined by spectroscopic IR, UV, 1H-NMR & MS-methods in addition to elemental analysis. Antibacterial activities of compounds 1–6 and 8 were investigated in vitro against Escherichia coli,  Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the results are reported herein.KEYWORDS: 1,3,4-Oxadiazole-2-thione; 1H-1,2,4-triazole-5-thiol; 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole-5-thiol; salicylic acid; antibacterial activity

A Doorway Detection and Direction (3Ds) System for Social Robots via a Monocular Camera

In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm to detect a door and its orientation in indoor settings from the view of a social robot equipped with only a monocular camera. The challenge is to achieve this goal with only a 2D image from a monocular camera. The proposed system is designed through the integration of several modules, each of which serves a special purpose. The detection of the door is addressed by training a convolutional neural network (CNN) model on a new dataset for Social Robot Indoor Navigation (SRIN). The direction of the door (from the robot’s observation) is achieved by three other modules: Depth module, Pixel-Selection module, and Pixel2Angle module, respectively. We include simulation results and real-time experiments to demonstrate the performance of the algorithm. The outcome of this study could be beneficial in any robotic navigation system for indoor environments

Novel Framework for Hidden Data in the Image Page within Executable File Using Computation between Advanced Encryption Standard and Distortion Techniques

The hurried development of multimedia and internet allows for wide distribution of digital media data. It becomes much easier to edit, modify and duplicate digital information. In additional, digital document is also easy to copy and distribute, therefore it may face many threats. It became necessary to find an appropriate protection due to the significance, accuracy and sensitivity of the information. Furthermore, there is no formal method to be followed to discover a hidden data. In this paper, a new information hiding framework is presented.The proposed framework aim is implementation of framework computation between advance encryption standard (AES) and distortion technique (DT) which embeds information in image page within executable file (EXE file) to find a secure solution to cover file without change the size of cover file. The framework includes two main functions; first is the hiding of the information in the image page of EXE file, through the execution of four process (specify the cover file, specify the information file, encryption of the information, and hiding the information) and the second function is the extraction of the hiding information through three process (specify the stego file, extract the information, and decryption of the information).Comment: 6 Pages IEEE Format, International Journal of Computer Science and Information Security, IJCSIS 2009, ISSN 1947 5500, Impact Factor 0.42

Carbonate Hydroxyapatite and Silicon-Substituted Carbonate Hydroxyapatite: Synthesis, Mechanical Properties, and Solubility Evaluations

The present study investigates the chemical composition, solubility, and physical and mechanical properties of carbonate hydroxyapatite (CO3Ap) and silicon-substituted carbonate hydroxyapatite (Si-CO3Ap) which have been prepared by a simple precipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) techniques were used to characterize the formation of CO3Ap and Si-CO3Ap. The results revealed that the silicate (SiO4 4−) and carbonate (CO3 2−) ions competed to occupy the phosphate (PO4 3−) site and also entered simultaneously into the hydroxyapatite structure.TheSi-substitutedCO3Ap reduced the powder crystallinity and promoted ion release which resulted in a better solubility compared to that of Si-free CO3Ap. The mean particle size of Si-CO3Ap was much finer than that of CO3Ap. At 750∘C heat-treatment temperature, the diametral tensile strengths (DTS) of Si-CO3Ap and CO3Ap were about 10.8 ± 0.3 and 11.8 ± 0.4 MPa, respectively

THE EFFECT OF ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING IN IMPROVING NON-NATIVE ADULTS PERFORMANCE IN MALAY LANGUAGE

Assessment for learning is one of the teaching and learning process that has been adopted to improve and accelerate learners’ ability in their learning especially involving modern foreign language. However, the process of learning becomes more productive when Assessment for learning is implemented in an informal approach for non-native adults. Therefore, the study focused on the implementation of an informal assessment for learning in a Malay language course that is being taught as modern foreign language among non-native adult learners in a higher learning institution. Malay as a modern foreign language is still new at piloting stage in Malaysia. As a result, it would be useful to adopt assessment for learning informally for non-native adults acquiring the proficiency in an intense period. So, qualitative approach, an action research methodology has been undertaken as it also equally features of Assessment for learning and in parallel to accelerating adult learners’ proficiency especially at beginners’ level.  Moreover, action research methodology is used to study the effectiveness of Assessment for learning applied among non-native adult learners in the Malay course. The research study involved 30 non-native adult learners in a higher learning institution from January 2014 until December 2017. The instruments used to collect data were by means of feedback, observation and continuous assessments. The data were analyzed in a quantified approach using descriptive research method to measure the frequency of non-native adult learners’ achievement by using Likert scale rating. The main findings of this research revealed how informal Assessment for learning assists non-native adult learners achievements and also benefits trainers in future to adopt and apply such model to support their teaching and elevate non-native adult learners’ achievement in Malay course