Image enhancement and segmentation on simultaneous latent fingerprint detection

A simultaneous latent fingerprint (SLF) image consists of multi-print of individual fingerprints that is lifted from a surface, typically at the crime scenes. Due to the nature and the poor quality of latent fingerprint image, segmentation becomes an important and very challenging task. This thesis presents an algorithm to segment individual fingerprints for SLF image. The algorithm aim to separate the fingerprint region of interest from image background, which identifies the distal phalanx portion of each finger that appears in SLF image. The algorithm utilizes ridge orientation and frequency features based on block-wise pixels. A combination of Gabor Filter and Fourier transform is implemented in the normalization stage. In the pre-processing stage, a modified version of Histogram equalization is proposed known as Alteration Histogram Equalization (AltHE). Sliding windows are applied to create bounding boxes in order to find out the distal phalanges region at the segmentation stage. To verify the capability of the proposed segmentation algorithm, the segmentation results is evaluated in two aspects: a comparison with the ground truth foreground and matching performance based on segmented region. The ground truth foreground refers to the manual mark up region of interest area. In order to evaluate the performance of this method, experiments are performed on the Indian Institute of Information Technology Database- Simultaneous Latent Fingerprint (IIITD-SLF). Using the proposed algorithm, the segmented images were supplied as the input image for the matching process via a state art of matcher, VeriFinger SDK. Segmentation of 240 images is performed and compared with manual segmentation methods. The results show that the proposed algorithm achieves a correct segmentation of 77.5% of the SLF images under test

Market orientation critical success factors of Malaysian manufacturers and its impact on financial performance

The study examines critical success factors of market orientation in the context of Malaysian firms. Besides, the study also investigates the relationship between market orientation and financial performance. Malaysian manufacturing firms represent the sample of the study. Data was collected using mail questionnaire survey approach. One hundred and fifty eight Malaysian manufacturing organizations participated in this study. Results of this study indicated that there were five critical success factors of market orientation practices in the context of Malaysian manufacturing firms: market focus, market action, market planning, market feedback and market coordination. The results also revealed that market action and market planning were positively related to financial performance. The outcome of this study provides vital information from a developing country perspective on the impact of market orientation practices on manufacturing organisations’ performance

A proposal for an integrated marketing framework for emerging high technologies

The waves of change and rapid development of high tech products force industries and firms to seek new ways to compete and survive. Just as a cyclone of emerging new products seem to influx the market, new strategic business planning are discussed in many research area. Knowledge of this important domain of high technology marketing strategy remains limited and relatively small amount of literature, most of which is found in a few general marketing textbooks, addresses this specific topic. This paper therefore aims to develop a strategic integrated marketing framework that is workable in the convergence for high tech product, services, information and experiences. It focuses on renewable energy business perspective ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) that converts the heat trapped in the surface of the ocean at temperate regions and converts it into energy at a designated temperature. This paper adopts qualitative approach in its efforts to explore a new body of knowledge in strategic high tech marketing mix focusing on the themes derived from marketing environmental forces and framing an innovative solutions for the sustainability of emerging high tech business milieu in Malaysia

Comparison between 3D TOF magnetic resonance angiography and intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography in imaging the circle of willis

Tujuan kajian ini dijalankan adalah untuk menguji ketepatan teknik "3D time of flight" magnetic resonans angiografi berbanding dengan teknik "intra-arterial digital subtraction" angiografi untuk pengimejan segmen-segmen arteri didalam "circle of Willis". Seramai 38 orang pesakit yang telah menjalani kedua-dua ujian "3D TOF MRA" dan "IADSA" di Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia mulai November I 998 hingga Disember 2000 telah dimasukkan ke dalam kajian ini. Daripada jumlah ini, sebanyak 398 segmen-segmen arteri telah dibandingkan dan dianalisa. Dua orang pemerhati telah menjalankan analisis secara retrospektif terhadap imej-imej "IADSA" dan imej-imej "MlP" dari "3D TOF MRA" pada masa yang berlainan. Segmen-segmen AI, A2, MI dan Pl telah dikategorikan sebagai nonnal, kecil atau tidak wujud, manakala segmen-segmen ACOM dan PCOM telah dikategorikan sebagai berfungsi, "patent" ataupun tidak kelihatan. The purpose of this study is to compare the accuracy of 3D time of flight magnetic resonance angiography (3D TOF MRA) with intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (IADSA) in depicting the arterial segments of the circle of Willis. 38 patients who had underwent both 3D TOF MRA and IADSA examinations in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia from November 1998 to December 2000 were included in this study giving a total of 398 arterial segments compared and analysed. Two observers performed blinded retrospective analysis of the IADSA images and MIP display of the 3D TOF MRA of the circle of Willis on separate sessions. The AI, A2, Ml and PI segments were depicted as normal calibre, small or absent while the ACOM and PCOM segments were depicted as functional, patent or not visualised

