The criteria for evaluating method and evidence on radiation health effects in epidemiological study: a review

This paper purpose is to assess whether the distance of base station plays a causal role leading to health problem. This research mostly focuses on participants around telecommunication base stations by assessing their symptoms and level of the incident of occurrence of pains and discomfort. It is important to rule out all the criteria and causality from cause and outcome in radiation health effects through epidemiological study. The major causal criteria to follow are criteria of biological plausibility, consistency, temporality and specificity of alternative explanations. True EMR value also should be determined to support the survey collection. Previous studies mostly have been performed were limited to the questionnaire survey and often burdened by the subjectivism-related error. The evidence for public health intervention must be sufficiently comprehensive to cover the complexity in epidemiological studies.Keywords: base stations; electromagnetic radiation (EMR); health effect; questionnair

Knowledge of dengue among students in Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UNISZA), Terengganu, Malaysia and the influence of knowledge of dengue on attitude and practice

Reducing the vector population not only organization responsible, individual itself plays as important role in dengue prevention and control. Upon the understanding of the value of baseline data, a cross-sectional study was carried out in the dengue hotspot areas in Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA). The study results show that 83.9% of the population had a high level of knowledge, 10.6% had a good attitude and 81.8% were performing good practice against dengue infection. After adjusting confounding variables, age and educational level of respondents, knowledge as well as attitude were found to be significant associated factors for having good practice against dengue. The study findings provide the need for further information to undertake a holistic approach, which is in need of community participation and cooperation.Keywords: dengue fever; knowledge; attitudes; practice; studen

Point Absorber Method as Wave Energy Convertor Device for Power Generation: Effect of Buoy Arrangements

A point absorber is a floating structure with components that move relative to each other due to wave action. They utilize the up and down movement of the wave height at a single point for energy conversion. The relative up and down which is bobbing motion caused by passing waves used to drive electromechanical energy converters to generate power output. This experiment investigates behaviour of the point absorber device used the pneumatic sensor to take the frequency of the displacement of buoy while testing in the wave maker generator. Then, study the efficiency power output of point absorber WEC device and studies the behaviour of the point absorber in a regular wave. Fabricate the linear generator which as power absorption to estimate the effectiveness power output on different configuration by using the multimeter device. The point absorber at the front position of the configuration has good behaviour because of the high frequency produced. By estimated the behaviour of the device on configuration achieved. Configuration shape design of the point absorber used in this testing is square, diamond and parallelogram shape for an estimate the best power output. The configuration of the parallelogram has the best power output compared to another configuration. The best arrangement of the device for efficiency by measure the output voltage as power output is 68.14 mV and increase 8% in every minute

A Theoretical Model of Augmented Reality Acceptance in Urban Cultural Heritage Tourism

Latest mobile technologies have revolutionised the way people experience their environment. Recent research explored the opportunities of using augmented reality (AR) in order to enhance the user experience however, there is only limited research on users’ acceptance of AR in the tourism context. The technology acceptance model is the predominant theory for researching technology acceptance. Previous researchers used the approach of proposing external dimensions based on secondary literature; however missed the opportunity to integrate context specific dimensions. This paper therefore aims to propose an AR acceptance model in the context of urban heritage tourism. Five focus groups, with young British female tourists visiting Dublin and experiencing a mobile AR application, were conducted. The data were analysed using thematic analysis and revealed seven dimensions that should be incorporated into AR acceptance research including information quality, system quality, costs of use, recommendations, personal innovativeness and risk as well as facilitating conditions