Regulatory T cells (CD4+CD25+FOXP3+) in lupus nephritis

Background: Systemic lupus erythromatosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with 20–65% of patients developing lupus nephritis (LN). Studies have reported 10% of LN patients will end up with end stage renal disease and their mortality rate is higher compared to patients without LN. Abnormality of regulatory T cells (Tregs) level is thought to be a potential factor for this LN development. The aim of study was to evaluate the percentage of Tregs in LN patients.Methods: This was a comparative cross sectional study involving LN patients and age and gender matched controls with a 2:1 ratio. The patients were grouped into active and inactive LN based on their lupus activity index; complement levels, ANA, dsDNA antibodies, ESR, SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI2K) score and also urine PCI (uPCI>0.05 for active group). Disease history, demographic data, routine blood test, peripheral blood for differentials count were taken and recorded. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stained with CD4, CD25 and Foxp3 antibodies and percentage of Tregs was analysed using BD fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) cytometer. We compared demographic and laboratory parameters between healthy controls and LN patients as well as active and inactive LN patients.Results: A total of 34 LN patients (32 females, 2 males) were recruited. Their mean age and disease duration were 37.97±11.14 years and 110.95±65.07 months respectively.  Thirteen matched controls with mean age 35.23±7.89 years were enrolled. There was no demographic difference between 2 groups of LN patients. Tregs were significantly lower in active LN compared to inactive LN and healthy control (0.44±0.37% vs. 1.89±0.46% vs. 3.12±0.56% of the CD4+, P<0.001). C3 and C4 complement fragments were significantly reduced in patients with active disease (C3; 50.92±28.43 vs. 76.31±25.63, P=0.011) and (C4; 11.17±8.41 vs. 16.70±6.50 P=0.044). Proteinuria was significantly higher while serum albumin levels were significantly lower in active patients compared to inactive patients and healthy control (urine PCI; 0.25(0.15-0.3) vs. 0.03(0.01-0.05) vs. 0.01, P<0.001) and (albumin; 29.89±6.87 vs. 36.87±3.58 vs. 40.62±1.89mmol/L, P<0.001). We found positive inversely correlation between Tregs with SLEDAI2K (r = -0.572, P=0.011) and proteinuria (r = -0.451, P=0.007).Conclusions: Tregs, C3 and C4 complements, and albumin were significantly lower while proteinuria was significantly higher in active LN. There was positive inversely correlation between the percentage of Tregs with SLEDAI2K score and proteinuria

Predictors of career advancement of female academic staff in Nigerian universities

Female participation in the formal sector is gradually growing in hitherto male and female oriented organizations around the globe.However, the rate of female entry into higher positions of management is not encouraging relative to the number of able female labour force in the Nigeria. Using regression analysis on 368 surveys of female academic staff of Nigerian universities via statistical package for social sciences 18, this study examines predictors and found that level of education and organizational support were positively significant to career advancement. However, work experience was negatively related to career advancement. Thus, this is an insight that these positive factors are viable predictors to career advancement of female academic staff. Recommendation for future study was given in the study

The influence of social supports to teenagers’ overall physical behavior changes towards physical activity / Rozita Abdul Latif … [et al.]

This research was carried out to investigate the influence of the teenagers’ social supports gained that cause overall changes behaviors of them towards physical activity at the edge of the city within the district of Muar, Johor Darul Takzim. Samples of the research was total of 200, 118 of the male students and 82 of female students with age of 14.3 (SD =1.491). The result showed that the influence of the social supports to teenagers specifically on their involvement with physical activities make most significant (P < 0.05) consisted environment factors, physical activity benefits, self-efficacy and the barriers as well. The finding contributed implication of teenagers’ behavior changes with involvement with physical activities. Suggestion future research through qualitative with longitudinal method

Game-Based Rehabilitation Program for Community-Based Centers in Malaysia

Rehabilitation and intervention therapy is a program medically structured for disabled patients due to unfortunate events or born with disabilities. Rehabilitation and intervention therapy require prolonged, continuous, and intensive recovery activities that can be time-consuming, difficult, costly, and tedious.  Based on studies conducted, rehabilitation and intervention programs are not well-received by many patients due to some reasons.  Hence, innovative home-based and community-based rehabilitation and intervention programs are to be advocated and endorsed to engage these disabled patients continuing their required treatments for better success in rehab. Focus groups consist of three community-based rehabilitation centers in Putrajaya, Malaysia, were studied; the goal is to investigate the objectivity of current rehabilitation and intervention programs held. Rehabilitation and intervention programs conducted are designed and implemented based on the disability types of each patient (trainees), executed by teachers, and also professional therapists. Among the many programs held, it had been identified that for revamp; it can be done within one of the programs, which will boost the current rehabilitation and intervention program; the focus should be at the Prepare for School program. The program focuses on younger trainees (aged 5 – 9 years old), preparing them to enter school. The program uses multimedia courseware as one medium of delivery. Respondents highly recommended that there is a need to infuse and improve the current game elements within the courseware. The change is imperative and necessitated for community-based rehabilitation and intervention program.

Headmaster’s Transformational Leadership and Teacher’s Organisational Commitment in Primary School

The study aimed to explore the level of headmaster’s transformational leadership/the level of teachers/organizational commitment and the relationship between headmaster’s leadership style and the organisational commitment of primary school teachers in Beaufort, Sabah, Malaysia. The model of transformational leadership developed by Bass (1985) and the organisational commitment model which was developed by Meyer and Allen (1991) served as the theoretical framework for the study. The transformational leadership classified into inspirational motivation intellectual stimulation and individual consideration. The organisational commitment on the other hand divided into affective commitment; continuance commitment and normative commitment. Data was obtained from 130 Beauforts, primary schools teachers. The research only dealt with Grade A schools. Two questionnaires were used as the main instrument; Alimo-Metcalfe’s (2001) Transformational Leadership Questionnaire (TLQ) which consisted of 21 items and Meyer and Aliens (1997) Organisational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ)/ which consisted of 18 items. Data was analysed with SPSS for windows version 15.0. An average positive relationship between headmaster’s inspirational motivation and teacher’s organisational commitment was found. As perceived by the teachers/ the level of headmaster’s transformational leadership in Beaufort, was high in most schools. The research also indicated that the level of teacher’s organisational commitment was average. This research also suggested numbers of ways to improve teacher’s organisational commitment

Forecasting a winner for Malaysian Cup 2013 using soccer simulation model

This paper investigates through soccer simulation the calculation of the probability for each team winning Malaysia Cup 2013.Our methodology used here is we predict the outcomes of individual matches and then we simulate the Malaysia Cup 2013 tournament 5000 times.As match outcomes are always a matter of uncertainty, statistical model, in particular a double Poisson model is used to predict the number of goals scored and conceded for each team.Maximum likelihood estimation is use to measure the attacking strength and defensive weakness for each team. Based on our simulation result, LionXII has a higher probability in becoming the winner, followed by Selangor, ATM, JDT and Kelantan.Meanwhile, T-Team, Negeri Sembilan and Felda United have lower probabilities to win Malaysia Cup 2013. In summary, we find that the probability for each team becominga winner is small, indicating that the level of competitive balance in Malaysia Cup 2013 is quite hig