Kesejahteraan subjektif: kajian kes nelayan di Sedili, Kota Tinggi, Johor

Kertas bertujuan membincangkan tahap kesejahteraan hidup nelayan di Sedili, Kota Tinggi, Johor. Objektif khusus kertas ialah mengukur tahap kesejahteraan hidup nelayan dan membuat perbandingan tahap kesejahteraan hidup nelayan pantai dengan nelayan laut dalam. Selain itu, hubungan antara tahap kesejahteraan hidup nelayan pantai dan nelayan laut dalam dengan umur, bilangan tanggungan, tempoh masa menjadi nelayan, pendapatan bulanan dan pendapatan keluarga responden turut dianalisa. Tahap kesejahteraan hidup diukur secara subjektif berdasarkan persepsi nelayan terhadap 10 pernyataan berkaitan kehidupan seharian mereka menggunakan 5-skala likert. Sejumlah 200 orang nelayan dianalisis dalam perbincangan ini. Hasil kajian menunjukkan tahap kesejahteraan hidup nelayan adalah pada tahap yang tinggi, baik nelayan pantai ataupun nelayan laut dalam. Meskipun begitu, penglibatan pihak berkuasa dalam meningkatkan tingkat kehidupan masyarakat nelayan amat penting untuk mencapai tingkat pendapatan yang lebih tinggi agar kesejahteraan hidup sebenar dapat dinikmati

Development of human-fingertip-sized three-axis tactile sensor based on image data processing

In order to increase the versatility of multi-fingered humanoid robot hands, we designed a human-finger-sized three-axis tactile sensor using a simple structure. Since we adopted a feeler-less structure for miniaturization, we acquired the three-axis tactile data via image data processing. With this sensor design, we solved the intrinsic problem of the ordinal three-axis tactile sensor's insensible zone. In a series of verification experiments, the sensor measured variation in normal force in the range of 0 to 2.5 N; furthermore, it detected variation in tangential force in the range of 0 to 0.25 N under 1.5-N normal force

Cellular events and biomarkers of wound healing

Researchers have identified several of the cellular events associated with wound healing. Platelets, neutrophils, macrophages, and fibroblasts primarily contribute to the process. They release cytokines including interleukins (ILs) and TNF-α, and growth factors, of which platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is perhaps the most important. The cytokines and growth factors manipulate the inflammatory phase of healing. Cytokines are chemotactic for white cells and fibroblasts, while the growth factors initiate fibroblast and keratinocyte proliferation. Inflammation is followed by the proliferation of fibroblasts, which lay down the extracellular matrix. Simultaneously, various white cells and other connective tissue cells release both the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the tissue inhibitors of these metalloproteinases (TIMPs). MMPs remove damaged structural proteins such as collagen, while the fibroblasts lay down fresh extracellular matrix proteins. Fluid collected from acute, healing wounds contains growth factors, and stimulates fibroblast proliferation, but fluid collected from chronic, nonhealing wounds does not. Fibroblasts from chronic wounds do not respond to chronic wound fluid, probably because the fibroblasts of these wounds have lost the receptors that respond to cytokines and growth factors. Nonhealing wounds contain high levels of IL1, IL6, and MMPs, and an abnormally high MMP/TIMP ratio. Clinical examination of wounds inconsistently predicts which wounds will heal when procedures like secondary closure are planned. Surgeons therefore hope that these chemicals can be used as biomarkers of wounds which have impaired ability to heal. There is also evidence that the application of growth factors like PDGF will help the healing of chronic, nonhealing wounds

A cross-cultural study of religiosity and tax compliance attitudes in Malaysia and Turkey

Ensuring compliance in tax collection is very crucial as tax is one of the basic elements of public financing in almost all countries. The issue of compliance in tax research has been explored over many years from different perspectives. Initially, it started with a negative assumption of taxpayers' compliance attitudes and recently the research has shifted to a more positive attitude of taxpayers. One of the factors that is expected to shape taxpayers' compliance attitudes is religiosity. Even though a number of studies have started to explore this issue recently, not many studies have used primary data because the majority of the studies were relying on secondary data. Therefore, this study is comparing the impact of religiosity and its components on both tax compliance components, voluntary and enforced tax compliance, in Malaysia and Turkey. Surveys distributed to individual taxpayers were used in both countries. Religiosity is found to have a significant impact on voluntary tax compliance that influences taxpayers' positive attitudes in both countries. Even though religiosity seems to be an influential factor with respect to tax compliance behaviour, this study has shown that in certain circumstances, it might appear irrelevant